Letter 053 - Lawrence and Daisy Holiday

Tuesday 18^th May,

Dear Jeremy,

The nursery school was great fun and the children enjoyed themselves. We had marching and dancing while I played the piano. Celia always insisted on being in front and being the leader while Tim also joined in on the end of the line. I read them stories and took them for walks. :Painting was a huge success and I would pin up the results so the parents could admire their children's work. I would describe the characteristics of the various children deciphering colours, strokes and circles, etc. They enjoyed this. Most unscientific of course - purely creative.

One little girl who had lived alone in the bush with her parents did not talk at all. I think this is known as being an elective mute. Through reading stories to her which she loved I finally got her to utter her first words when she wanted a particular story.

Another memory was the day Christopher bought me chocolates in a red heart-shaped box. The shop lady called him the most romantic boy she had ever met. I still have the red heart.

Once again it was time to take our furlough or long leave as we called it. This time we were to spend it touring in our caravan in South Africa. We called the caravan Daisy and the Landrover Lawrence after Granny and Grandpa Sadler.

Packing up was a nightmare as the children kept unpacking their favourite toys as I packed them. There were those things which we needed on holiday and the other possessions to go back to the Teacher Training College in Kitwe.

As we were to live in the caravan for 6 months I decided I had to take my herbs so all those little pots were placed on the front ledge of the caravan. They did not stay there very long they fell over and the soil all spilt or they were thrown out by Michael. We left a trail of plant pots all down the Great North Road.

Michael was working to the last minute while I was cleaning up the house, sweeping out the last foot print. I was not going to let it be said Id left a dirty house. I stuffed the last things into the caravan and shut the door firmly. I then had to drive the Landrover towing the caravan down to Lake Chila where we were meeting friends for a farewell at the Sailing Club House. I did it and we all slept that night but not sure how comfortably.

The next day we were due at a Scottish Mission Station to attend the wedding of the Snelsons. He was the Provincial Education Officer and she a missionary.

We bumped along the dusty corrugated road looking for our turn off which we missed. Michael tried to turn round but we got stuck across the road. I could hear another car coming at great speed and felt quite panicky so ran up the road with Timothy on my hip to flag the car down. Two men came to our help while I sat in the back of the caravan to weigh it down while the manoeuvre took place. With apologies from the men of course for suggesting I should weigh the back down.

Great relief and we were off again down the road to the Mission when suddenly the Landrover engine cut out. Another panic. Michael was testing everything when a car load of happy African wedding guests pulled up and offered to take me and the children to the wedding. Not sure whose lap I was to sit on, so I graciously declined. Finally the engine started again. Of course we were late for the wedding but enjoyed the reception. Getting dressed was frantic as cupboards had opened and things fallen out and there were boxes to step over.

The missionaries were very welcoming. Both had strong Scottish accents. Jill always quoted their Grace before meals

"Bless this fuude and make us guude."

Of course we were sad to leave Abercorn but there was much to look forward to as we resumed our journey south. We stayed at a camp by the Victoria Falls. Both Christopher and Michael were excited by the cascading water as though some primeval spirit had entered their souls

.

We stayed with Gerald, Val, Kevin, Michael and Craig . They now had moved to a bigger house and had built a swimming pool. We visited the Rhodes memorial up in the hills and were awed by the breath-taking views.

Love you, Mum

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