7th February, 2012
Dear Jeremy,
Early in the morning, on the first of June, we drove to Ndola Station to meet Granny Sadler. Her letters had become sad and lonely so Dad sent her a telegram saying 'Needed one Granny' - or something like that. We gave her a great welcome.
While at the station my handbag was stolen out of the landrover - of course I should never have left it unattended. I was sorry to lose the bag but even more sorry to lose my 'gold' fountain pen. I was very fond of it as it wrote well and smoothly.
We made Granny comfortable in the very nice spare room which opened out on to the patio. She, however, got the wrong idea and told me I could now go to work and she would take over the housekeeping. This was a shock to me as I had no intention of going to work and leave my baby of 7 months.
One day Granny decided to take you for a walk in your pushchair. I thought she was walking round the campus but when she returned very hot and cross I found she had gone further afield. She had gone outside the grounds into the rough veld where there were no paths. This really was quite dangerous I was really worried.
Our friends all wanted to meet Granny. Grannies were scare in Zambia so we gave her a party and people came from far and wide. It was a very happy day until Granny tried to carry that big tray Dad had made at Lovedale. She dropped it with my China tea-set, a wedding present from my Granny Young and my Mother's china tea-set I had inherited. Oh Dear - as you can imagine she was very upset and so was I . With all the visitors there I quickly got the cook to clear it up so she would not be too embarrassed.
Granny was very happy to be with Dad but I think she found living in the busy family difficult so she moved to the Guest House which was just below our house. It was here I think she read through and destroyed Grandpa's letters written to her before they were married. She must have felt very sad but put on a brave face. Of course she was missing Grandpa and grieving, as they say today, but we called it mourning.
I do not remember when she went back to join Joyce in Johannesburg.
There was a cinema in Mufulira to which Dad took Jill, Chris and Granny several times but I do not remember going there myself.
Next time Dr Kaunda's visit.
Love you, Mum.