h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm going to run out of permutations for declaring more visits from Christiaan soon ...

Anyways this weekend my sister Maryke and her husband Jakobus and their little boy Christiaan visited us again. They arrived a bit after three on Saturday and Christiaan headed right for me of course! It seems he really enjoys my company. I take the sacred duty of uncle-hood very seriously of course so I was ready to keep him busy.

Well the big thing Christiaan encountered was my new computer game called 'Spore'. In this game one controls the 'evolution' of a line of creatures starting from one-celled inhabitants of a tidal pool, then moving through land-living creatures, to a tribal society, then a civilisation, and then star-travellers. I've only made it up to the 'civilisation' stage for the while.

At any rate, Christiaan and I had a tremendous time, he supplying the names for the planets and creatures. We designed lots of extremely weird creatures and explored the planets, making friends and enemies etc. I had him handle the mouse himself now and then, taking over when he got frustrated. He still doesn't have very good mousing skills heh heh! Our cats couldn't even help him!

Anyways I was suprised that my *sister* actually was very impressed with the game and played it herself whenever I managed to tear Christiaan away from the computer. I wish she could have some more time to spend with us, then I could show her the ropes of the game. I'd have liked to show her how the tribal and civilisation stages looked. There just wasn't time.

Christiaan and I also played 'Bubble Bobble' on my simulator of the old Commodore 64 computer, and a nice game called 'Fishdom' where one builds an aquarium, generating funds by playing a 'matching' game with tiles with different pictures, changing them around with the aim of getting 3 or more of the same pictures in a row. Anyways I enjoy this game immensely myself.

All of these games are ones involving a bit of thought and perception. Anyways I want to get Christiaan used to using a computer. We played a bit with painting programs as well but Christiaan can't really manage that at the mo. I colored a picture for him on the computer screen to show him a bit of what drawing/painting programs can do, and then printed it out so he could show it to his parents and grandparents.

Apart from the computer we spent time reading - the adventure of Tintin exploring the Moon, and a tiny bit of Asterix. We played with lego models too.

He always enjoys our cats. Kadoefie (the tiny old mother) is always friendly with Christiaan, allowing him to stroke her. Poplap (Kadoefie's huge daughter) is always very scared of Christiaan and I have to go catch her and hold her so he can stroke her! I wonder if she'll ever get to know and trust him well.

When I wasn't able to play with him, he listened to some of the old children's records my parents bought about 30 years ago for my sister and I. Those old things are extremely charming. The ones he listened to was of a friendly but a bit daft little witch.

My sister brought me some music to listen to. I got a bit of time to talk to her. She's had an operation recently ... a thing that impeded her from having children after Christiaan, was now put right. But maybe it's too late for them for having more children. Her career has now gone into a direction where maybe they won't be able to manage it. But at least they have Christiaan.

I really miss my sister. It's hard not having her around ... I mean when we were young we shared so many things and we could chat about stuff we enjoy ... we shared so many joys but I took it for granted then. My sister is one of very few people I know who's intelligent enough to be able to speak about topics at the level I'd like to speak of them. There's been a bit of a wedge between us since my last admission to the psychiatric hospital in 2001. I am going to try to start corresponding with her by email. We could use music chat just as a point of departure. I really like the music she brought for me ... we still have very similar musical tastes though I'm more into heavy rock than she.

Anyways I enjoyed the visit and I hope they did too.

Glad you enjoyed their visit Willem I'm sure Chistiaan sees you as someone very special in his life and will always look up to you

Monday, 12thMay 2009 17.10

Geagte Oom Willem,

What a wonderful Uncle you are to christiaan. He must love you to bits. I wish that my children had had such a wonderful uncle. !!
He is obviously extrordinarily fond of you as your sister is of you.

I so enjoyed reading about those games that you play. the only one I play is JSolitaire Freecell. !! which I thoroughoy enjoy. I used to llove bridge and played a lot of duplicate when i was in Africa. Now I think my brain has gone into reverse and I would do the most extraordinary things.

thank you for sharing Christiaan with us.

With much affection

Christiane.
AlsoRan80

Hello Anoldgreymoonraker and Christiane! Thanks for your messages. I really hope to be a good influence on Christiaan.

My mom also plays card games on the computer! But she likes some of my other games also ... but she lets *me* play them while she watches!

Willem, you are fortunate to have such a lovely family. You clearly get a great deal from your interaction with your nephew, and he obviously does too. It is a shame that your visit to the hospital in 2001 made things difficult between you and your sister. Perhaps you can now return to the closeness you once had. I am sure your sister is a happier person now her personal problem is resolved. Perhaps they will find time to give Christiaan a sibling. He sounds a very bright little boy.

How is your Dad these days, by the way? I hope he is progressing well.

Websailor

Hello Websailor! I realy hope I can get close to my sis again. Right now I'm finishing listening to the music she sent me. I'll email her tomorrow if all goes well.

My Dad is actually doing very well! Tomorrow he's going for the last chemo session for now. A month from now he'll get scanned again to see what's going on. But the doctors are very satisfied so we're all hopeful. Thanks for your concern!

Willem

Thanks Willem,

That is good news and I hope for even better news in a month's time.

Websailor