My Day with the Ladies.

A few months ago I decided I wanted to take part in some voluntary work. To feel better about myself, my life, and to feel like I was giving back to the community. All those selfless reasons! I came across this amazing advert on the underground for drivers wanted in London for a Community Project concerning the elderly. I immediately took down the number and called up the project advisor. It was perfect. The role was simple as well. You would be assigned an elderly person who lived in your Borough, in my case Lewisham was my group, you pick them up and take them to a tea party to meet other elderly people in the surrounding area. Each tea party would be different, and hosted by someone new, but every month you would pick up the same elderly person.  This to me was amazing because it meant I could build up a relationship with this person, and it would be like having a Grandparent in London. That’s one of the major things I miss about not living in Cardiff anymore, seeing my Nan. I got to see her so much when I lived there and now I miss her a lot. Obviously not that I’m trying to replace my sweet Nanny Noo (family name, don’t make fun!), but it’s nice to help someone who’s in a similar situation to her.

I received an email some weeks later letting me know that I had been accepted as a driver, and I was simply waiting to be assigned to an elderly person. I was so chuffed. I know it’s not fair to have preferences but I really wanted a grumpy old man. I don’t even know why. I wanted someone who just moaned about everything and insisted I called him Mr. Whatever his name was. The kind of person who I would do nothing right and he’d give me shit all the time, but then in the end he loved me. I didn’t end up with this, but of course I wasn’t disappointed that the movie I dreamed up wouldn’t come to fruition. I was assigned two ladies, Evelyn and Ada. Two if the most adorable ladies I would have the pleasure of meeting.

Both ladies were 87, and if I would say so amazing for their ages.

Ada is a little less mobile from a stroke she suffered a few months back, but is as feisty as they come. Even listing one of her favourite things as boys!

Evelyn is the epitome of class. She’s well spoken, and insists on never leaving the house looking anything but her best. One of the first things she told me was I was an angel with such patience for putting up with olds like them.

I picked up both ladies just after half 2 armed with my ham sandwiches that I’d made earlier, and sausage rolls that I’d got from Iceland. Only the best for my ladies. With Ada in the front explaining how she couldn’t understand how a telephone could give me directions, and her rather large zimmer strapped in the back seat behind her we were off.  On route there Evelyn told us of all the changes in the area since her 30 years in London. It was amazing. One of the reasons I love the older generation, they are the main link to our past. Sod history books; just have a chat with someone who was there.

We took a few wrong turns, but we arrived safe and sound. I sat the two ladies down and introduced them to the others in our group. Then the other drivers and I busied ourselves making teas, coffees, and taking around sandwiches, and cakes, and other nibbles. It was lovely to see how they all slowly came out of their shells and started chatting to each other. They shared stories of where they were evacuated to during the war, how many children they had, and sad stories of when they were widowed. Us drivers even got the sit down with them for most of it and talk while we listened to the string quartet. A day full of more class than I’m used to.  It was one of the most rewarding days I’ve ever had. You could see how much they loved telling their stories, especially to us “younger kids” as we kept being described as. One woman told how she gave birth during a huge bombing of London during the war. I just kept thinking to myself what an amazing generation they were, and how we should really take more time to look after them and cherish them. They have seen, and done so much, they pretty much make us lot look like a bunch of pansies.

Before I knew it though the time had gone and it was time for us to head home. The thanks that we all received from them literally brought a tear to my eye. Some of them have no one else in the world, and these couple of hours every month is everything to them. I felt like it was us who should be thanking them for telling us all their stories, and making us all laugh so much. I have even arranged to see Ada more than once a month, as she said she gets very lonely some times.

If you have a car and the time to have an amazing Sunday with some of the most colourful characters ever then please contact http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/ . There are still so many on the waiting list, we just need more volunteers.

I myself can say I cannot wait to see what tales they have in store for us next month!