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Tuesday 15th June, 2010
Dear Jeremy,
We missed not having a dog in our lives so we decided to get a small one this time. A small dog would be more transportable.
After the sad story of Jude walking all the way back to Kitwe to find us in 1958, I think it was from Broken Hill, but I cant recall to whom we gave him, a small dog seemed the right decision.
We ordered him from kennels in Lusaka and he was sent by aeroplane in a small box to Ndola airport where we went to fetch him. When we opened the door this small, white bundle stepped out and won all our hearts with his jaunty manner..
He was so adorable. Dad always said that he got the dog as I was getting broody again. I think that was just his story. Jonty must have arrived during the winter school holidays as Christopher was home.
The Christmas school holidays had started and once again Christopher was on the train coming home when Michael received a phone call from Granny to say Grandpa was in hospital for an operation - I think it was his prostate gland. Michael was in a meeting at the college and came down to tell me and we decided that we would leave early in the morning for Grahamstown.
It had to be early as Christopher was due at Ndola station in the morning. Back he went to his meeting and I started packing the caravan.
I formed a chain with the children and had Celia and Timothy running back and forth carrying clothes and food while Jill packed the cupboards. I don't know how much sleep we had that night but we were on time to meet Christopher's train.
Imagine his surprise when we said we were taking him back to Grahamstown. He was so surprised to hear that Grandpa was ill as when he left Grahamstown Grandpa insisted on carrying his case and putting him on the train.
I do not remember much of the journey down except that Jonty, sitting on Christopher's knee by the window, jumped out and hurt his foot. When we got to Beit Bridge the customs would not let us take Jonty into South Africa. Someone in the office offered to look after him until our return. I was very upset about this but grateful for the offer.
We must have stayed over in Bulawayo with Gerry and Val and with Joyce and Dennis is Pretoria and I do recall a caravan park somewhere in the Northern Cape. Michael would phone for news along the way.
When we got to Port Elizabeth Grandpa had had an operation and was really quite weak but pleased to see Michael and when he felt a little stronger to see the children. We booked in at the caravan park which was on the hill where the snake park and Oceanarium are now.
It was Christmas and money was short so we warned the children there would not be any presents. However, Christopher and Jill came to us and said they did not mind not having presents but we could not be without presents for the little ones. If we could give them what we could afford they would go shopping and see what they could find. And very well they did too buying lots of little things to please the hearts of Celia and Timothy. We had a Christmas dinner picnic in the park with Granny. It was a very worrying time.
Grandpa did rally and later went back to Grahamstown and we went on to East London to see Pop, Auntie Nellie and Uncle Leighton.
Timothy, in the meantime, broke out in sores called Veld Sores. Auntie Nellie knew just what to put on them Gentian Violet - but poor Tim was covered in purple spots which did the trick and healed the sores..
Grandpa did get better for a while and Granny looked after him but he died in March 1963. Pop and Bazil went to Grahamstown to his funeral to represent Michael and the family. They drove through heavy rain and flooding roads
.
I think we had just moved to Mufulira at that time.
Michael was appointed principal of a brand new Teacher Training College which was built by the Mines. And that was where you, my darling, were born the following October
Lots of Love,
Mum
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