Dear Liam and Francesca,

All today, I’ve been haunted by those photos of you two. I only looked at them for the briefest of time but they’ve stayed with me all day.

I walked up to Colindale today to sort out my car Road Fund and thought about you all that time on the way. That was the route we’ve taken many times to Colindale School and then I walked past the spot on Varley Parade where I last saw you, Liam. You were just getting out of your Daddy’s car and he was helping you out. I dearly, dearly wanted to say hello to you both but had to walk past. I was no more than a few inches from you but knew that I wasn’t allowed to speak to you, I knew that. Around here is just too full of memories!

I know that St. Lawrence’s School, Westbury-sub-Mendip is very different from Colindale School. It’s much smaller and probably more friendly in some ways but you were happy at Colindale School, I know that. Your old school will soon disappear and, if you ever come back, you’ll see a brand-new school and no trace of the old one. I wonder if you’ll miss it. Perhaps not. Perhaps we, along with your old school are just a faint memory now. Perhaps that would be a good thing and you can get on with the rest of your lives.

Whatever happens, Both Grandma and I hope that you are both happy and have good lives, that’s what we wish for all our four grandchildren.

Well, have beautiful dreams, both of you. In my novel, one of the characters has a desk of beautiful dreams where all her problems of the day are sorted out and she becomes happy again. May that happen to you in your nights of beautiful dreams,

Night, night, my lovelies,
Masses of love from your old Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

It’s Liam’s special day today, isn’t it? Is today your first day at St. Lawrence’s School Westbury-sub-Mendip, Liam? If it is then I hope that it’s all gone really well.

You won’t know it but, out of the blue, I’ve just received some photographs of you both on your way to school. After 567 days of not seeing you, your Mummy and Daddy have sent me three photos. I have looked at them but find it very difficult to do so. It makes me so sad that this is the first idea I’ve had of how you both look for a year and a half. I dearly want to see you again but don’t think that I can look at those photos again. They just make me realise just how much I’m missing you.

I do want you to understand why this is so. I’m so, so glad that you’re happy and settled, that you’re both at a lovely school together and that you’re healthy and well. What I want to say is that I might be old but that I still have feelings too and that my feelings of loss do not detract from my happiness that you are both doing well.

Perhaps if we had not been so close, Grandma and I would not be so sad at this time, who knows.

Thomas also went back to school today and he enjoyed his new class too. He misses you both and carries you around in his head too.

St. Lawrence’s School, Westbury-sub-Mendip has gained two lovely children, it’s lucky!

I hope that you’re both fast asleep and dreaming of what your new school/class will bring in the coming year and we hope that it is every happiness.

Night, night and all our love,
from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

It’s late now and we’ve just got back from the hospital. We had to go there because there was a problem with Grandma’s eye after the operation. We’ve been there since lunch time and they’ve given Grandma all sorts of tests.

In the end they said that Grandma was OK and her problem had happened because her eye was very delicate after surgery and when the nurse cleaned it, that caused a great shock to her system.

We’re glad to be home and glad that she’s fine. We now have to wait until she’s able to jump about again when her eye’s better.

You’ll both be in bed now so, sleep tight and pleasant dreams,
Love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

I’ve just got home after taking Grandma to the hospital for her operation. I’m waiting for a phone call to tell me to go and fetch her. We’re all hoping that it goes OK, aren’t we?

I suppose that you’re both up now. When do you start school? Later this week, I suppose. I hope that you both settle in OK.

Hello again, I’ve just fetched Grandma from the hospital and everything worked just fine. She’s got a patch over one eye that she has to keep on for a bit but now she has to rest.

This is my third session of writing today! We’ve just had our dinner and Grandma seems to have survived my cooking. She must be getting better, mustn’t she. She’s had quite a few phone calls asking her how she was and I’m sure you’d have rung if you’d have known.

Suppose you’re getting ready for bed now, Liam. Do you start school tomorrow or is it the next day. Whenever, we hope that it all goes well.

Have a nice rest of your evening and hope that you feel our love wafting your way from time to time. We send it all the time.

Bye-bye, then and lots and lots of love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

As it’s a bank holiday today, Thomas and Lucy came with Uncle Joachim and Auntie Juliet. We had a bit of a party for Grandma’s birthday. Lucy is now crawling around and actually made it up the first few steps of our stairs. I’m sorry that you’re missing these first few years of your new cousin. You’d really love her and she’d love to have you around. Thomas was asking about you again, as he always does. He really misses you. I hope that, one day, you will be able to get together again and become good friends like you were before.

After we’d eaten, Thomas wanted to go the RAF Museum and we all went along and had a good time. He loves the simulator and went on a couple of times with his Dad. Perhaps one day, we’ll all go along together there, eh. We hope so.

Well, we’re off to bed now. We have to be up early tomorrow because Grandma is going to hospital to have a cataract operation. You wouldn’t know that, though. There’s just so many things we don’t know about each other now, aren’t there. I’ll give Grandma all your love and wish her well on your behalf as I know that’s what you would do.

So, night, night, my dears,
Have lovely, lovely dreams,
Love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Today is Grandma’s birthday and it’s on days like this when we really miss having you around.

Today is also the day when, two years ago, you went with us to Prague, Francesca. I hope that you remember that, we’ll never forget it.

This must be your last weekend before going back to school. Oh, Liam! Is this your first week at big school. I hope that you’re looking forward to it. At least you’ll have your big sister to take care of you.

I’ll bet it’s been a rainy last few days where you are. It’s been quite showery here. Today, the Trans-Siberian March Band played at The Royal National Theatre on the South Bank. It was a bit dull when we played the first set but we got through it OK. Then, just after we’d played it bucketed down with rain and was really windy. We were wondering whether we’d be able to play the second set but we got ready anyway.

Guess what! It stopped raining as we got on stage. There were a few drops at the beginning but then it cleared up and we played the entire set. It was a really good gig with a very big audience both in front of us and on the South Bank itself. We all really enjoyed it.

After we’d played, we went to a restaurant just down the river with a few members of the band to celebrate Grandma’s birthday.

Hope you’re both sleeping peacefully and we wish you both pleasant dreams,
Sleep tight,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Today we went to lunch with our neighbours, Nich and Renate and Tallia. I’m sure that you remember them. They were here when you were here at your last Christmas with us. Tallia was only a few months old then. She’s now walking about and talking. You’d both love to meet her and play with her.

It was nice to be with them for the afternoon and they asked about you two. We had to tell them that we really didn’t know how you were. Anyway, they sent their love to you, wherever you are.

So, hope you’re dreaming nice dreams and we’ll talk tomorrow,
Night, night,
All our love,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

This is another one of those days when there’s not a lot to report. I’ve been trying to tidy up my office a bit and, this afternoon, we’re off to Edgware this afternoon to do a bit of shopping.

The weather was a bit better today and we keep hoping that it’s going to clear up for the weekend when we’re playing at the National Theatre. I hope the weather’s OK for what you’ve got planned in your last weekend for going back to school and for whatever you’re doing this afternoon.

Bye-bye for now and have a really nice day,

Lots and lots of love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

There’s not much to report today so perhaps you two have been doing something exciting. It’s been dull and rainy here. The rain’s good for your garden, though. We’ve got a nice cucumber that’s nearly ready to pick and the pears are fantastic this year. I’ve taken a few off because there’s so many and ate one today. It was really lovely, not at all like last year when they were a bit tasteless, the few which we got.

It’s pretty late now, so you’ll both be tucked up warm, so sweet dreams,
Sleep tight,
Lots of love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

Today was a bit of a special day for us, this was the day we got married, 45 years ago. Yes, it was our Wedding Anniversary. It’s one of those days when, even though it was 45 years ago, you can remember everything you did that day. It would have been nice for you all to have been here to have a bit of a family celebration.

I do hope that you’ve had better weather than us today. It’s been really wet and miserable. Tonight, on the way to the band, I had to have my car lights on. That’s the first time for months.

We got a new set of phones today as we got so fed up with the old phones not working. We were really surprised when we took them back. They didn’t argue at all, just said, go and get new ones for the same price. The new ones seem to work OK. All we need now is to hear the phone ringing and for someone to say, Hello, Grandma and Grandad. We dream of that happening. We hope it will.

I finished the next version of my novel today and sent it off to get some copies printed so that my friends can comment on it. I hope they like it.

We’re off to bed now so sleep tight and have wonderful dreams,
Night, night,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx