Dear Diary

Surprise!

Some people really like surprises, and some people don’t. I tend to lean towards the not liking surprises end of the scale, which is probably due to me wanting to be “on top of things” all the time. I don’t see myself as a “control freak”, but some people could be excused for thinking that of me.

This Post subconsciously started a few days ago when my son emailed me to let me know that he may have a daughter from a relationship of long ago. She had been raised by relatives of her Mum, in a legal guardianship arrangement (so not adopted), and was just recently told who her Dad was!

The other day, the surprise developed further as I received an email from a 19 year old young lady who, after introducing herself to me, explained that she was my granddaughter, and how would I like her to address me!

I immediately spent some time on the internet and found her FB page and started accumulating snippets of information about her and posing various questions to my son. I was curious to know why, after 19 years, this was being announced. I was curious to know why she had been in a legal guardianship situation rather than being adopted. I was curious to know where her biological mother fitted into the overall picture. I was curious about so many aspects of this situation, but they have all still to be explained to me! I must conclude that the relationship which produced this young lady was somewhat less than long-term.

This is a really interesting situation because there are a number of possibilities, some of which are manipulative and devious, but I am going to believe that she is simply a young lady who has reached an age whereby she can legally ask for details of her background, and now wishes to connect with her family.

Assuming the above, and I really hope that she does not prove me wrong, then the next step will be to meet with her and get some lines of communication going!  As I am her only “new relative” in Ontario, It seems that I have been delegated the task of introducing this young lady to her Dad’s family… and generally answer all her questions as best I can.

Wouldn’t you just love to get an email like that! “Hi Grandpa ……. guess who I am?

There will be more news as the story develops!

Blogging? Why?

I recently read a Post which I suspect was written during a very emotional time. The Post was generally criticizing peoples reactions to a variety of circumstances, and I found it quite offensive simply because I felt that I was being attacked.  Continue reading →

The Value of a Smile!

I emigrated from England to Canada in 1975, and one of the first things I noticed about Canadians was how “distant” they were. It was not an unfriendliness, but just a general indifference. Continue reading →

Dear Diary – Page 55c (Early 1960’s – London)

On another bike ride (quite a bit before my Lake district ride), the plan was to ride to London; tour the loco sheds and major railway stations of all four British Railways Regions, and then ride onto Clacton (Essex) where Dad now had the caravan as he was working at the Pier Theatre during the week and over the summer holidays season. Continue reading →

Dear Diary – Page 55b (Early 1960’s – Lake District)

I cycled from Keswick to Penrith before the enormity of crossing the Pennines hit me. Continue reading →

Dear Diary – Page 55a (Early 1960’s -The Lake District)

My bike riding mileage was intentionally steadily increasing, for no other reason than I just wanted go further and further afield! My early rides were around 30 miles, but it was not too long before I completed a 100 mile ride. Continue reading →

Dear Diary – Page 105 (1975)

As soon as my employment was confirmed, the other three made arrangements to fly out!

I was at Toronto International Airport well in advance of their arrival time and waited… and waited… and waited. I checked the arrivals board and they had landed on schedule so I waited… and waited… and waited. Continue reading →

Dear Diary – Page 104 (1975)

The City of Mississauga wanted about a week in order to make a decision regarding their vacancy in Purchasing. After a little over a week, and having heard nothing from them, I called them and asked for the status. Continue reading →