A Letter To ...

My mother, who didn’t experience the year of the pandemic

This summer, we invited readers to share the letter they have always wanted to write, but never did. This is the first in the series. Dearest Mummy

This year has been so strange and I have wanted to see you so much. I want to hug you and kiss you and hear you laugh.

May these words wrap around you and let you know I love you so much.

What would you think of the empty streets, lockdown and the whole world stopping?

We are so lucky to have had people like Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield to guide us and help us through to level one. We will always be indebted to them.

It was a frightening time for us having to distance, but so many other countries are in terrible trouble now and we are so lucky.

I want to tell you, I amo kay. I have a little dog who is everything. She is a bit silly and you might find her irritating, but she loves me and I love her so much.

I have been doing drawings and writing stories about the cats and dogs we have had and it brings joy. It is my fantasy world like Harry Potter and JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and A A Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and friends. You should do the things you love because they make you feel good.

Your favourite songs are still on the radio, and they make me think of you.

I want this letter to tell you how much I still love and care for you. You loved writing letters and so do I. And the one I would most like to send is this one to you.

You are remembered by many and loved. Imust go now but leave you with my love.

Yours faithfully Elizabeth

Do you have a letter you have always wanted to write to someone, but never did? Perhaps you want to get in touch with a long-lost friend or recount a story to a family member. Maybe you’ve always wanted to declare your feelings for someone, or make an admission. We want to help by publishing your words – maybe the intended recipient will even read them.