Memories of Loved Ones at Christmas

Christmas is always a time to remember those who are no longer here with us to celebrate. Sadly there are many family members and friends that I miss, not only at Christmas, but all year around. But there is something more poignant about their absence at Christmas. The anniversary of many of their deaths is around Christmas and New Year. My mother, my eldest brother, my friends Oscar, Yvonne, Neil, David, and Enfys, all taken from us between December 4th and January 12th. So they are all very much in my heart and my thoughts at this time. And also my Dad who left us in March 2010.

I'm not a good story teller and the memories I'm going to share here probably wont read well but they are my special memories and I want to remember loved ones today ...

My mother left me with 101 happy memories, probably many more if I could remember them.

Mam 1972 playing the organ at Begelly Arms, West Wales

But the overwhelming sense I have of her is her inability to control her attacks of the giggles. She had a wicked sense of humour, and was also the butt of many a practical joke carried out by my youngest brother. She would break into a fit of the giggles at the most inappropriate times. Once a male singer came to our home for an audition. Mam was a pianist for a concert party called "Adar Y Banc." I dont remember why she had a fit of the giggles, or what it was about this man that made her shake with laughter, I just remember her shoulders shaking, her unsuccessful efforts to try and stop laughing, and when the man left, seemingly quite unaware of the effect he had had on my mother and all of us, Mam literally fell off her chair because of her uncontrollable giggles. I can remember leaving the room while the man was singing unable to cope with my own growing need to burst into laughter. I still smile at the memory. I can see her and hear her as if she were in the room with me now. It will be 29 years since she had to leave us.

My Dad ....

I'm not sure when this was taken, (1940's/50's) or who my dad is with ...

Me and my Dad in our garden at home, superimposed with the above picture

.... before starting school, I would spend every minute possible with my Dad...on rare occassions as a treat, sitting high up in the Milk Lorry he drove for work, collecting the milk churns from the farms in West Wales, standing up on the back seat of the car going to collect my sister Elizabeth from school, in the garden helping to plant and nurture the many fruits and vegetables he grew there, collecting apples and pears from our orchards .... these are amazing memories that I cherish now and will for evermore. My dad lived a long life and passed away in 2010. He missed my mother after her death in 1985, he worried constantly about all of us, his children, and he lived as full a life as he could. Only when illness overcame him and he could no longer do all the things he enjoyed doing, I think then he gave up.

This is all for today .... I'll share memories of friends another day ..........