Sunday, 26 July 2026

Remembering Keith

 Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of Keith's death.  We had all agreed to meet up at Llansteffan beach, which was the nearest one to our old house when we lived in Carms.  18 miles I think it was.  Beaches are the perfect venue for little ones and they really enjoyed themselves.  They would have been happy to sit in the nearest bit of sand (which they did for 5 mins or so, before we walked them further).  



We had chips for lunch (fish is a bit prohibitive and I find a whole piece too big - Keith and I always shared).  Then later on, after the playground, ice lollies/ice cream after our lovely walk along the beach, with "I" and Rosie stopping regularly to sit in the sand and play.


Tam, Danny/Rosie, "I" and moi.



Then Gabs took one of all of  us.



Looking across the River Towy to Ferryside.



Sadly, there were no rock pools to explore, and we had to be close to Rosie unless she slipped and hurt herself on the rocks, but both the girls loved it here.

It was too hot to climb up to the lovely castle.  We have done that many times in the past though.


On our way to the shop for ice cream/lollies.  I had arrived first and was hot earlier, so treated myself to a Mint Magnum, so it was a two ice-cream day for me :)

It was a lot of driving for me, as I went to the Unit first.  Best part of 200 miles including going down to Llansteffan after . . . I still had only sold one thing, so my bank account took a hit for next month's rent.  It took another hit when I had to fill the diesel up on the car, before prices go up even more (got some for £1.69 point 9.  It was up to ten pence dearer a litre elsewhere.)  Another £40 out. Half of it will get used next week when I go to to my quilting class, and then 3 days later, the next little Fair.  I would love a day out somewhere, but simply can't afford it.  I will be living from the freezer for meals as long as I can.

Tam and Rosie didn't come and stay in the end, as she didn't want to give me her summer cold.  I had been to Chris Thomas for my fruit and veg, and had brought extra with them in mind.  They went home with the strawberries, but I have oranges, extra apples (no problem there), BIG cherries which I have cooked up the softest ones from, donut peaches and some potatoes.  I may turn the oranges into jam . . . I have a recipe for Dried Apricot Jam with Oranges.  (Another £11.50 spent there).

Oh, I took my old camera in to see if it could be fixed.  No, they think the mother board has gone.  Having just paid £22 for a new battery for it, even more money hitting a brick wall.  Then the arm fell off my specs in the evening, but I have managed to do a home repair job involving Superglue . . .  Everything's going at once.  Hope that is the 3 things breaking, full stop!

We had rain overnight and it's beaujtifully cloudy today and spitting with rain off and on.  I will try and get my two raspberries bought weeks ago at the Llandod car boot sale, into the ground.  Or it may still be like concrete . . .

18 comments:

  1. A sad and happy day but also enjoyed by the youngsters in the family. Lovely set of photos as well. x

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    1. Indeed. We all loved it there and so good to see the little ones have fun.

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  2. Nice quiet looking beach not like on the south coast and Cornwall where they are like ants. Your not the only one who bust glasses, my wife sat on hers and totaled them, new frames will cost here over 100 quid as they are Betty Johnson ones, trouble is they stopped making them now

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    1. Fewer people living/holidaying here but it does get busy in the summer too. Carms has fabulous sandy beaches that go for miles.

      Ooops about your wife's glasses. I go for the cheap ones - no-one ever sees them but me as they are for reading, not distance - and less pain if I break them!

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  3. A lovely way to remember Keith, and the littlies looked liked they had a fabulous time. I've just topped up my petrol, cheaper here in Derbyshire than Devon. Hopefully your run of breaking things has stopped and also money going out. I've spent a lovely couple of hours garden pottering, dead-heading, weeding, cleaning the bird water bowls and potting some strawberry runners on, hopefully they'll take. I normally have a good success rate. Have a good week. Xx

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    1. We all had a good time and it was fun seeing Rosie going down the slide - sometimes landing on her bottom, but a couple of faceplants thrown in for good measure!

      This year seems to be one where I am having to spend and spend and my savings are dwindling. I've been out in the garden today too. Will see if I can put the other Raspberry bush in now. I've been weeding them and putting down a thick layer of bark chippings.

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  4. Making more memories is always good.
    Sorry about lack of sales at your unit and the glasses and the camera - that sounds like enough problems for a while!

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    1. I spoke with another (much bigger) dealer and she said the same for her Units, in different places. Sort of fixed my specs (Superglue) and the camera, that IS a shame as it took lovely photos.

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  5. Beautiful beach day! Loved seeing the family pictures. Lovely, you must be so proud of them all. Lovely way to remember Keith.

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    1. It was a lovely day. Happy memories to overlay the sad ones. I am very proud of them all.

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  6. Anniversaries are so very hard . Saturday was 40 months since my husband died . It feels like no time and also forever . A lovely way to remember him
    Miriam

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    1. Oh Miriam, I am so sorry. I agree - it seems like no time and forever. I just really miss being able to chat to him about the things which interested both of us. I have lost that forever.

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  7. looks like you had a lovely day, I'm sure Keith would've been happy.

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    1. Yes, we felt Keith was there in spirit. We always loved that beach.

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  8. What a great way to remember Keith. The little ones look like they were having great fun.

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    1. The little ones really didn't want to leave! Who can blame them? Lots of families enjoying it down there too.

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  9. À good family day out.. But fuel is expensive there!

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    1. Gosh yes. I remember a friend who had their car converted so they could use gas on occasion. It was then about 25p a measure. Now it is dearest of all and nearly £2 for the same amount. Keith would have said they were driving a bomb . . .

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