Yesi

After the shenanigans with new hens and American amblers I was slightly late going to auntie Glad's to meet with the reporter who is doing the piece on " Gladys and The Flower Show" for the Evening Leader.
In the end, both reporter and photographer didn't turn up ( a mix up on their part which they should rectify today) but the three quarters of an hour waiting for them to turn up proved to be a surprisingly entertaining time out in my day.
Sat at her spotless table in an immaculate old fashioned kitchen, Gladys and  I were joined by Islwyn  Thomas, who at 90 is a sprightly five years Gladys' junior. He had been out and about selling tickets for the forthcoming Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir Summer concert, which takes place on the 19th.

Islwyn

Islwyn is a man who never stops chortling. Most of his sentences are punctuated with the very Welsh word " Yesi" ( pronounced as yessssss-i) which can be translated loosely as " Jesus" and this seems always to be followed with a smile and a laugh.
He is one of life's naturally happy individuals.
Islwyn and Gladys have been friends for a lifetime and it shows. In a matter of minutes the two of them cackled and laughed over memories shared and village news.
I just sat back and watched.
They recalled a mad Irishman who lived in High Street who once drunkenly threw milk bottles at the men from the choir when they took refreshments in Auntie Glad's garage.
They laughed at the way Islwyn used to deliver canisters of paraffin to the outlying village farms on the handlebars of his bike.
And they laughed like drains at the helium balloon with the phrase " congratulations you are 80" on it that Gladys found floating by her back door only that morning.
She brought the balloon in from the scullery to show us, and the pair laughed happily again.

Laughter... I suspect it's just one of the reasons both have lived so long



29 comments:

  1. I like to think that 'miserable old gits' would die younger. They're right, laughter IS the best medicine.

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  2. I was thinking that about the pair of them before I got to your last sentence John. We hjave a few real oldies in our village - makes me seem like a mere chicken.

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  3. good on them; must be the clean air and country living and caring neighbours. may we all live like auntie glad and islwyn!

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  4. Reading about Aunt Gladys and Islwyn made me smile... and brought back happy memories of when I stayed with Grandmother Josephine on Standing Rock Reservation. She and Uncle Isaac were full of joyful laughter, much like your happy pair.

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  5. That's nice - to lose your sense of humour is the worst thing possible, I think.

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  6. Such a wonderful story. Laughter, community, and a simple village life must be the fountain of youth!

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  7. John you are a tonic every day ;
    Hugs
    Sue's Mum XXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  8. 'Laughter is the best medicine'?

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  9. Anonymous10:26 am

    How wonderful that they are both still in good humour after all those years.

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  10. Lovely to be at that stage in life and have so much happiness overflowing....it has to be the best tonic for anyone around them!

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  11. If I could change just one thing about myself it would be to have a happier personality.
    Which is a little ironic as my friends consider me to be a 'laugh' - but then, I hide away when I am down.
    If only the scientists could replicate Gladys and Islwyn's Happy DNA and vaccinate the depressives. I would be the first in the queue (and I'm needle phobic!!).
    x

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  12. Islwyn is also good looking and a snappy dresser!
    Jane x

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  13. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

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  14. Islwyn sounds like a character, John. Oh how we need characters to make us laugh.

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  15. An approach to life to aspire to!
    Bless,
    Jenny

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  16. Wow, looking at his picture I would have guessed mid-seventies at the oldest.
    John, have there been any longitudinal or DNA studies done in this area, looking at longevity? Diet, lifestyle, etc.

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  17. Always one of my delights to catch up with you. As to the elders, attitude is everything and possibly reasonably abstemious in their ingestions and inhalations.

    Love the jug story. I always believed that money in the revenue stream of "found" has a special purpose so I do hope you will commemorate it in some special way :)

    XO
    WWW

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  18. Laughter and getting out being a part of the community gives one a purpose to get up in the morning.

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  19. Anonymous4:07 pm

    He looks like a character actor.

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  20. I hope I look that good when I'm 90. Hell, I don't look that good at 55.

    Love,
    Janie

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  21. I love being around that kind of personality - I have a number of friends like that. We laugh like fools and I come away feeling restored. Now I'm thinking of inserting Yesi (chortle, chortle) in all my conversations :) Good luck with the interview when it eventually happens!

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  22. Aww how lovely, I hope my friends stay in my life as long. I will indeed be truly blessed.

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  23. oh John I loved this.

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  24. Love and laughter are wonderful foundations for life. Thanks John - another heart-warming post.

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  25. Seriously, laughter is what people need to hear more of and do more of. What spry town elders, I love it!

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  26. Wonderful post indeed

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  27. Definitely!
    Thanks for the post to make us smile, John. :-)

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  28. Smiles & laughter are such a good tonic. Great read with morning coffee :-)

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  29. Islwyn looks 20 years younger than his age. Attitude is everything, eh?

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