Kiff family globe trotters



It would be of no surprise to me whatsoever if somewhere along the lines, the Kiff's were the descendants of Christopher Columbus or another of the great explorers. We like to get about!

As I mentioned before, Grandad and nans brother Percy met in Jersey in the 1930s so travelling was in the blood of both the Kiff and the Steers families way back then.

Nans brothers Percy and Albert both ended up emigrating to Canada when most in those days had barely ventured out of their home town.

Auntie Jan left Harpenden for the Americas in 1963 where she has remained ever since, I remember as a child her address being Walnut Creek, which sounded just magical as well as her American accent. Although I do recall that the Americans always classed her accent as English and for many years (at least 20) still referred to her as the English lady who lived in the area.

Despite the less than annual visits home to see her family, America has been her home for over half a century with most of that time being in California and Montana, Living the American dream springs to mind.






Jan, Sue and Hobo 1972

In 1966 auntie Sue (my godmother) also left Harpenden for America and has spent most of her life bobbing across the Atlantic, as well as living in a variety of European countries too, Sue has travelled the world extensively for over the past 50 years and still she is not done yet!

Judith Chalmers fades into the background in comparison.

As for me, well being her goddaughter meant that every Christmas and birthday I would receive a parcel from another country, addressed exclusively to me and marked Par Avion (with a note across the seal saying "not to be opened before 24th November or 25th December).

Of course I opened it as soon as it arrived!

The gifts were always unique and often personalised. Sue bought me my first world atlas before I could even walk I think!

I still also have 3 personalised books over 40 years later. (As well as a piece of coral reef from Australia). The Swiss chocolate never lasted long with my younger siblings catching on quickly that any parcel with a Swiss post mark equalled an edible present for sharing!




With the girls setting the bar high in the international travel arena, it was not long before my grandparents parked their bikes in favour of air travel and made the trip over the pond too.




Lindi Jan and grandad









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