Thread by @OwsWills, Our elderly neighbour passed away recently. His daughter popped round a few [...]

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.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😢" title="Crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Crying face">

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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

" title="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. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😢" title="Crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Crying face">">

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.

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!

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.

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.

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... https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/14843839.daredevil-85-year-old-takes-to-the-skies/">https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/1484...

Daredevil 85-year-old takes to the skies

AN 85-YEAR-OLD widower is inspiring people to combat loneliness by taking up a series of adventurous challenges including wing walking and sky…

https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/news/14843839.daredevil-85-year-old-takes-to-the-skies/

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

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😭" title="Loudly crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Loudly crying face">

Still to come: @theipaper

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😊" title="Smiling face with smiling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with smiling eyes">

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) https://twitter.com/i/moments/1074967464440750082">https://twitter.com/i/moments...

https://twitter.com/i/moments/1074967464440750082

A story about Christmas gifts that were bought for the next 14 years has touched many ❤️

An elderly man who lived next door to Owen Williams (@OwsWills) bought 14 gifts for Williams' daughter before he passed away. Many people have been responding with their thoughts on when to open the...

https://twitter.com/i/moments/1074967464440750082

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.

Hello @CBS, @thetimes, @pa, @deadlinenews, @WNS_news, @VictoriaLIVE, @5_News, @DailyMirror

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋" title="Waving hand" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand">

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.

About to speak with @BBCRadioWales top news team!

Tomi Ungerer& #39;s team has DM& #39;d me.
Tomi was really touched by the story, and would love to sign the book…

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😭" title="Loudly crying face" aria-label="Emoji: Loudly crying face"> https://twitter.com/OwsWills/status/1074806236233809920">https://twitter.com/OwsWills/...

https://twitter.com/OwsWills/status/1074806236233809920

So that’s a pretty conclusive result.

Message received loud and clear, Twitter! https://twitter.com/owswills/status/1074753626546020354?s=21">https://twitter.com/owswills/...

https://twitter.com/owswills/status/1074753626546020354?s=21

Today has been insane.
Utterly utterly insane. https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqSQgKIkNDQklTTERvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoOGFIV1J3T0hVeGFHRlRhMTkxU2tscFRVUkJNRXRHUVdodFRXODRPR05OS0FBUAE?q=two+year+old+christmas+gifts&lr=English&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis4PSGnarfAhWRG3wKHU76DMwQqgIILTAA&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en">https://news.google.com/stories/C...

Full Coverage - Google News

See the latest updates, context, and perspectives about this story.

https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqSQgKIkNDQklTTERvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoOGFIV1J3T0hVeGFHRlRhMTkxU2tscFRVUkJNRXRHUVdodFRXODRPR05OS0FBUAE?q=two+year+old+christmas+gifts&lr=English&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis4PSGnarfAhWRG3wKHU76DMwQqgIILTAA&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

I need a nap.

We& #39;re definitely going to open one every year till 2032, by the way. It& #39;ll be our way of remembering an immensely generous gentleman - our new Christmas tradition.

We& #39;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)

I know how @kanyewest feels

Oh the glamour of talking with @CBC in Canada from the other side of the Atlantic!

I really enjoyed this interview, @cbcradio are lovely people.

(There’s a ‘listen again’ button at the top of the article) https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-december-21-2018-1.4952677/a-dying-man-left-14-gifts-for-his-neighbour-s-young-daughter-1-a-year-until-her-16th-birthday-1.4952680">https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the...

A dying man left 14 gifts for his neighbour's young daughter — 1 a year until her 16th birthday |...

An elderly man in Wales who recently died left a heartwarming surprise for his neighbours: a pile of wrapped Christmas gifts for their toddler daughter, enough for one every year until her 16th...

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-december-21-2018-1.4952677/a-dying-man-left-14-gifts-for-his-neighbour-s-young-daughter-1-a-year-until-her-16th-birthday-1.4952680

I got to regale @carolvorders with Ken’s story, amongst (numerous!) other things this afternoon - you can listen in full on @BBCRadioWales Christmas Day.

Here’s another lovely retelling of our little Christmas miracle c/o @cradnofsky at the @TODAYshow.

@NBCUniversal’s Carrie Radnofsky took a lot of time and care over this - we really appreciate her work

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👉" title="Right pointing backhand index" aria-label="Emoji: Right pointing backhand index"> https://twitter.com/todayshow/status/1076606318495043584?s=21">https://twitter.com/todayshow...

https://twitter.com/todayshow/status/1076606318495043584?s=21

As the smallest member of Team Williams heads to bed, here’s our chance to wish you all a very Merry Christmas - Nadolig Llawen - in what must have been the most unexpectedly magical week of our lives!

We await Ken’s first gift of 14 with no little anticipation! #BeMoreKen

Christmas present number 1 is open, and it’s a little goat!

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐐" title="Goat" aria-label="Emoji: Goat">

Not baaaad!

#BeMoreKen

Not baaaad! #BeMoreKen" title="Christmas present number 1 is open, and it’s a little goat! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🐐" title="Goat" aria-label="Emoji: Goat"> Not baaaad! #BeMoreKen">

Ken’s present number 2 is open!

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚂" title="Steam locomotive" aria-label="Emoji: Steam locomotive">

(It’s the strangest feeling to see these gifts finally being unwrapped - like thoughts and memories lost in time, suddenly discovered. An oddly emotional moment for us)

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart"> #BeMoreKen

Ken’s present number 2 is open!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable=

(It’s the strangest feeling to see these gifts finally being unwrapped - like thoughts and memories lost in time, suddenly discovered. An oddly emotional moment for us)https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart"> #BeMoreKen" title="Ken’s present number 2 is open!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🚂" title="Steam locomotive" aria-label="Emoji: Steam locomotive"> (It’s the strangest feeling to see these gifts finally being unwrapped - like thoughts and memories lost in time, suddenly discovered. An oddly emotional moment for us)https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Red heart" aria-label="Emoji: Red heart"> #BeMoreKen">

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