We sat on the rug behind the br Bedford van eating our picnic. br The van masked us from the breeze br blowing from the sea and masked br the primus stove that slowly br boiled the water for our tea. br br We ate boiled eggs and tomatoes br chicken legs and slices of pink ham br Johnny put jam on chicken and br mustard on his ham. He said the br tomatoes were the biggest ever. br br My mother and my grandmother br my aunties and their babies br and around about my auntie's br husbands playing 'pitch and toss'. br I was allowed to keep all the pennies br that landed in my reach and br many did. br br Other people came by and stoping br their cars they chatted for a while br 'Wasn't that a grand day? ', they'd br ask. And we all agreed that it was. br Then Granny said - it was the best, br the best day ever, and it was. br br Afterwards the babies rolled on the rug br while their mothers hung their nappies br on the roof-rack of the van. br On the roof-rack of the old Bedford where br they were already blowing in the wind. br br Later, when the spaces were empty br the day grew darker and the wind blew harder. br It blew through the grass picking br up the sand and blowing it about. br br Later still when we were all far away br Johnny died unexpectedly. Some years br later my granny died, then my mother. br Recently my uncles have begun to die br and soon it will be the babies.