[mobertol]

Dear Me, it’s been a long time and I had to find your photo to remind me what you were really like. Funny thing is that we seem pretty similar even now –same glasses, hair still short, though I wish I was as slim as you.

You’re not as bad as you thought you were back then, but you were always comparing yourself to your younger sister who was the pretty, popular one. Another 2 years to go till you have a boyfriend, I’m afraid you’ll be a late starter but you will make up for lost time, believe me.

You won’t become an international tennis star or a vet, though you will end up working with animals. Mum’s always going on about you being Thursday’s child who has far to go –well, you will go far but not in the way she means. You will get to study where you want to go, just not as soon as is expected – the three years spent in Liverpool (it’s a great place, believe me) will be unforgettable.

I’m still friends with all four of your best friends which is great and probably quite unusual considering where we all end up –you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Know you can always rely on them. Mum and dad are both doing well too, but Denise is still a pain and doesn’t make much effort at keeping in touch.

Life will not take you along the road you were counting on but you won’t be too disappointed with the outcome. A few knocks and bumps along the way will do you no harm and you will learn to be very self-reliant as a mother. No, you won’t be on your own, you will make something work which everyone will advise you against – but then you always have been very stubborn . It will be one of the rare times you follow your heart and not your head.

So keep on with living life as you are doing now, don’t fret and over-analyse what happens to you –you can’t control everything. One thing leads to another and I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
Hope you enjoy getting this far - I did most of the time, D xx

PS Will try to carry on being good into the future but am thinking of sending us a letter when we’re twenty-one, so I may risk getting lost again!

(Photo of mobertol in summer school uniform, 3 months before 15th birthday.)