Thoughts from a Bucks volunteer

Today’s tea party was a fine example of keeping the show on the road! As I work full time, weekends are the only time I have to get things done. This is why driving once a month is ideal. However, sometimes it’s difficult to even keep an occasional Sunday afternoon free!

I’m hopefully about to move home and the tea party fell in the middle of the big attic clearout. Realising, late on Saturday, it wouldn’t be done in time I agonised what to do. Could I bring myself to call Pat and Derek and tell them they couldn’t go out this month?

No, I couldn’t do it – they just had to get there!

At 3.00pm the following day, a car pulled into the drive of a very pretty farmhouse on the outskirts of a small village. In the car were Pat and Derek, both dressed in their Sunday best, and me... in a torn t-shirt, scruffy trainers and covered in dust from a morning in the attic.

Faith, a long standing host, gave us such a warm welcome. She remembered Pat and welcomed Derek as a new group member. Her son and granddaughter were also there, to experience their first tea party, and there were plenty of smiles all around. I took Derek in first to lead the way and we went into the living room. Derek chose to sit by the roaring log fire in a green wing backed chair and instantly looked the image of a country gent!

Once both Pat and Derek were settled, I made my excuses and left to take one final trip to the tip, promising to be back at 5.30. That’s right – I had to miss the tea party!

As you can probably guess, I was a little late coming back (I missed the turning in the dark), and finally arrived at a quarter to six, where I found Pat, Derek, Faith and our coordinator sitting at the kitchen table. Spread in front of them lay the remains of a huge feast – three large home made cakes, still warm scones, sandwiches, biscuits and lots of empty tea cups.

They all looked quite relieved (but perhaps a little disappointed?) I’d made it back, and Faith instantly cut three very large slices of cake – one to eat now and two to take home in a doggy bag. I heard lots of stories about the tea party, and caught up on the gossip.

We then gave our goodbyes, and headed back home, where we talked about the countryside, Faith’s beautiful farmhouse, how I always manage to get lost and finally about moving houses. Both Pat and Derek last moved in the sixties, moving into family homes where they could stay for life. They’ve managed it too – and I hope I’m lucky enough to do the same.


For more information about Contact the Elderly visit www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk