Letters to my Grandchild

We went to iMfolozi for 4 days during the September holidays.  It was lovely to be back in the bush. Granny Laura picked up a tortoise on the road and moved it out of harms way. Soon after we got back there was news about the Pfizer vaccine being approved for minors,12 to 18 year-olds, in South Africa.   There is a good chance that after you've had the vaccination you might go back to school full time.  That would be good for you Em.  You haven't been able to see or be with your friends for 18 months, since March last year.  In a couple of weeks time you'll be a T-t-t-t-t-t-...... teenager 😱 ... a scary thought!  Also, once you have been vaccinated, we might all be able to get together again as a family.  Covid really kept people away from each other but now we might be able to carry on with our 'new-normal' live     These photos were taken at Greg and Sharon's house.  Sharon still drops Alex off at your house every second week and...

 You are a young lady! Yes you are Em.  You are nearly as tall as me.  I think you are cleverer than me!  You certainly know more about cell phones, apps and other technology than I do! Ruby survived being on heat for the first time.  She will be a year old next month but she is still just a puppy.   She enjoys coming to our place and we always try to play with her, throwing the ball or pulling a hairband.  If you put the hairband on your wrist she takes it off very gently.  She's a lovely little soul. It was my birthday on the 6th August and you made me a divine chocolate cake with caramel popcorn on top!   You are a good baker and you made a lovely loaf of bread in the Meller bread-maker I bought for your Mom.    Your Mom found that Alex likes to sit in the pram like a play pen.   It won't be long before he tries to climb out of the pram though! When I see you two lying on the ground together like this, I ...

Hello darling girl, I decided to change your fairy garden path to the other side of the tree.  The path on the left was becoming too overgrown for anyone to walk up to the tree. 6 July 2021:  YAY!!  We were SO pleased for your Mom and Dad when they were able to get their Covid 19 vaccinations done at the Saint Augustines' vaccination centre today.  They will be able to have their 2nd shot on 17 August, then we will all be done and can start having family get-togethers with all of our family members again. 8 July: I decided that you should have a farewell tea party for your dolls and toys that are kept in a big plastic storage box under the wrought iron bench on the patio. We used to have birthday parties for them when we lived at Westville but its probably been 2 years since you've played with them. I set the table with sweets, biscuits, chips, marshmallow cup cakes, ice cream and cold drinks. All of the singing dolls and the toys sat on the bench.  There was Th...

You were super proud when you managed to put Alex to sleep on your lap.  Good practise for when you are a mother one day! Hello my darling girl, You are becoming Mommy's little helper when Sharon leaves your baby cousin with you every second week for two days. You still manage to do your school work and help Mom with Alex.   . Its been very cold so I found a pink Unicorn microwave heating pad for your bed.  I also bought a blue bunny heating pad for Alex                          Sometimes even Mark comes out of his office to say hello to the little Dude! You had assessments again this month and so far you've done very well - getting 81% for your geography assessment.  Well done!  Your lowest mark was 59% for Afrkiaans.  I would've been happy with those marks when I was your age ♥ You came for a visit on 20 June and I was able to get this photo of you and Alex on the carpet.  His whol...

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 ...