Joy at seeing my grandsons again
IT WAs wonderful to see the article about Ray and Theresa Cossey meeting their great-grandchildren for the first time after four months apart (Mail). It resonated with me as I have waited five months to see my two grandsons, Daniel and Thomas, aged ten and 11, who live 200 miles away in Norfolk. They normally come to stay with me every school holiday but because of lockdown we had to cancel their Easter visit. The last time I saw them was February half-term. I have kept strictly to the lockdown rules and it has been heart-breaking not seeing them as they are a big part of my life. Being with them has helped me so much after tragically losing their daddy, my only son, five years ago. I adopted oscar, a little rescue dog, a week before lockdown from an animal sanctuary and it was a wonderful day when we all met after so long. I am overjoyed that the boys are spending five weeks of the summer holidays with me.
ANNE BELL, Manchester.
WHILE it was wonderful to see the pictures of the couple hugging their great-grandchildren, the rules on this are not clear. My understanding is that you can only hug your adult children and grandchildren if they form part of your support bubble or live with you in the same household. A support bubble applies if there is only one grandparent, not a couple. surely the Cosseys’ GP can’t give permission for hugs. I must keep at least one metre from my grandchildren at all times because I live with their grandfather. This means I can’t resume my childcare duties of the past nine years enabling both parents to return to work because I wouldn’t be allowed to touch the children if they needed help. Despite these rules, I know of other families who are caring for their grandchildren with all the physical contact this implies.
Name supplied, Doncaster, S. Yorks.
HUGs are not permitted for lawabiding grandparents like us unless we have just scored a goal or won a trophy; are half-cut in a bar; or are crowded on a beach. We are yet to touch our grandchildren, let alone hug them. A. P. & C. GOLDSWORTHY,
Warminster, Wilts.