grandad kit

Thank you for reading my blog. If you have difficulty seeing your grandchildren, or have any views about my situation, I would welcome your messages by e-mail through this blog site. If you wish, just use a first name or a nickname and your identity will be protected, like mine – “Grandad Kit.”

Dear “Tom”

Rome

I am your other grandfather, the one you have never met. You are three years old, and although I have never met you, I love you dearly and always will. You are my flesh and blood, and always will be. We will meet one day, I am sure.

Today Grandad flew to Rome, the capital city of Italy. It's the first time I've ever been to Rome, and I was very excited. Rome is famous because, many years ago, it was the centre of the Roman Empire. The Romans started off as a small tribe in a small town, but they were very, very good soldiers and they gradullay conquered many countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including England and Wales. They didn't conquer Scotland, and that's why the Romans built Hadrian's Wall from one side of the country to the other, rougjhy from Newcastle in the East to Carlisle in the West.

The Romans stayed in England and Wales - they didn't take over Ireland - for 400 years, and they left their mark. Any town with "Chester" on the end started as a Roman Town, including Chester itself near where I was born. And the Romans built many roads which we still use today. The Romans always built their roads in a streaight line from point to point - just like Hadrian's Wall (which I'll take you to see one day) - and in fact we live on one such road, a Roman Road!

The other thing the Romans did was to bring their language - Latin - to many countries. Lots of our words we use today have their origins in Latin. Grandad actually learned Latin wheh I was at school, even though nobody speaks Latin nowdays (apart from the Pope and some Catholic priests). Eeven the Romans - the people who live in Rome - don't spaek Latin. They speak Italian.

There are lots of fine old buildings in Rome. Because I have been busy with meetings, there was not much time to look around the City. Fortunately, we have been meeting near St Peter's Square next to the Vatican where the Pope lives. There were hundreds and hundreds of people queueing up to go inside and look round, so I had to stay outside, but it was still a fine sight to see.

Nana Ann, who has been to Rome herself several times in the past, told me to take a lot of photographs so I can show her where I've been.

Love from

Grandad Kit and Nana Ann