Hi Kai

Hey Kai,
Its been too long since I wrote anything to you. Sometimes I find it hard to say anything, then I end up feeling bad because I haven't written anything. I'm sorry for not keeping in touch as much though. I dont like writing about myself but I guess you may have some questions about what I do so I'll let you know.

What do I do?
I volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau as a generalist advisor.

What is the Citizens Advice Bureau?
It is a place where anyone can come and ask questions on any subject, about the law, about benefits or general things that they may not be too sure about.

What do I do there?
I talk to people get to know what their problem is and help them to solve it. I help them to solve it in many different ways either by telling them what the law is in regards to their situation, or helping them make a telephone call or writing a letter to a company. I help them to fill in forms. sometimes all I have to do is listen to what they have to say and they work out how to solve the question themself. I can't always help everyone though and when that happens I will tell them where they can find someone who has the specialist skills dealing with that sort of issue.

Do I like it?
Yes I like it it keeps me busy and I'm able to help all sorts of people with different questions. I like answering questions, and if I dont know the answer I like trying to find out what the answer should be.

If you ever have any questions you want to ask me yourself ask your mum, and she can ask me until you are old enough to ask yourself.

Lots of love, Dad.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Kai,
Ok I know I'm a day early but today is your grandma's birthday she is almost well I would tell you how many years older than you she is, but that wouldnt make her very happy, so I'll let you guess. Its more than 3 and less than 100 though. Do you like birthdays? What do you like about them? I like cake, but I like all kinds of cake not just birthday cake. I especially like butter icing but too much of that isn't good as it is just sugar and butter but it tastes sooo good I don't think it matters if you have some on a birthday. I hope you have a wonderful time and that you get nice presents and a big cake with lots of icing.

Happy birthday and lots of love,

Dad.

Jessica

Hi Kai,

Today is your cousin Jessica's birthday she is exactly 2 weeks older than you. Jessica likes cakes and when Jessica comes to see us your grandma bakes with her. My auntie Ruth is visiting today When she was young she couldn't pronunce her surname and used to call herself duck. Thats a silly name for a girl but maybe she really is a duck.

I think that Jessica will have a nice birthday today Grandma said that she is going to see something with pottery. Pottery is making things with clay. It has been used for thousands of years to make all sorts of stuff. Pots plates cups and hundreds of other things. They are often displayed in museums as they can help to tell a story about the people who made them.

Lots of love, Dad

Seals

Hi Kai,

Near where I live by the sea is a family of seals. I think the biggest one is called Frank but I don't like to ask him incase I scare him away. they seem to be there all year round but I'm not sure if they are the same seals all the time. Seals eat fish and shellfish. These seals like to pull themselves up onto the rocks at low tide and sunbathe and swim. I think they are happy there. I will borrow your grandma's camera and go and take some photos of them so you can see them. Maybe you can find out if the big one is called Frank and what the names of the others are.

Lots of love, Dad.

Poland

Hi Kai,
Last weekend I was in Poland for your aunt Rachel's wedding. She got married to Marcin and we all went out to Dibica in the South East of Poland where Marcin is from. I flew out on Friday morning and came back on Monday. Almost everyone was there, but you great granny wasn't feeling well enough to travel all that way, she was eighty last month, so she stayed at home with your great granda. There was lots of food and too much vodka which is a very strong alcoholic drink that I don't like. There was lots of sausages and ham and so many cakes. Rachel had a wedding cake that looked like a pair of swans. I dont know if they are symoblic to Polish people but your uncle Iain had a toy goose that looked just like the cake when he was a baby. Your cousin Jessica was a bridesmaid. Marcin wore a kilt, which is traditional Scottish clothing it's basically a tartan skirt.
Lots of love Dad

Pancakes

Hi Kai,

I like going walking. It helps me get fit and I can go exploring. This week I walked some of the way of what is called the speyside way. The Spey is a river near where I live it goes through a little town called Fochabers where they have a company called Baxters. They make jams and soups. When I was little your grandma used to take me and your uncle Iain and your aunty Rachel to the restaurant when we would go to visit you great grandparents. The pancakes were bigger than plates. I like pancakes they are easy to make. I made some panckes for myself and your grandad this week. I tried to make some cherry jam to go with it but it was too runny. I poured this juice into a glass and your grandad said it was the best thing he ever tasted! Have you tried pancakes?
I like mine with syrup and butter when they are still warm out of the pan.

Hamish the Haggis

This is Hamish, he is a haggis. Haggis is Scotland's national dish but Hamish is a wild haggis. Wild haggis are very rare and timid creatures and only the most dedicated haggis hunters know where to find them. A wild haggis has a small horn like nose and makes a honk-honk sound, but it's usually very quiet. It is said to be extremely lucky to hear a wild haggis call. They wear tammies with their clan tartan on them this is so they know where they live. This haggis is from Ben Nevis and so is one of the most famous haggis in their society. They are very confused animals thats why they always have to wear their hats, it lets them find their way home if they get lost. This hat-navigation is the basis for sat-nav technology that people use in cars. Wild haggis have three legs, two at the back and one at the front. They are almost like chickens feet but only have two toes. Having long legs at the back mean that haggis' are able to run up hills very quickly but the short leg at the front means they can't run down again and they roll and bounce all the way to the bottom. This is where the wild haggis hunters wait with their nets and catch them before they can get back on their feet and run up the hill again. The haggis hunter will then sell the haggis to shops. That is why a haggis is a very timid wee beastie but if you see a man running near the bottom of a mountain with a big net you will know why he is there.