Having spent the last week entwined in the lives of Gemma and Abby Gauntlett, has been great fun, but has also served as a reminder to me of what I lost out on with my own daughters… So while the games of UNO and Top-Trumps were being played, Chameleons were being searched for, homework was being assisted with, bedtime stories were being read, food transferred from hand to mouth, I couldn’t help thinking about the past and recalling the good times I had with Roxanne and Robyn when they were younger…
There weren’t nearly enough of them, and this will always be one of my many regrets…
Having Gemma and Abby to interact with brought back many happy memories too, and allowed me to feel that certain warmth again, that we all too soon lose as our kids get older (and wiser!)
I have been asked, (actually… instructed!) to put some photos of the girls onto the website, and here are the ones that have been chosen…
“It’s been great fun staying with you both, girls…
I will try to improve my card-playing skills so that I can make beating me a little tougher next time around…!
Hopefully, at some time in the future, we will meet again and go for a long ride on the Big Fella…”
Looking at these photographs of Gemma and Abby with you bring back memories of Roxanne and Robyn. I have an identical photo of you with them in their school uniforms at that age; pose and all. I’m sure the Gauntlett girls kept you busy and on your toes. They will surely miss having you around. You were blessed when you met this wonderful family who took you in and made you feel at home straight away.
Be safe and take care on your next leg of your journey. Love Mom, Dad and Charmz
So sweet Ron, what lovely people to have met and spent time with. Life is full of regrets, but it is not too late to do something about some of them! I think we all think at some stage that we wish we had spent more time doing things with our kids at stages of their lives – c’est la vie. Lovely catach-up and up-date on a Saturday morning! Mind out that some starving Ethiopean doesn’t get his teeth into you on the next leg of your journey. Travel safely.
PS – sad news from Swaziland is that Van Zyl Slabbert died yesterday (14th.
Hey Ronnie
Thanks for sharing these. I am reminded of a quotation : “A daughter may outgrow her father’s lap, but she never outgrows his heart”.
I hope you get time again in the near future to share with your girls.
Ride safely !
Hi Ronaldo, sooooo glad to be following yur journey again. Ride safely… (ja ja, we have had this conversation before..!)