So It Came To Pass . . .

Hello Friends!

I am writing this on Thursday 30 October, it will be published in a few days, so grammatical tense might be a bit off.

I am so sad this evening.  Today was the day for the hospice where I have attended one day a week for the past two years to close its doors for the last time. 

Grateful Thanks {I don't think so} to the British Government for all the cutbacks, and for not providing support for essential community facilities such as hospice care and other vital resources that are now funded by volunteers, community fundraising, and lottery grants.  These sorts of facilities should be supported by the government because, in the long term, they save more money than they would cost. 

So, today, by request, the last few remaining attendees, had our Christmas party, brought forward so we would not miss out on a last hurrah of comradeship and comradery.  It was a good day, we had a local Ukelele group, there was singing {of the loosest definition of the term 😁} of Christmas songs {who knew that I know all the words of Jingle Bells and I'm 'Dreaming of a White Christmas by heart? #nosongsheetneeded and I even remembered the words and dance moves learned to The Carpenters song Top of the World, which I performed live on stage at a Young Farmer's Association talent contest.  Think BGT with real talent!} There was plenty of festive food, a Secret Santa and more.  

We all did our best, patients of all situations and diagnosis, I promise you, we all tried really hard, to be as happy and cheerful as we could, but one by one, our jolly façades cracked, one by one the tears began to fall, and one by one the Kleenex boxes got passed around, and then the time came as it was bound to do when we all hugged and said our sad farewells.  Contact details were exchanged as some of us hope to meet up over the winter months, but these things are not always easy to coordinate between our medical conditions, mobility issues, appointments, and the weather.

Nobody visits me, hardly anyone phones me, my pen friends no longer write {possibly because I cannot write back?} and the online book club to which I belonged has dropped me from their meetings.  I am forgotten and I now face a time of isolation as the darker days of winter draw in.  The only contact I now have on a regular basis are the care team who come in twice a day for half an hour in the morning and evening.  The time I spent at the hospice each week gave me so very much to look forward to each week, and it leaves a big hole in my life, and in those of others.  I don't know how I will get through it.  There is no facility to compare within reasonable travelling distance. There is nothing that offers anything remotely like the activities we had.  I will find something, but it won't be the same.  This is going to take a lot for me {and others} to get over, if we will get over it.  Time will tell, but time is short.

Trying to end on a more cheery note, this is the lovely mug I received in the Secret Santa, along with a box of assorted Lindor truffles {a particular favourite of mine!}

Heartfelt and Grateful Thanks to Shalom House Hospice and all the staff, volunteers and fundraisers over the decades for the many years of service you have given to the local, and slightly wider, community.  You have been an unbelievable asset and credit to the community and to the many families and individuals who have had need of, and benefited from, your services. 

Until next time

Be kind to everyone you meet, for you don't know what they may be going through

Debbie xx