Real stories · The necklace that went to university

My granddaughter moved 200 miles away — so I bought this necklace twice

One necklace in her post box and its twin at my collar — that's how we solved the 200 miles, my granddaughter and I. She started university in September, which is wonderful and everyone says so, and which also means the girl who sat at my kitchen table every Sunday is suddenly a dot on a map. Nobody warns grandmothers about September.

I wanted to send her something that meant 'I've got you' — without saying it in front of her flatmates.

Then I found the Angelisse from a British label called York Boutique — a delicate angel-wing pendant in a rose-gold tone: a small circle of crystals with a sparkling centre and two fine wings, on an adjustable chain. There's a gold and a silver tone as well.

The wings carry the message. They stand for protection and a bit of guidance — which is why it says everything I wanted without a single embarrassing word — and because it's light, skin-friendly and quietly pretty rather than showy, an eighteen-year-old will actually WEAR it. Hers went in the post with a note. Its twin went straight on over my jumper.

Two delicate winged pendants, 200 miles apart — which is why every video call now starts with the same little glint at both our collars.

They were £19.95 each, half the usual £40 — both together for less than the train fare to visit her. A fortnight to send them back and free delivery, noted and irrelevant; these two aren't going anywhere.

Hers arrived on the Thursday. On Sunday's call she leaned into the camera, pulled the collar of her jumper aside like a detective revealing evidence, and there it was. 'Nan. I haven't taken it off.' Neither have I, love. That's the arrangement.

If someone you love has also flown a bit further than your kitchen table, do have a look — and with the gift season coming, the pairs go quickly. The Angelisse is rated 4.7 out of 5 by more than 220 customers, in rose-gold, gold or silver tone — and at half price, buying it twice is no great sin.