Dear Max

Yesterday was your great “gwanny” Elza’s birthday, a very special 90 years old.

Aunty Carla organised a party at Granny’s old-age home for all the residents, with some divine treats (good think these came AFTER the weigh-in with my dietitian).

Granny as always was appreciative – this time of the presents, wishes and party, and despite you telling me that you were going to sing “happy birthday”, you were a little shy and pretty much ignored the goings-on and attention lavished on you.

You weren’t feeling the social vibes

I wish you could have known your great granny as I knew her when I was a child. Granny Elza was the greatest gran growing up, and often filled in the gap as a mother when my mom was sick.

I will always remember her as the one who:

• gave me my first Cabbage Patch Kid
• had Kevin and I every second Saturday night for the best sleepovers
• made memorable Sunday roasts
• made cover-perfect croquembouches before people had even heard of them
• cut watermelons in the shape of a basket and filling it with melon balls
• taught me the legendary fudge recipe
• had a glass of whisky after work
• had a difficult life but never complained
• looked after everyone with so much care, love and patience
• cut out all my articles I wrote during my first job, and pasted them lovingly in scrapbooks (I still have them today)
• wrote many of my Afrikaans school speeches (this once-kept secret is now out!)
• was often very stoic, seldom asking for help
• showed humility all the time

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