We were travelling by ferry to a little island off the coast of Borneo called Gaya Island. On the ferry with us was a Malaysian family with three children, two boys and a little girl. The mum indicated the empty seat next to me and told her middle son. “Go and sit with Grandma”.

And that was it. We spent the entire weekend with this couple and their children who were totally delightful and I became “Grandma” for the weekend.

We went to a beach on the other side of the island which was remote and idyllic. They were there too. I took a walk along the beach and found it full of the most beautiful shells so I started collecting them and putting them in a special place between two bits of driftwood. The kids came to see this and I took great pleasure in showing them. They then decided they needed to help and followed me around saying “Found it Grandma” – and showing me a shell they had found. We constructed a beautiful display and took photos with the shells and I asked their mum and dad if I could write about how proud I was to be chosen by them to be their “Grandma” for the weekend.

So this blog is dedicated to those beautiful “grandchildren” and their gracious parents. Their mum was a top chef at the resort, taking time off with her husband, also a chef, to celebrate his birthday. A long and happy life to them all from “Grandma”.