Biking Birder I Swanage and My late wife, Karen

 On the 21st of February 2010 I arrived back at Swanage, Dorset.

Back at the beginning of the millennium I had lived here with my now late wife, Karen and our children.

Being back in the town where my wife was soon to die and where my best friend Gordon Barnes had already died a couple of years before was tough.

Seeing great friends, Peter Barnes and Perry Barnes, Gordon's wife, was wonderful but walking around the town was of course tinged with sadness.

 

Here is a photo of Karen back in 2002 sitting with Gordon and my oldest daughter, Rebecca . . .

. . .  a broken ankle, Karen by now was suffering from a number of debilitating conditions and in great pain most of the time.

My memory of her though will always be one of her laughing, of her cuddling into me and of our always holding hands when out, fingers intertwined. 

Our last moment together was when we held each other, Karen by now just over three stones in weight and she reached up to give one last kiss.

Karen died August 7th, 2012.