"Dear Mike. You have given us such a long list of happy memories. We admire and respect and love the person that you are. We feel so blessed to have you in our lives." Excerpt from letter (2008)
Excerpt from Wedding Speech (2002)
I've always had a very soft spot for Mike. I remember when I was 9 years old, I suddenly became madly passionate about collecting stamps. Mike invited me round to see his collection - he was a serious collector in those days - and as we flipped through his album, he suddenly reached in and took out a stamp and gave it to me as a spontaneous gift.
I clearly remember being very excited because the stamp had a bust of Queen Victoria on it - not that Queen Victoria's bust was much to look at! - but it meant the stamp was over a hundred years old which seemed mind-bogglingly old to me at the time and really caught my young imagination. 22 years later, I still have that stamp and I still treasure the childhood memories attached to it.
It's been wonderful getting to know Mike and to discover just how special he is.
I love that he's always got a twinkle in his eye and he's always got a fascinating story to tell. I also love his sense of humour - when you're with Mike, you always know you'll get to enjoy a good hearty chuckle about something or other.
Another thing I love about Mike are his passions - like his passion for sport, which I must say is fast rubbing off on mum, although she is not quite yet at the stage of leaping excitedly out of bed at 4 am in the morning to watch the cricket on TV.
Then there is his love for fishing on the Breede River, and his love for collecting antiques and china and paintings and mementos - in fact you name it, I think Mike collects it!
I was amazed to discover that Mike owns every single National Geographic since 1951 or something! Mum took one look at this lot and banished them to the garage where they now take up a whole wall and a half of space. I reckon the reason Mike promptly sold his big Merc and got a zooty Toyota was so he could fit his car amongst the magazines!
Related link: Mum and Mike's wedding day
Letter to Mike (July 2004)
Dear Mike
I don’t know if I’ve ever expressed properly just how absolutely thrilled and blessed I feel to have you as part of my family.
You’ve brought so many blessings to us all:
It warms my heart to see how much you and mum adore each other, and the support and warmth that you bring to each others lives - and also how much fun you obviously have together. It’s been fantastic to see mum find such happiness and fulfillment with such a special person as you.
It warms my heart too, to think of the constant support that you gave gran and gramps and your mum during their tough times at the end. You and mum were a veritable life force to them and made all the difference at a time when they needed you most.
It warms my heart too, when I see what a wonderful grandpa you are to Matthew and Sam – and how they gravitate to your warmth and solidness and sense of fun. They are so very, very lucky to to have you in their lives, now and as they grow up.
It also warms my heart to see how much Jo adores you too – and how much fun you and Anthony have with your shared passions and your shared sense of humour.
And it warms my heart also, to know that you are there for me and Ally too. I know that if ever there is a problem or I need advice or re-assurance, I have only to pick up the phone. Your warmth and your wisdom are so very appreciated.
Obviously, it saddens me that we see you guys so seldom and we do miss you and mum very much. We so look forward to spending more quality time with you in Cambridge during your visit and can’t wait to have you and mum to stay with us in Australia.
Love Graeme
Letter to Mike on his 70th birthday (2008) ( birthday photos )
Hi there Mike
A hearty congratulations from us on your 70 th birthday. We hope that you have a wonderful week full of celebrations and fun and friends and family. We wish we could be there to celebrate with you but be sure we will be toasting your milestone with champaign and wishing you many more happy years to come.
This is a also great opportunity for us to say how blessed we feel to have you in our lives. You have brought us all so much happiness and we love you very much indeed.
Here are some of our favourite memories and things we admire about you:
- The love that you and mum so obviously share. It warms our hearts to see the happiness you bring to each others lives.
- Seeing what a wonderful grandpa you are to Matthew and Sam and how they gravitate to your warmth and solidness and sense of fun.
- Your inspiring courage in going to Hong Kong in your quest to re-unite with your family there. We are so thrilled that things worked out. Dillan and Alice are truly blessed to have you in their lives.
- Returning to Cape Town from London to attend your very special wedding day to mum. It was a very special day indeed.
- The wonderful (and loving!) ways you push mum's buttons on occasions. After all, someone has to do it when I am so far away!
- The fact that you and mum are always there for me and Ally. We know that if ever there is a problem or we need advice or re-assurance, we have only to pick up the phone. Your warmth and your wisdom are so very appreciated.
- Our great chats and catching up on all the news on Skype. Isn't technology great!
- The amazing zest you have for life and your diverse passions for golf, fishing, antiques, coins, stamps, sport, cheese, wine and more!
- The way you affirm the people in your lives by accepting them as they are without judging or criticising. This is a rare and precious gift.
- Our shared love for collecting stamps. I will always cherish your gift of a Penny Red when I was nine years old. I still have it in pride of place in my collection to this day.
- Your great support of the South African cricket and rugby teams, no matter how well or badly they play.
- The fact that you've always got a twinkle in your eye and a fascinating story to tell.
- We love your sense of humour - when we're with you, we always know we'll get to enjoy a good hearty chuckle about something or other.
- The wonderful time spent together with you and mum in Cambridge, punting on the Cam, visiting Ely Cathedral, and King's College and the other sights.
- Your inherent curiosity and wonder for life. Like the time you queued for ages at Cambridge Botanical Gardens to view and photograph the opening of the Titan Lilly.
- Your love for fishing on the Breede River whether you catch a fish or not.
- Your excellent video footage of our wedding in 2000 - we watch it regularly and cherish the memories it brings back.
- Your love for walking in Kirstenbosh and your commitment to staying fit and healthy.
- Our amazing time spent together with you and mum travelling through New Zealand. experiencing amazing things like the hot water beach, the thermal and boiling mud pools at Rotarua, Ruakuri Caves, Cathedral Cove and Bay of Islands to name but a few.
- The amazing way you galloped up the Tongariro Crossing (wasn't it beautiful) despite our stiffness for days afterwards.
- The great three weeks we spent in Sydney exploring sights by ferry like Manly, Watson's Bay, Botanical Gardens and Opera House. It was wonderful spending such quality time with you guys.
- The special time you spent with us in Chateau Hammersmith in London.
- The way your eyes light up when you speak about Dillan and Alice. We hope you get to spend much quality time with them over the coming years.
- The way you love your food in general and mum's cooking in particular. As you know, it's a trait we both share!
- Helping us to find a home in Sydney and the excitement you shared with us when we did. We can't wait to have you to stay in our wonderful guest room.
Lots of love
Graeme and Ally
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