General Chat

Oh bless him, he made that next step! I am sure he will be more likely to mix with you all now especially as the days get longer and he can perhaps potter outside and share a chat or even come in for coffee. It's good that you know his routine and watch out for him.

Lizx

That's lovely, Ann.

We have a next door neighbour whose wife died (age 85) fifteen months ago. she was always friendly to us, chatting when we met outside our houses and he used to play golf and would chat as well a bit. However they were a terribly independent couple and not the sort to exchange morning coffees etc. (They did once come to us about 15 years ago when we had a birthday barbecue for one of us). anyway, since she died he was at first very reclusive (his daughter lives in the town and would visit and take him shopping). He rarely accepted offers of help with anything. He has gradually got into a routine and we watch to see if he makes his daily trip to Tesco for his paper and then goes over the road sometimes to have breakfast in the community hub cafe. We noted his daughter and her fellow were there for christmas so that was ok.

New Years Eve, it is tradition that at the stroke of midnight we and our next door neighbours the other side open our front doors, which face each other, glasses in hand to wish each other happy new year and watch any firworks that are around. Nobody else in our cul de sac of 16 houses has ever shown their faces it is deathly quiet. This year I looked up and Mac was looking out of his upstairs window so I raised my glass to him. I was really pleased (and shocked) when he put his coat on and came out to shake our hands and wish us a happy new year. He couldn't have a drink because he is on medication.

I am sure that she enjoyed entertaining you as much as you did entertaining her. So well done all of you.

Sounds like you all had a great time.

Jacqui, one of our old biddies is quite badly disabled but will not give in.For logistical reasons, she could not go to either of her children for Christmas so she came to us for lunch.

We live a life of seering boredom so she was not challenged in any way by her visit to us and was keen to reciprocate. The arrangement was that we should visit her for Boxing Day. Jacqui, who is a member of the WI and has been told on numerous occasions that she need not make the supper sandwiches but she always takes her turn even if a plate of sandwiches takes her all day. We only made a Christmas dinner and gave her a cup of tea and some of the Christmas cake we made and I explained that we would be very happy with a bit of salad on Boxing Day and that we could bring the cold turkey to eat with it but she said she would make some soup as well and a trifle was mentioned(how much does she think we can eat?)

Of course, on Boxing Day morning, the telephone rang, Jacqui was not feeling well, Jacqui was in a blue funk more like!

I didn't want to push her, or have her push herself beyond her limits but she wanted us to come to her for New Years Day. I think it was important to her to entertain somebody as it was not possible when her husband was alive so we went to her yesterday and had the salad and a cake that had come from the Church Fete and it was great.

Well done Jacqui!