Letters from Abroad

When I was a child we never travelled further than Cornwall

(by steam train!).

We had no car and I took my first flight aged 16 when I went on a school cruise.

Nevertheless I was set a holiday project at primary school

entitled Letters From Abroad.

I had to write and illustrate letters from imaginary friends

in six foreign countries.

This was a great trial to me and my mother that summer.

I remember sitting for hours at the dining room table surrounded by

piles of travel brochures brought home from the travel agents,

snipping out pictures of exotic locations

and laboriously writing stilted descriptions of the

wonders to be seen in (amongst other places) the USA and India.

This morning I am having an entertaining exchange

with JofIndia about this,

and am salivating over a picture of his breakfast of 

masala dosa, tuna fish curry, vegetable sambar and hot lime pickle.

I have also just uploaded a picture of grand-daughter 

sitting on the steps to her New York apartment.

Son One has been for a run in a Brooklyn park and met the Mayor of London.

Son Two (also in New York) has attended a Pilates class 

and been for an Indian vegan curry.

Daughter-in-law has unpacked a gazillion suitcases and got everyone 

settled in nicely.

Through this blog and others I enjoy letters from
families at Home and Abroad every morning.

My mother would have loved the internet.