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An early start needed coffee and bacon sandwiches cooked on our tiny gas cooker. Jacob helped Stephan open his cards and presents, sheltering from the wind.
After playing around the van and taking our washing up to the water facilities we went for a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. Strapped snugly up to Stephan's chest, Jacob was soon asleep so Henny ran ahead while we slid down cliff paths and forced our weary legs up the other side. We even spotted a family of seals; two pups on the beach and two parents watching protectively from the sea.
We munched on bread and birthday cake while packing up the van, then drove into st David's. We managed to park in a large enough space, chatted to passers by about Lily, and had a look around the sweet little town before ordering two fish suppers. Lily forced herself up the hill, and we headed to a beautiful beach where we sat on a picnic rug eating our fish and chips watching the waves. Jacob was mesmerised by the sea and we all spent a very special hour walking along the beach and paddling in the sea hand in hand. Family life can have ups and downs but afternoons like that remind us of how lucky we are.
After deciding that we couldn't do another night in the van followed by a four hour drive to my parents, we drove lily back to her owner and started the long trek back to Shropshire. It was long and dark and pouring with rain.
I knew we had made the right decision when Jacob saw the cot at mum and dads (the same as his own). The huge smile on his face as he got in, put his head down and went straight to sleep, just proved that he had missed a comfy bed as much as us!
Jacob