11 June 2007
Dear H,
I understand from the school news letter that you and your friends in year 6 have been busy and working hard to produce a great play. I so wish I could have seen it. Also your France trip is coming up and I hope you have a lovely time there. Keep safe and be good. Ask lots of questions and try your best to pick up as much French language as you can. Speaking in other languages is such a fantastic skill to have and will make you much richer as a result. Richer in experience, knowledge and also financially as it will open doors that have not been possible to mummy and I.
I did not write last week as I was away in Oman working and had a somewhat exciting time to say the least. I was working for H.E who you have met many moons ago when he came to the house. We were due to be there for 5 days teaching but where we were was struck by a cyclone which is a little like a Tornado!
It rained so hard that all the rivers flooded and washed houses and people away. The wind reached 200km an hour and caused the collapse of a motorway flyover and much damage to houses. Nearer the coast many houses were destroyed by big waves like the Tsunami a few years ago.
We were lucky in that although we lost all power for 3 days and got flooded there was no other damage. The worst bit was although it never stopped raining it was so hot and humid (Over 40*C ) with no air conditioning that you were just soaked through all day even out of the rain. They had to close the airport and stop all flights in and out so we could not escape.
The good news was although some 45 people, were killed all of our course and their families were safe and we continued our work right through which was at times very hard. Even though the Sultan had declared a state of emergency and a public holiday our people voted to stay and work through! I must be doing something right! To help the class feel less worried we let them bring their families to the hotel and stay which made everyone feel safer. What was nice was having everyone meet up for dinner in the evening by candlelight and eat together. I met lots of children from different cultures who taught me lots of new facts and things about islam and family life in their country. One or two were about your age and it made me sad I could not tell them much about you other than show old photos of you I keep in my wallet.
Finally after the end of the course we had to try and get home but with the airport still closed we had to make a rather scary journey across the country to Dubai where we eventually got a flight back to London. This took rather a long time and turned out to be a bit of an adventure.
Another funny thing happened guess who we met on the plane. Nick …Amelias dad who had been working in Dubai for a few days. I hadn’t seen him for a few months and it was good to catch up although we were so tired we didn’t actually chat until we got to London and had a coffee before going our different ways.
I understand from him that Amelia has written to you. I don’t think you have been back in touch but I might be wrong. She misses you and is a bit scared about September and new school apparently. Maybe you could write back and share your news she would love to hear from you. I did hear through the grapevine that you are in touch with Charlotte B and was pleased to hear that you two talk occasionally and how sharp and clever you are.
I was very tired when I got home but couldn’t help smile as I got back to the new house. I went and sat by the river on my special bench with a cup of tea and reflected on all the good things and despite all the upset of the last few years how good it is to be alive. The cygnets have grown and are all the same size as ducks now but fluffy and grey like the ugly duckling. The wild baby rabbits have been digging up the lawn and eating my flowers and the blue tit nest is empty so they must have flown already. All signs of time passing, how everything changes and that we are not young for very long.
I went to bed very tired that night but happy that I might one day soon see my own precious chick. Every night I give your picture by my bed a kiss goodnight and hug one of my pillows close. I imagine you will feel my hugs and hear what I whisper to you.
Keep safe my precious. Love to you both
Dad xxxx
PS Its summer holidays soon. If you ask Mummy she would let you visit if that is what you would like. She could come with you or stay close by and we could maybe go riding or go to the beach or monkey world which are all on the doorstep.
Wahiba Sands
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