Our elderly neighbour passed away recently. His daughter popped round a few moments ago clutching a large plastic sack. In the sack were all the Christmas presents he’d bought for *our* daughter for the next thirteen years. 😢 
I miscounted. It’s fourteen gifts.
He always told us he’d live till he was 100-years-old, so these gifts would have taken him up to our little girl’s 16th Christmas.
He always told us he’d live till he was 100-years-old, so these gifts would have taken him up to our little girl’s 16th Christmas.
My wife and I think it might make a nice Christmas tradition to give our daughter “a present from Ken” for the next 14 years.
Issue is, we really have to open them now. Nobody wants to give a fifteen-year-old Duplo!
Issue is, we really have to open them now. Nobody wants to give a fifteen-year-old Duplo!
What do you all think?
There’s some press interest in this story, so let me tell you a bit about the man:
Ken was a former salvage diver, seaman, carpenter, baker...
The first time I met him, he was bouncing a 20ft ladder across the face of his house.
He was on top.
He was 83 at the time.
Ken was a former salvage diver, seaman, carpenter, baker...
The first time I met him, he was bouncing a 20ft ladder across the face of his house.
He was on top.
He was 83 at the time.
Our dog loved him. I mean, genuine visceral love. It was mainly due to the chocolate digestive biscuits he gave her on first meeting. She’d scream whenever she saw him. Really scream. Like a banshee. He’d call her “my darling” and “sweetheart”.
This is her first meeting.
This is her first meeting.
He played the accordion. We’d hear the strains of oompah drift through the kitchen wall late at night.
He said he’d live to 100.
He planned to do this again...
barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/14843839.…
He said he’d live to 100.
He planned to do this again...
barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/14843839.…
We opened one. We couldn’t resist.
I’ve just done interviews with @BBCWalesNews and @WalesOnline, and had the pleasure of an emotional chat with @bbcworldservice’s @JackieLeonard01 - which will be on a little later, I’d hazard.
I dare you not to cry 😭
Still to come: @theipaper 😊
I dare you not to cry 😭
Still to come: @theipaper 😊
And now @TwitterMoments have jumped on board!
I sincerely hope I’ve done Ken and his family justice in all this.
(It’s starting to feel like the plot of a Richard Curtis Christmas film)
twitter.com/i/moments/1074…
I sincerely hope I’ve done Ken and his family justice in all this.
(It’s starting to feel like the plot of a Richard Curtis Christmas film)
twitter.com/i/moments/1074…
I can’t track all the messages from journos in my notifications, so if you want to discuss, my DMs are open.
My life rn.
My phone hasn’t stopped ringing all day.
To those journos who’ve left voicemails, just call again. I’ll try to get round to you all.
To those journos who’ve left voicemails, just call again. I’ll try to get round to you all.
About to speak with @BBCRadioWales top news team!
Tomi Ungerer's team has DM'd me.
Tomi was really touched by the story, and would love to sign the book… 😭
Tomi was really touched by the story, and would love to sign the book… 😭
So that’s a pretty conclusive result.
Message received loud and clear, Twitter!
Message received loud and clear, Twitter!
I need a nap.
We're definitely going to open one every year till 2032, by the way. It'll be our way of remembering an immensely generous gentleman - our new Christmas tradition.
We'll add the pics to this thread for as long as Twitter is still a thing!
We'll add the pics to this thread for as long as Twitter is still a thing!
Because I’ve been asked numerous times, this is Wci (pronounced “Wookie”).
She’s the sweetest little thing, we rescued her from @CardiffDogs in 2012.
She’s a Chinese Crested Powderpuff / Japanese Spitz cross - according to our vet.
(She was Ken’s friend)
She’s the sweetest little thing, we rescued her from @CardiffDogs in 2012.
She’s a Chinese Crested Powderpuff / Japanese Spitz cross - according to our vet.
(She was Ken’s friend)
I know how @kanyewest feels
Oh the glamour of talking with @CBC in Canada from the other side of the Atlantic!
