Facetime
How we have missed our little granddaughters! They have been away for almost three weeks - down in the south west of Australia but they are on their way home now. As I write, they are probably high above Iraq on their way back to London Heathrow. Earlier this evening, our daughter Frances "facetimed" us from Changi Airport in Singapore. They had a four hour layover to endure. And there was Phoebe, bouncing on a trampoline in the children's play area. "Look at me Grandpa!" as Margot staggered around looking very pleased with herself. Where there is good WiFi, family and friends can communicate with each other from anywhere in the world. Not just exchanging words but seeing each other on little phone-camera screens too. It is almost beyond belief. The first time I encountered "Facetime" it was twelve years ago in the back of a taxi in Bangkok. My friend and teaching colleague Jennifer was talking to her mother back in England. It seemed quite surrea...