1 June 2011
Dearest H,
I hope this letter finds you, like me, happy and well? Are you in the middle of revision for your early GCSE’s? If so I have attached some tips and techniques that you might find useful.
Based on what your teachers told me, I am sure you don’t need any help. I know you will do brilliantly. I hope you feel the same way and you are confident in yourself. You should be and I look forward to hearing how you do. Hopefully from you but if not, in one of Mum’s updates.
Whilst on the subject of school, I was so impressed by what your teachers had to say about you. How hard you work and what a lovely young lady you are. It made me both happy and proud and at the same time so very sad that I am missing all these important years.
I did see you and Mum a few months ago in Tunbridge Wells when I was visiting friends. You drove right past me outside Hoopers. If I am honest I saw mum but could not really see the other person. I am assuming it was you, but the passenger looked very small (you at 8 not 15!) So maybe it was someone else. Perhaps the daughter of Mum's new partner? Hey ho.
I don’t have much news since I last wrote. Business is dire still, with little on the horizon, so I am applying for lots of jobs but with little result. Otherwise the weather has been brilliant and I am doing lots of exercise and spending time outdoors. I bought acanoe recently and love being on the river and am now really into mountain biking.
In fact, I am about to cycle across Britain! A group of friends and I are mountain biking from the Irish Sea to the North Sea across the Lakes, Pennines , Dales and Yorkshire Moors. It is 210 miles off road, climbing the height of Everest and back down again in 5 days. I must be mad. If you want to follow our progress then you should check out the website : (removed) If you want to sponsor me or leave a message then you can do that at (removed)
I had a family holiday in Sharm el Sheik in Egypt during the troubles so it was very quiet and cheap. It was the first time outside Europe for the girls and they absolutely loved it. We snorkeled and were lucky enough to see a Manta ray and avoided jaws! We went on a camel trek and the girls were shocked and affected by the poverty of the Bedouin children we met. They were particularly surprised when there was a big fight over an orange that was given to one child; only to be stolen by the biggest boy. It was a good experience as it made them realise how lucky we are in the West however badly off we think we are. J worked out that a whole family lived for a year on the cost of a Jack Wills sweatshirt!
The hotel was not as nice as the Sheraton, Sharm el sheikh, we stayed in one xmas. You were probably four at the time. Going back brought back a lovely memory. Do you remember following a treasure map I made down to the beach at our hotel and discovering a ‘pirate’s buried treasure chest’ full of sweets and trinkets? Probably not, you were very young but you were very excited at the time.
It was also this holiday that your mum learned to dive. I hope that now you are old enough, you have also learned. When you next visit Jackie in Australia you could dive the Ningaloo reef which is one of the best dive sites in the world. I haven’t been but would love to. It is one of the best places to dive with Whale sharks and dolphins. I have a dream that one day we will dive together somewhere spectacular.
Instead, I am going to Spain this summer, the same as last year. My partners parents have a small apartment there so it is cheap and easy. I wonder what you are doing? I hope it is something nice. I am still sending you money each month to the account I set up. I hope you will one day contact me for the pin code or to tell me where else to send it. I hope you understand it must be you so I know you are aware of this letter, the money and it is your choice.
I hope you know: how much you mean to me; Know that I think of you every day; that I miss you every day and that I love you with all my heart. .
Good luck in the next few weeks my darling. Have a lovely summer. I will write again in September and in the meantime I hope I will hear from you in some way before then.
Dad xxx
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