“Happy anniversary, luv. It looks like being a cracking day. I’m glad we chose early July for the wedding.”

“Yes, dear. So am I. It was a good choice, and a wonderful day. I still remember it you know.”

“So do I my love, so do I. How about a trip to Little Hollow? We can call in at the Ship Inn, have lunch in the garden and watch the boats. Sound good to you?”

“Yes dear, sounds good to me. Breakfast first, then we can get going. We shouldn’t need anything in the way of heavy coats or the like, it is going to be a lovely day judging by the weather at the moment.”

After breakfast Frank cleared the dishes and washed up, leaving them to dry on the draining board. He found the car keys and set out for Little Hollow, only 15 miles up the coast, an easy drive at that time of day on a sunny Thursday.

When they arrived Frank set out along the beach, watching a small yacht heading out to sea from the harbour. As he walked along he felt Liz take his hand and squeeze his fingers, he squeezed back.

“Remember that sailing trip we took when we got married? That was OK but I’m no sailor. A few miles up the coast to see the seals and puffins was fine but I couldn’t face going out to sea as such. I like solid ground under my feet, not a rocking deck.”

“I know, love. You are not a marine type man. But that’s alright by me. I’m happy to be a landlubber. Safer that way. No shipwrecks on land.”

As they walked back up to the Esplanade Frank saw the gardener working in the park and set out to have a chat with him.

“Good day young man. This is perfect weather for you, today, isn’t it?”

“Aye, that it is, Sir. The roses over there are coming out a treat and everything else is coming on well. Mind you the grass is growing something wicked. I have to spend two days a week cutting and trimming the edges in this weather.”

“Well, you do a good job. These gardens are a treat. Keep up the good work.”

“Thanks, I will. There is nothing like a bit of fresh air and a nice garden, is there? That bench over yonder is a good spot at this time of morning. Catches the sun but not too hot. Nicely shaded by that great oak. A good spot to sit for a while. Aye, and you can watch them there lassies playing bowls for a while. You enjoy the sun, I’m off to tend to the beds on the other path. Good day to you, Sir.”

“I think I will sit a while, thank you. Goodbye to you.”

Frank made his way to the sun dappled bench the gardener had indicated and settled down to watch the ‘lassies’, all of retirement age, playing a sedate game of bowls on the bowling green situated on the edge of the gardens. The sun was warm and there were the gentle sounds of clinking bowls and chirping birds to listen to.

“This is the life, eh Liz? I wish it could always be like this. Hey ho, if we had it like this all the time it would be boring, so we have to have the bad days in order to appreciate the good. Now then, let’s get comfy. Oh, lovely bowling, madam, that was perfect.”

The players continued their game whilst Frank enjoyed the sun and dozed gently in its warmth. After about thirty minutes he roused himself, as the bench was somewhat hard on his old bones.

“Right, up we get. Come on, old girl, lets go window shopping. That should keep you happy for a while.”

“Who are you calling ‘Old Girl’, you old man?”

“You, you lovely old woman. Now, come on. A trip round the shops and then lunch in the Ship.  Let’s see what’s in the shops. I fancy some fresh fish for dinner so we can check the fishmonger and get some on the way home.”

The shops were spread down the main street and were mainly small, independent shops, rather than multi-nationals, which made the window shopping more interesting, as there were some ‘different’ things to see and buy. Frank was enticed into a souvenir and outdoor type shop which had a display of walking sticks in the corner, just behind the door. He was finding walking a bit of a problem these days. Well, old age never comes along alone and his joints were stiffening up. He chatted with the shop owner for a while, discussing local walks that they both knew and trying out a few walking sticks. Eventually he chose a stout stick with a simple, curved handle, which fit his hand well and was ‘Just right’, he thought. Happy with his purchase he strolled out of the shop, stick in hand, and headed down to the harbour to visit the fishmonger.

“Hello there. I fancy some sea bass. Do you have any? The last time I was here, last year, you sold me some and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“For you to remember it this long it must have been good. Yes, I’ve some here, brought in earlier this morning. How about this one here, Sir?”

“Fine. Can I pay for it now and collect it after I’ve lunched at the Ship?”

“Certainly, I’ll put it by for you in the fridge. There you are. You enjoy your lunch and I’ll see you later. Thank you, Sir.”

“Thank you,” said Frank, and set out for the Ship Inn.

“Now, you settle here, love, and I’ll go in and get the drinks and some lunch. Usual? Right, and a ploughman’s? I thought so, you always like a ploughman’s, don’t you.” Frank went into the pub to get the lunch, leaving Liz sitting in the sunshine in the beer garden at their ‘usual’ table. They had first stayed in the Ship Inn some fifty two years ago, today. They had married in Harston and headed off to Little Hollow following the reception. They had arrived at the Ship early evening and spent a wonderful week away from work, friends and family. Just the two of them. Very much in love with each other and with life. They had tried various new pursuits, such as the sailing trip and some cave exploring, just up the coast.

However the best parts had been the long walks on the downs and the bus rides to the other villages in the area. How time changed things. Most of those villages had now grown together and become small towns. However Little Hollow had survived as a hamlet and seemed almost unchanged in the last half century.

Frank returned with the food and drink and they enjoyed a quiet lunch, watching the boats in the harbour. Three returned from fishing trips whilst two others set out. They also watched a boat owner working on his yacht, probably preparing it for a weekend trip, judging by his actions. Checking all the rigging, cleaning the decks and cockpit, etc.

As the sun tracked across the sky a few wispy clouds appeared, seemingly from nowhere, and the seagulls circled the returning boats, cawing and swooping, seeking out any free pickings.

After lunch Frank returned to the fishmonger to collect his fish and then they made their way back to the car. The car had been in the shade when they parked but now the sun was shining on it so it was quite hot inside. Frank opened the driver’s window and started out of Little Hollow.

“Let’s head up to Look Out Point, OK? We haven’t been up there in years. Remember the climb up that path. Couldn’t do that now, not even with my new walking stick, eh? Thank goodness for the car. Now then, where are we. Right, up to the cross roads, left, then first right I think. Are yes, there’s the signpost.”

The trip only took ten minutes in the car. A lot quicker than walking, as Frank had said. It had been an afternoon’s walk when they first did it. However the trip was well worth it. From Look Out Point, as the name suggests, they had a panoramic view of the coast for some twenty miles north and about ten south, where it curved out of sight. They could also see the downs inland and check to see just how much the old villages had spread.

“When we first came there were three villages dotted about over there, remember? Now it’s just one blob of housing. It’s a shame, isn’t it? Still, people have to live somewhere I suppose. Eh, they call it progress but sometimes I wonder. Come on, Liz, lets head home before all these workers start back and clog up the roads.”

They got home in time to beat the commuter traffic and Frank put the kettle on for tea and got out the biscuit tin. “I enjoyed that wee trip. How about you, luv?”

“Yes, Frank. It was good. It brought back some good memories and it was a lovely day. I’m glad we went. Happy anniversary, love, and thank you for a perfect day.”

“My pleasure, darling. Now, have some tea. I’ll do the dinner after the News on TV, OK?”

“Fine, my love. Then we can watch that film you said was on. I don’t think I’ve seen that one. I remember the other one in the series but not this one.”

* * * * *

When he went to bed Frank left Liz in the lounge, ‘tidying up’ as she put it. He got undressed and climbed into bed. Then he reached over to turn out the bedside lamp. As he did so he looked at the photograph of Liz, beside the lamp.

“I love you and I miss you, Liz,” he said, as he had every night since she died, some eighteen months ago. Then he turned out the light and lay back on his pillow.

“I’ll see you at Christmas, love,” said Liz, as she passed through the bedroom window and up, into the night sky.