My daughter is going to Australia in three weeks time, with my grandson, to her old school friend from Basildon, and her one request to take out there is a few copies of the local newspaper. It seems so ironic that, that was what she asked for but in view of this interview now- it's not surprising at all. We get all the news of course and the queen is down in Australia at the moment; she said- yes we get all the news even to seeing the Queen- which I haven't done, unfortunately, but she still wants a few copies of the local paper.

Q. Something she can relate to and go back to.

A. yes, that's right...it shows how important it is, despite our letters, and I make these recordings for her, we sprout a bit of poetry at each other sometimes, it's amazing what you can get on tape, but she likes to read it for herself, of course.