From Merrivale 20.9.1996

From Merrivale

20.9.1996

Dear Alan, Lorna & Girls,

You must all be very proud of Melissa & glad that she is home safe & sound, we are looking forward to getting the video & seeing some of the newspaper clippings.

We’re having a mixture of weather first hot berg winds & the temperatures in the high 30’s, then yesterday had frost. The whole world is looking lovely, but we are desperate for rain. I have planted lots of seeds so hope to have a nice garden soon. The front is too beautiful with the hedge of banksia & dog roses in full bloom & other plants in bloom too.

We are going to Durban tomorrow as its Sheila’s birthday on Sunday, will come home Sunday afternoon as daddy is still working out at Neals. I think it is getting too much for Daddy , as he & Neal have been building this cottage on a neighbours farm & they can’t seem to get any labour so have to mix & carry the dagga themselves & they have been at it for over 2 months& Dad has been staying at Neals & has come home this afternoon really fed up as Vanessa has taken a job in P.M.Burg so has to take the truck everyday & Neal has to fetch & carry the boys in our Kombi & we can’t see how she is making any   money when she has to travel over 100 kms per day & it inconveniences Neal when he is trying to make some money too.  Jenny has just popped in on her way to pick up Regan from hostel. All’s well there.

Debbie, Lionel, Fay & Matthew went to Itali Game Reserve on Wednesday & left Jonathon & Nicholas with me & I took them out to Neal’s for the night & they really enjoyed themselves.

I am busy sewing as I want to take a stall at Laddsworth fete. We made over R14, 000 at the church fete.

Must close now, tons of love to each one of you,

                                Dad, Mum & family XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX