Peggie: My dear Hettie, for your 47th birthday tomorrow I wish you all the happiness and joy you deserve! May only good spirits be with you and guide you through this world.
Hettie: Dear Peggie, how sweet of you to remember! Thank you very much.
Peggie: I thought I'd contact you today rather than on your birthday proper so that I don't interrupt any celebrations. Time difference and so on.How are you doing?
Hettie: Certainly you wouldn't interrupt anything. The only celebration planned for tomorrow is an evening meal with my son and his wife. And with Thomas of course.
Hettie: Thank you. We are fine. Just the usual routine, nothing special happening. And how are you? Must be ages since we were in touch last!
Peggie: Nothing of importance happens in a life of an old woman! Apart from occasional ailments and similar discomforts. Thank goodness I'm fine.
Peggie: Laura, my daughter, gave birth to twins in March, two lovely girls, and my son Simon has moved house to Derry. A bit too far for me to drive to see them but I understand it's been necessary for his career. They say I should also move closer to them but I'm not ready to sell my house yet. As long as I feel fit to look after it, I'll stay here. So that's my news.
Peggie: Would you remember old Mr Lars, my next door neighbour? Well, he passed away two months ago. A stroke, I heard. Such a nice person! And not that old at all. 86 or something.
Hettie: Congratulations and best wishes to Laura! So how many children have they got now? I've somehow lost count.
Hettie: Yes, I remember him. So sorry to hear about his death.
Peggie: With the twins four. It's Simon whose family keeps on growing. They have got five children and Adela, Simon's wife, says she'd like to have a baby again. Well... They can surely afford it so why not? They are a very harmonious family.
Hettie: I can understand that you don't want to leave the house you've spent most of your life in. It's such a beautiful house too.
Hettie: By the way, we will probably be moving house soon too. A real estate agent, in fact a good friend of ours, has found an old farmhouse in need of a major overhaul in the area close to the Grampians. I have always wanted to live there! What's more, Thomas will be able to continue his research work in the National Park. We are both quite thrilled and hope it will happen.
Peggie: Why shouldn't it, if I may ask?
Hettie: Sorry to be so confused about all these kids!
Hettie: It's a question of funds, very banal.
Peggie: I'm sure you can sort it out. Anyway I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Hettie: Thanks Peggie. And thank you for the birthday wishes! Always nice to chat with you - across the ocean.
Peggie: My pleasure. Aren't these electronic and digital gadgets wonderful? I'm so proud I've mastered the basic use of my smartphone. Very useful!
Peggie: So all the best to you and please give my regards to Thomas.
Hettie: Thanks a lot. Love!
Peggie is sending Hettie birthday wishes. Peggie's daughter gave birth to twins in March and her son moved to Derry. Her neighbour passed away two months ago. Hettie will be probably moving house soon in the area close to the Grampians, which is where she always wanted to live.