Dear Liam and Francesca,

It was a nice day today, wasn’t it? I was working outside and it was really pleasant. I hope that you had a good day too.

I had a good look at our vegetable patch today and we’ve got one nice ripe tomato. I’ll try to take a photo tomorrow before I pick it. I’m really looking forward to my lunch tomorrow and I’ll think of you when I tuck into our second tomato.

There’s something else that’s growing really well, near to the patio. It’s the elephant lily. It’s got some enormous flowers on it but still no elephants. It doesn’t always flower well but it has done this year.

I also polished up the salpinx a bit before tomorrow’s gig. The Trans-Siberian March Band’s playing at Frankstock, near Kings Lynn so I hope that the weather’s good.

I’ll tell you how we got on on Sunday as we’re staying up in Norfolk tomorrow night.
Keep smiling, eh,
We love you both lots and lots and lots,
Love Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

I hope that you’re enjoying your new home and that you like the area. We do want you to be happy, wherever you are.

We went to look after Thomas for a bit today and had a nice time with him. We were really busy making space ships from Lego. Between the three of us, we made 13 spaceships and Tomas drew runways for these on paper and sellotaped it all together. We then went out with him and his Mum and Dad. Everybody there sent their love. Uncle Joachim and Auntie Juliet said that they miss you both and would love to see you and Thomas just wanted to run around and play with you. I know that if you’d have been there, we’d never even have seen Thomas as you would play so well together. We dream of seeing you all together again. It’s sad when families are torn apart, isn’t it?

Well, hopefully it’s a nice day again tomorrow and we’ll all be able to get outside, so,
Tons and tons of love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

So we now know that you’re back in England. We wonder where you are and how long you’ve been back. We’re very sad that no-one tells us where you are. I’m sure that you two would if you knew how to. We know because your Daddy rang Grandma’s sister in Germany to ask for something. Do you remember her, your Tante Else? She’s always asking how you are but we can’t tell her because we don’t know. I hope that your Daddy passed on her love to you both. If not, I’m doing so now as she sent her love to you both today when she spoke to Grandma.

I’ve been getting on with the Etruscan Cornu today and then I went to a Trans-Siberian March Band rehearsal. That’s unusual for a Wednesday as I usually go to Barnet Band but they’re off for the summer. It was a good rehearsal and we’re ready for our next gig on Saturday.

Keep well, we’re thinking of you every single day,
Lots and lots of love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxxxxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

I wonder what you’ve been doing today. Hope you’ve had a good time. It’s been a busy day for us today. I’ve been working on the Etruscan Cornu and I spent a bit of time polishing up the salpinx which Francesca and I made last year. This had got a bit tarnished because Kath plays it in the Trans-Siberian March Band every gig. I’ve got a bit more work to do on it tomorrow to finish polishing it up.

We had the gas people in today trying to re-run the gas pipe into the house. They don’t seem to be too bothered about where they run this so I hope that they will do your house properly. There’s nothing we can do about what happens to your house so we do worry. I’m sure that you understand that we’d really like to help. Anyway, let’s hope that everything goes OK.

The second tomato is nearly ripe so we should be able to pick it any day noe. I’m really looking forward to that.

It’s a bit later tonight when I write this so, night night,
Talk to you tomorrow,
Love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

Hope you’re both well today. It’s been a reasonable day here today and I’ve been working outside all afternoon. I’ve been working on the Etruscan Cornu all day but I’ve been thinking of you two most of the time. I’ve really missed you today. I miss you all the time normally but today I missed you both a lot more, working outside, surrounded by your things in the garden. I’ve been wearing the helicopter pilot’s goggles today and they remind me of the time you two spent playing with the helicopter we made on your last visit. It must have been very hard for you Francesca, knowing that you would never see us again and not being allowed to tell us. You were really brave.

Really, though, you did tell us in what you said that weekend and I still remember everything. I treasure that. I hope that you two can still play together like you did that weekend. You’re lucky to have each other, so do help each other out when things get tough.

I’ll write tomorrow,
We love you lots,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Hello there Francesca and Liam,

I’m back at home now after playing with Trans-Siberian March Band at the Secret Garden Party Festival. It was bit late when I got in last night so I’m really pretty tired. However it was a good gig and a really great audience. Most of the people at the festival were in fancy dress and it was really nice atmosphere there. We went on very late as the generator which made the electricity for the stage broke down and it took them some time to fix it. That’s why it was so late when we got home.

I’ve working on the Etruscan Cornu today and the weather has been reasonable. It’s good that I can look at the tomatoes now as another one has started to ripen. It looks like I’ll be able to have another one for dinner soon.

We keep on wondering where you are and wonder if you’re coming back home to England. We dream of getting to know where you are and that you’re safe but no-one seems to want to tell us. It makes us very sad but we still dream of seeing you both again and keep trying to imagine what that would be like.

Sweet dreams, both of you,
We’re thinking of you – always,
Masses and masses of love, from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

It’s a lot earlier today when I’m writing to you. I’m just getting ready to set off for the Secret Garden Party up at Huntingdon. Actually, it’s not a secret because there’ll be several thousand people there but that’s what they call it. It’s a nice day here, very sunny, but I don’t know what the ground will be like where we’re going as it’s been quite wet for the last few days. I’ve got my wellies ready, just in case.

The Trans-Siberian March Band is playing about 11.30 tonight so it will be very late when I get home. By then, you’ll both be dreaming away and Grandma will be fast asleep too. That’s why I’ve written this so early.

I wonder what you two will be doing today. Whatever it is, I hope that you have a good time. We’re thinking of you, as always.

Look after each other,
Feel our Love washing over you,
Bye for now,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Hello there my dear Francesca and Liam,

It’s been another of those sun and shower days here. Very frustrating for me as I was trying to work outside. I really hope that it’s better where you are. Someone else asked how you are today, both Adi and his wife asked Grandma when she met first Adi and the his wife. They seemed very surprised that we didn’t know. Everyone seems surprised, particularly so when they knew how close we all were. Perhaps one day we’ll be back together again, eh? I can’t wait and I know that Grandma feels the same.

Tomorrow I’m off to play with the Trans-Siberian March Band at the Secret Garden Party near Cambridge. I hope that the weather’s a bit better for us there. I must remember to take my wellies out of my car and put them into Grandma’s. I’m going in her car because I’m taking three other people with me. It’s going to be quite crowded with a guitar, a salpinx, a trombone and an alto sax – as well as their players. I’m sure we’ll manage!

I’ll keep you informed as to how we get on so,
Night, night, sleep well and,
Talk to you in the morning,
Lots and Lots and Lots of Love from,
Granma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

How are you? We’re both OK. We went on a tour of the Royal Albert Hall today to see how it all worked. It was really interesting to see. We also went into the room where the Queen goes when she visits the place.

I have picked the ripe tomato today and eaten it with my dinner. It was only very small but tasted very nice. You’re really quite good at growing tomatoes, you know!

It’s been very showery here today. There’s been sun then rain and then sun again. It’s very difficult to work out what’s going to happen next.

Your Daddy’s phone rang us this morning but there was no-one there. It was just like the days when you used to ring us, Liam. Was it perhaps you ringing us this morning? Are you both back in the UK? I talked to one of our neighbours today and he asked where you all were. I just said that you’d moved away. I just couldn’t face telling him that you’d been taken away from us. When he said, ’so you have to go to Somerset to see them, eh?’, I just said ‘yes’. What else could I say. It’s very difficult, isn’t it?

Oh well, I’ll keep writing and let you know what’s happening here,
Keep smiling and have a good time, wherever you are,
We love you just as much whatever part of the world you’re in,
We’re always thinking of you,
All our Love,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Hello there, Francesca and Liam,

Hope you’re well. I’m back home from Berlin and very tired. I’ve been to rehearsal of Barnet Band tonight so it’s been a long day after travelling back from Berlin as well. Grandma has told me that one of the tomatoes has ripened and I can’t wait to go and see it tomorrow.

Today, when I got on the UBahn, that’s the Berlin Underground, there was a Grandma and Grandad sitting next to me with their Grand-daughter and Grandson and it made me think of you two. Then I turned round and there was another Grandma with her Grand-daughter who had a case. I’d guess she was going to stay with her Grandma for a bit of the school holidays. What was nice was the the girl, who was about your age, Francesca gave me a really nice smile when I looked at her and I could imagine that it was you, Francesca, smiling at me. I hope that one day, you will both be able to smile at Grandma and I again.

It’s time for me to turn in now, I hope you’re sleeping well,
I’ll keep you in touch,
Talk to you tomorrow,
Love Grandma and Grandad xxxx