Letters to my Grandchild

Hello my darling, Congratulations Em!  You got an Academic Award certificate for the first term! It hasn't been easy for you being homeschooled and trying to follow the school curriculum but you worked hard and it paid off.  (Your Mom also worked hard so she can share in your achievement!)  Sharon was going to return to work on 16 May to work shifts at Umhlanga Hospital so the volunteer baby-sitters got together for a lesson on 'How to care for Alex!"   We learned about his daily routine, how much formula to add to the distilled water in his bottles; to sanitise his dummies and did a tour of his room and the different drawers and cupboards for nappies, clothing, blankets etc.  We combined this with 'sundowner' snacks and it was great for us all to be together again, the first time since lockdown in March last year.   The grandparents are sharing  morning and afternoon shifts on Monday, Tuesday and Friday (every second week) and Tammy offered ...

 Hello my darling girl, We had a lovely lunch at your house.   We are all still staying inside our family Covid 'Bubble' and only visit each other, although Sharon does visit her Mom and Dad now and then, and Laura visits your house occasionally.   Your Mom and Dad suggested a lovely, surprise, last-minute visit to iMfolozi for Finn's birthday.  It was lovely to get away and spend time together in the two room, 5 beds cottage. We had a scary moment in our Nissan when Gumpi couldn't get it up a rocky hill.  A man came along and reversed the car all the way back down to the bottom, then sped up the hill until he got to the top.   When we got back home I decided to improve your fairy garden, behind our tree.  I found a couple of extras to add to it and moved it to the right of the tree, away from the overhanging bushes that were covering it up.  I'm starting to think that I enjoy the fairy garden more than you do! You had a visitor to ...

Hello my sweet Em, I bought a pram for Tammy to keep at your house for when she looks after Alex.  You put Lucy in it to test it and said that it would be perfect for the baby! The weather was warm enough for me to have a swim  with you in your fabulous little pool. Alex is smiling all the time now, especially at you!   I think he loves your new t-shirt that says "Alex's Cousin" I also think he knows that you are a young person and not an old granny or grandpa like us, even though he has watched us trying to keep up with your dance  moves! We were all very sad when Greg and Sharon's Labrador, Leo died this month.  We got him a memorial stone and placed it next Oscar's stone in the garden.  When the little 'Forget-me-not' plants grow bigger the stones will be surrounded by blue flowers. Mark has always loved Labbie puppies (they really are cute!)  You were just a baby when Greg and Sharon got Leo and Oscar.  Y ou were afraid of dogs until you ...

Hello my darling Em, Our lives have changed so much that I'm sure it's hard for you to imagine a life when you went to school every day, dance classes and drama after school, shopping at supermarkets or clothing stores in crowded shopping malls like Gateway, La Lucia or the Pav; having visitors, play dates and sleep overs, going to parties, restaurants like Circus Circus, Mugg and Bean or Wimpy or going to theatre shows and movies.   Although pandemics have occurred  throughout human history, t he Covid Pandemic has been a unique experience because it has affected every continent in the world (excepting perhaps for the Arctic!). Modern travel is the reason why it spread so quickly.   One day - when we have settled into a new normal way of life - you might look back and realise that young people like you all over the world felt lonely, cut off from friends and activities, anxious about school and about their health, and the health of their parents.  You have...