Letters to my Grandchild

Hello my darling, Your cousin Richard came to visit from Johannesburg and it was his birthday so you were treated to an outing and shared his big chocolate birthday cake.   Its been quite a cold winter so Mom bought you this lovely, cuddly 'Onesie'   We went to Tala Game Park for a day and you helped Gumpy drive.  You took the photographs of some of the beautiful aloes.  When we stopped for our picnic lunch a whole flock of birds flew into the tree above us and waited for us to share crumbs with them. You wanted to swim in their rock pool which was freezing!     At the end of the month you had your bisphosphonate treatment.  You only have it twice a year now and it is done on an outpatient basis so you don't have to be admitted overnight.  You are very brave and didn't even cry when they port the port into your hand. Gail came to Durban for a few days and you invited her to a braai at 'Tonsil's' house, but we had it a...

Hello my Darling Em, I really missed you while I was in Spain for a month.  Just before I left we watched you swimming at your swimming gala.  You did so well and you were a star and looked great in your two piece costume! While I was away you earned your 15 m swimming badge - clever girl!!  You are like a little fish in the water - just like your daddy!  While I was away I tripped and fell and broke my left arm!  I was very brave while they were taking the x-rays and putting the cast on in the hospital because I kept thinking of you and your Dad and how brave you have been.  This is a photograph of me and my cousin Marlene who came to Spain to walk a part of the Camino with us. You had some nice outings to the Aquarium.  Here you are in front of a giant brindle bass. You were examining the aquarium brochure, upside down and inside out!   You celebrated Father's day wit...

 You have been to a number on birthday parties in the last couple of months.  Most of them have a theme everyone gets into the spirit of the theme. In April you went to Johannesburg and to spend a weekend on the Vaal River with Jeff and Gail.  You love steering the barge and this time you were allowed to steer the speed boat! Then Gail came to Durban for a few days and stayed at your house.  One morning you all got up to find yourselves locked into the bedroom section.  Gail and Tam had gone to bed and left the keys in the living room area.  So, Mark phoned Gumpy and he and Enoch went over to your house to force their way into your house and free the prisoners so that Mark could go to work!

Hello Emily-Ann, The start of this year was sad for us because after losing Jenna-Jay last year, Carling-Darling also went to Doggie Heaven last month.      You were never happy around Carling even though he was a big, gentle Labrador.     Once you got Muffy, you seemed to lose your fear of dogs and you had started patting Jenna and Carling and didn't mind if they were in the same room as you.     When Muffy was a young puppy, she had a sister called Puddles.  I used to take Carling, Muff and Puddles for walks around Patty's complex.  Carling always liked little dogs. Now that Jenna and Carling have gone, we decided not to get any new doggies.  But, Delano and Jacques have adopted two little dogs and Josie (a little girl) and Daxie (a boy) have come to live with them.  We have introduced them to Leo and Oscar next door and they all seem to get on well.  Soon we will have a gate b...

Hello my darling Em, You have lots of fun at your school!  This is a photograph of the staff at your school   Cloudy 2 with a chance of meatballs.  You are peeking through the poster at the top   At Gabbie's birthday At Leah's Birthday    Self face painting with one colour only!

Hello darling Em, This will be your last year at the Oasis Pre-Primary school and as a 'BIG' girl, you now have to wear a uniform. But, you still get a chance to play dress-up and go to school in ordinary clothes from time to time.   Next year you will be going to different school and will need a new uniform, with long socks and a blazer!  I don't think we will recognize you :-(  You will see from the photos that your hair has grown quickly since your haircut.  You are back to wearing ponytails and plaits.    

What a year you've had my darling Em!  At the beginning of the year you were 1m tall and now you are 107cm! In February you had your first haircut. You were in your first swimming gala in March and you won a trophy We celebrated Gumpie's 70th birthday in April In April you went to……. Disney World! You had your treatment in June and December In July you celebrated Madiba’s 95th birthday (sadly he died on 5 December) In September Tammy fetched Muffy (after she’d spent 18 months with Beryl)  so you got your first doggie! In October we all went to the Midlands Saddle and Trout on holiday.   You blew at the candles at Little John's 80th birthday You flew to Johannesburg for Gail’s 50th birthday You got your first pair of glasses! You had your 5th birthday party at the Flying Donkey You were an angel in your Christmas concert    

Christmas started with sun downers on our deck on Christmas eve.  You loved having all your family around you and you were so good, never asking for a present even though there were many under the tree.   On Christmas Day we had about 21 people for lunch and the Deme's and the Cadman's visited in the afternoon.  Gail brought a lovely Christmas cake - and a set of drums for you for Christmas!  You were Craig's special helper - handing out the presents to everyone. It was a warm day and you had a lovely time in the pool with mommy, granny Laura, Gail and Sharon.