Letters to my Grandchild

 Hello my darling, This has been a challenging month for you.  Exams started and you had to catch up on a lot of work.  Mom helped you a lot and you even cancelled the weekend  trip to Bushman's Nek in the 'Berg that the Wisharts invited us all to. We didn't see you guys for a few weeks but you did come to watch rugby at our place on the 19th November.   You got the marks back for Natural Science, Maths 74% and 64% for art - that is brilliant Em! The following week was tough for the ladies in your house.  Ruby was stung on her eyelid and had a huge swelling on her eye; you tripped in a hole at school and Mom had to fetch you early. (Nothing broken though!) Then Mom tripped and jolted her neck which left her with a severe headache.  At assembly on the 29th you received a certificate for your tap exams at the Cultural awards.  Well done Em!   I decided to give you and Tammy a gift to visit  Spa for a Mom and daughter massage...

 On 30 September you and your parents flew from Durban to Johannesburg, then from there to Newark (where you were greeted by a little Lady of Liberty).  Mark holding bottomless plastic jugs of Coke. And then you flew to San Diego on 1 October.  You hired a car, wanted a Mazda but was given a Kia Sportage which you don't recommend. You spent 9 days at the Springhill Suites in Rancho Bernado. You flew over to have a look at house and school districts close to Mark's Office.   You put your feet in the Pacific Ocean, went to a fun fair where you ate Funnel Cake. You drove around San Marcos and Rancho Bernado to look around. You had lunch in the park at a beautful public playground, and on the Wednesday, while Mark was at his meeting with the people in his new office, you and Mom found a shop that makes amazing Cowboy boots.  Your mom had to fill the car with 'fuel' and that night you got to hang out with Sarah and Shawn from Durban North who live in San Diego....

Hello my special girl, As you know, Jeff and I have the same mother but not the same father.  My parents were divorced when I was little and my Mom (your Granny May) remarried Leslie Leaver in 1956.  Jeff was born in 1958. Here are my parents with Patty when she was a baby. I mention this now because it was my step-father's birthday on 30 July, my mother's birthday on 1st August and mine on 6th August.  They might look like really old people but my mother was 35 (the same as Richard) and Les was 45 (the same age as Sharon). Les Leaver is your step-grandfather - just like your step-grandmother, Birgitte.     Here they are on their wedding day.   Oh WOW!!!  You took part in the 80m girls open run at your school - and you kept up with them!  It is still like a miracle to us that you can run at all!!  Congratulations Em - you are a super star! You went with Greg and Sharon to a fun playground for kids.   For the first time, Al...

Hello darling, Whaaa....😭😥... your Dad has been in coversations with people in California about moving to San Diego for work.  Don't know when it might happen but could be next year. You know how much we will miss you all... but we will also be thrilled for you and your family to have the opportunity to live in a different country, not to mention for your Dad to expand his career.  Thankfully we are living in an age with excellent technology so we can still see each other on Whatsapp or Zoom calls, but it won't be the same😪.. In the school holidays you spent a few days at a guesthouse in Lidgetton in the Midlands,  You had a picnic and rode on a Zip-line!! You saw the Nelson Mandella monument at the Capture Site and visited the museum.  You finally got your braces for the first time !! They've got little gemstones in them which are quite pretty! Working on getting the perfect smile You, Alex and Gumpie wore your Springbok green and gold t-shirts for the last test ...

Hello darling girl, You had your tap dancing exam in April and got excellent marks. Em, its like a miracle to see you stand and walk, let alone dance - and run!  These are things we never imagined that you'd be able to do when you were diagnosed with OI. We are always very grateful for modern treatment that has allowed you to lead a fairly normal life.   Dr Roos has been wonderful, even allowing you to have your treatment at home, rather than going to a hospital for it.   It was Gumpie's birthday on 8th April and our anniversary (53 years 😵) on 12 April.    We had the family for afternoon tea at our house. On the 8th May I flew to Spain with my friend Jenny to walk another Camino route for 3 weeks.   While I was away you entertained Gumpie, taking him out for morning tea. Once again I attached Ellie to my backpack.   For his birthday in May, Tammy gave Mark a voucher to visit a shooting range.  He has always been interested in guns...