Emma Alpha Plus

 Dear Reader

                                                                                     Emma and Sam

Dear reader,

I can hardly believe that Emma, my granddaughter, is now 26 years old.  I am often awake in the night and think about my life and where it has gone.  I think about Emma and remember her as a little girl and then a teenager, university and then work in the big wide world. Grand children are such a blessing they keep us oldies up to date with the latest fashions and fads.  Emma took me to the Soho Farmhouse for lunch and I was astonished and amazed.  The whole concept seemed more like Hollywood than the Cotswolds but I was very impressed and had a lovely time.  

But one thing struck me of course.  There were no poor people there.  This is a place for the rich and sometimes, famous.  I read in the paper that Victoria and David Beckham dive in for lunch sometimes and I saw that Harry and Meghan visit when they are nearby. The car park was full of Mercedes and 4x4's, not a Mondeo in sight.  I thought you need to be rich to go to exotic places but Emma has just come back from South America where she had a wonderful time going everywhere by bus.  

Next week I will be back to the cafe in Witney, not exotic but cosy and familiar.

                                                                                       *

From Dorothy Wordsworth, 1802, July 7th in Westmorland

'In the morning William nailed up the trees while I was ironing.  We lay sweetly in the orchard....The orchard full of foxgloves.   The honeysuckle beautiful- plenty of roses, but they are battered...Walked on the White Moss.  Glow-worms.  Well for them children are in bed when they shine.'

From John Ruskin, 1847, July 12th in Warwickshire

'Much struck......in coming from London by the lovely green of everything; certainly England gains more by summer or rather loses more in winter than any country I have seen in both seasons.'

From Samuel Pepys, 1667, July 13th in London

'Mighty hot weather, I lying this night, which I have not done, I believe, since a boy, with only a rug and sheet upon me.'

                                                                                    *

Emma Alpha Plus

Emma
the little one
frightened to be left
at night
shared my bed
snuggled up with me
listened to nursery rhymes
on an old tape recorder

we went to the swings
sat on a bench
ate crisps

she grew and we went to
the Wildlife Park
stared at the monkeys

we watched Maisie Mouse
over and over again
and in her teens
The Sound of Music

she worked hard at school
had problems with her
heart over beating and never
complained

She went to college
got a distinction
will go to Brighton to study
in September next year

She is helpful, enthusiastic
puts her all into everything
is engaging and funny

She is alpha plus

I loved her and looked after her
and now she looks after me

                                                                               *

With very best wishes, Patricia