Dear Liam and Francesca,

This is a mid-morning letter today. You could be out in the playground, Francesca, with your friends and, perhaps you too, Liam. Do you have a break mid morning. I hope that it’s a nice nursery with lots of things to do. We know a bit about Francesca’s school but nothing at all about your nursery.

I’m working on my novel at the moment. I shouldn’t be doing it, really as I’ve got a lot of other things to do but I’ve been thinking about you two a lot and doing my novel is easiest when I’ve got you on my mind.

Grandma and I have been talking about you a lot in the last few days. We really miss you so much. I hope you’re well and happy.

I’m going back to writing for a bit now, look after yourselves.

Today’s a bit of a double letter. I’ve just got back from Barnet Band. I played my soprano sax there, using trumpet parts. It was quite good practice. I don’t know how often I’ll be allowed to do that but I’ll do it as often as I can.

You should both be fast asleep as I write this, so sleep tight my dears,
It’s impossible to say how much we miss you as we both think about you and talk about you all the time, Sweet, sweet dreams,
Love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Grandma and I went to the hospital today to make arrangements for her operation. Grandma’s got a cataract and she’s got to have it seen to. It took hours and hours to get everything done. They had to make sure that her eye was ready and then to do measurements and lots of tests. By the time we’d finished, we’d even managed to work out how the tea and coffee machine worked (it seemed to be a bit temperamental!) and to show a few other people. Grandma has to wait now for them to give her a date for the operation.

It’s not actually a hospital we went to, it’s a special clinic on Colindeep Lane, quite near to the McDonalds where you both went to a party on the last weekend we saw you. Just everywhere we go around here reminds us of you.

While we were sitting and waiting, Grandma reminded me that when I went for my second cataract operation, Grandma had left her phone on and we got a call while we were in the hospital. One of the nurses looked at us rather annoyed because she thought that the phone should have been turned off. We were really pleased that it was still on, though because you’ll never guess what the phone call was about.

That was the phone call when your Daddy told us that our first Grandchild was just born and that it was a girl. Then Grandma heard a little cry and that was you, Francesca!!!!!!!

Wouldn’t it have been nice today for one of our phones to ring and for one of you two to say Hello Grandma and Grandad. That’s what we dream will happen one days. We’ll keep dreaming, you know.

Time now for us to go and dream. I hope that you’re both having great dreams as I write,
We’ll talk tomorrow, sweet dreams and lots and lots and lots of love,
from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

Had a good start to the week, I hope.

It’s a late letter today as I’ve been to a TSMB rehearsal in Stratford tonight. It’s a long journey. Tonight, though, I played the soprano sax at the rehearsal and got on alright. I’m going to play it for some of the numbers next week at a gig. It’s a bit scary thinking of playing a new instrument so I hope that it will go OK.

Well, late! Hope you’re both tucked up safe in bed, I’m off now, we’ll write tomorrow,
Night night,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Hope it was a great weekend, back at school tomorrow.

I played again today, this time with Barnet Band. We played at Avenue House, that’s in Finchley. I had to play trumpet which I really didn’t want to do but there was only Bill there to play the trumpet part so I had no choice. I have to be really careful now, else I hurt my lip when I play too much.

Have you been watching the World Cup? You’re both one quarter German so you should be happy that your team still has a chance of getting through to the final.

I’m off to bed now so keep on dreaming my dears and we’ll write tomorrow,
Night, night,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

This is Saturday’s letter but it’s really Sunday now. I’ve just got back from the gig in Oxford. It’s abot 3 o’clock in the morning. Your old Grandad is really not a good example, is he?

We played at Wadham College in Oxford at their great big ball. It was a special one as their college is 400 years old this year. There were more than a thousand people there when we came in, They were standing around the original quadrangle of the college. All the men were in dinner jackets and the ladies had ball gowns on. We marched into the quadrangle, playing and then went around three corners of it before turning to walk onto the lawn. Then we played a few numbers on the lawn while they all listened. A few even danced.

Next we marched off, playing and they all followed us into the garden like a Pied Piper. In there, there were all sorts of food and drink and bands and in one part was a funfair with ice cream and donuts and all sorts of things.

After a couple of hours, we then played on a stage and then led them back into the other garden where there was a fireworks display. we stayed to watch the display, it was really good.

After that, we got a coach back to Victoria Station and then I got another coach to Golders Green and then a taxi to Endersleigh Gardens where I’d left my car. And here I am, back at home. I’m really tired but it was a wonderful day.

I hope that you two find an interest as you grow up. Perhaps it will be music, perhaps something else. I do hope that you find something to be entusiastic about.

I’m off to bed, I’m tired and my feet are hurting, so,
Night, night, wonderful dreams and we’ll talk tomorrow.
Love, Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

I guess that you’re just up again and looking forward to your weekend. I hope that you’ve got something really special planned.

Yesterday, I played in a really big ballroom with the Trans-Siberian March Band It was a great gig. Before we played, we had to go and get our audience. They’d been at a meeting in Bedford Square and the ballroom was in Bloomsbury Square – that’s about 15 minutes walk. On the way there, we passed the place where we stood that day when the Olympic Torch came past and I was knocked over by a protester. Do you remember that, Francesca? Grandma said it was very scary and made you cry. It all happened so quickly that I can’t remember very much, just getting back up off the pavement. We’ve got so many little memories that we share. I hope that they’ll always stay with you. They will with us.

Anyway, we went to Bedford Square and started playing and then walked back to the ballroom. We had about 900 people following us through the streets of London as we played. It was quite an event.

I’ve got to get ready for our next gig now, that’s at Oxford, tonight.

Have a nice day, then, we’ll be thinking of you,
Tons of Love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

I’d guess that you’re both about to set off for school/nursery. I’m trying really hard to imagine you both, what you look like, what you’re wearing, how big you are now. It gets harder and harder, you know as time goes on. We try so hard, your Grandma and I. We talk about you all the time and dream that one day soon we’ll see you again.

Do you ever wonder about us? We’re just getting older. Nothing much changes around here. We hope that you will remember us. Liam, could you ask your sister about us, you were so young when you left. I doubt if you remember us now. We hope so. We’ll never forget you.

Do have a smashing day at school and have lots and lots of fun. That’s what life’s for, you know. Never forget to have fun, whatever you do.

Today, Grandma’s going to your old school, Francesca, to be one of the judges at the talent competition called ‘Colindale’s Got Talent’. She’s looking forward to it but is also a bit scared about the responsibility.

I’m off now, have a really nice day, you two,
Love from,
Grandma and Grandad xxxx

P.S. I’ve only just posted this letter as it got saved but not put onto your site. It was written Friday but only made it online on Saturday, apologies. Grandad xx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Hope you’re both well. I’m trying to have a bit of a quieter day today. I’m tidying up my office and I’ve done a bit on my novel. Apart from that, I’ve taken it a bit easier.

Grandma went on her walk today and enjoyed it. The weather was really lovely and it was a very summery trip.
Well, it’s quite late now, so I’m off,
Night night my dears and dream sweet dreams,
All our love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Liam and Francesca,

This is quite a late letter as I’ve had a really busy day today. I had a meeting this morning at the Royal Academy of Engineering and I walked along the end of the Mall to get there. Just as I got to the Mall, a trumpeter of the Household Cavalry rode up on his horse and waited at the end of the Mall. I don’t know what he was waiting for but he looked fantastic as his horse just stood there. All the tourists went up to him and had their photographs taken next to him. I then went along to the meeting and managed to talk a bit about my book. They all seemed to think that it is OK. That’s a relief, eh?

Next, I had another meeting about some software which is being given to schools and that went OK.

Then I walked up from Hyde Park to take my soprano sax back because I’ve still got a problem with the octave key. After that, I went to the Barnet Band rehearsal where I had to play trumpet.

It was quite a busy day so now I’m really, really tired, so, night, night,

Sleep tight,
Talk to you tomorrow,
Lots of love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx

Dear Francesca and Liam,

Hope you’re both well.

I’ve been working hard to get this book sorted out for tomorrow’s meeting. It seems to be going OK.

It was quite hard to get started but now it’s going it’s OK. I should have enough done for tomorrow.

There’s not much else to report today so I’ll just hope that you’re both safe and well and we’ll talk tomorrow.

All our love, from
Grandma and Grandad xxxx