A grandpa from Bury St Edmunds learned a new skill that will help him reconnect with his grandchildren during the lockdown – by playing the popular Xbox game Fortnite.
Phillip Christey, along with his wife Penny, are both in their 50s and enjoyed learning to play video games with their three grandchildren.
Cobey, 10, Oakley, eight, and younger sister, Eliza, six, used Facetime to teach their grandparents to play the game.
Phillip Christey with his three grandchildren Eliza, Cobey and Oakley.
– Photo credit: Hannah Sweeney
They live in Diss with their parents Hannah and Rob Sweeney, and like millions of others, they couldn’t see their grandparents face to face during the pandemic.
They usually stayed with them every other weekend, but the restrictions forced them to stay connected online.
Before Father’s Day that weekend, Ms. Sweeney said that Father-in-law Phillip was “amazing” and wanted to share her admiration for everything he did that Father’s Day.
Phillip and Penny Christey (center) with youngest son Ryan (far left) and son Rob (far right) with wife Hannah Sweeney. They are pictured with their three grandchildren Eliza, Oakley and Cobey.
– Photo credit: Hannah Sweeney
She said, “Phillip was great during the lockdown. He and Penny even learned to play Fortnite so they can play online with the kids.
“They usually see the kids every other weekend so it was really hard for them and a big change not to see them for months.
“We are so grateful for what they are doing for us. They give me and Rob time to be both people and parents.”
Phillip works for DFS in Bury St. Edmunds, and Ms. Sweeney said he was an “incredible” father-in-law and grandfather to their three children.
She said, “Phillip and Penny were the greatest in-laws and even better grandparents. They are always there with every storm or rainbow and I am eternally grateful to have the greatest in-laws a girl could ask for.
Phillip Christey, who was thanked on this Father’s Day by daughter-in-law Hannah Sweeney and his wife Penny Christey.
– Photo credit: Hannah Sweeney
“They’ve been of great help last year, buying books and mailing them to the kids during the lockdown, and making sure we always have food.
“They are amazing and we cannot thank them enough.”
Phillip Christey learned to play Fortnite with his grandchildren to keep in touch during lockdown.
– Photo credit: Hannah Sweeney