When the invitation came it took us by surprise. Yes our roots were in Britain but with grandparents gone and the passing of my father those days were relegated to a corner of my consciousness. My mother at age 80 wasn’t sure that she would ever return but the invitation from her cousin in Seasalter, England read simply:  “We have never met but our Dad’s were brothers…I have decided to host a get together for as many cousins and family who can make it…My mum Mary, 91 years old will be there…”.

With four weeks notice we have decided to travel from Canada – how could we not?

The get-together is in Seasalter, close to Whitstable in Kent, England and afterwards we will travel down to South Wales where the family I remember from my youth is from…where my mother was born and so was I, many years ago (photo of the two of us from 1955). It will be a bitter sweet return with so many loved ones now gone but one we want to make together.