Christmas plans.

Letter from Judy to Nanny & Grandad 16 Nov 1975 –

We have booked up bandas at Meru Park from 21st – 26th December – we thought the children might enjoy a ‘camping’ Christmas which is certainly something we couldn’t do at home. All the accoutrements of traditional Christmas are appallingly expensive here so to do something different seems a good idea. It looks as if our proposed trip to Lake Rudolf won’t be on this year as the new road they are building still has 50 miles or so to go and it seems sensible to wait til it’s completed as it will make such a difference to the journey. However there are plenty of other places to visit in the meantime so I expect we’ll have some interesting outings this holiday.

Letter from Judy to Mrs Salter 19 Nov 1975 –

We are going to go camping at Christmastime to a part of Kenya that is very hot. It will be strange eating our Christmas dinner in bathing costumes and the children will have to hang their stockings up in our tent !

Letter from Graham to David 3 Dec 1975 –

The children have been enjoying themselves making some ‘books’ for their grandparents with pictures, poems and stories in them which we will send for Christmas.

Letter from Judy to Jo 6 Dec 1975 –

There is nothing to remind you of Christmas in any of the shops here though a few do stock highly expensive crackers and cards. We decided that at nearly £1 a cracker we would do without ! Even things like marzipan and dried fruit are fantastically expensive – the only things I buy are raisins or sultanas which are about 75p for a 12oz packet and we use them sparingly – no rich fruit cakes. Lots of our friends have parents and relatives coming out to visit them this week as it’s really the best time to visit Kenya, so there is great excitement around. Today I looked after the 5 week old baby of one of our friends while she did last minute preparations for her parents-in-law arrival tomorrow. She is unusual in having no help in the house and of course the baby chose this weekend to be extra grizzly ! The last posting date for Christmas is 15th Dec I think but there seems little hold-up with Christmas mail at this end. We think we might treat the children to Christmas Day dinner at the Lodge at Meru Game Park if we can arrange it.

Letter from Juliet, Helen & Fiona to Nanny & Grandad Dec 1975 –

Although we are thousands of miles away at this moment we all hope you have a Happy Christmas and enjoy looking at these pictures of birds. Helen has done the birds of Kenya which are very good, Fiona has done a lovely animal picture and I have illustrated a poem you might know. We have also included two cine films which we hope and have no doubt you will enjoy.