Remember the elderly at Christmas

[Shirleyr]

I first went to a wood in 2009 to bird watch and along the drive was an old house and living there was an elderly man. I didn't know him at all but slowly he let me wander throughout his private wood and the wild flowers and birds were wonderful. He was a gentleman and we had a chat from time to time and gradually he got slower with back problems but never asked for help even though myself and others offered. I went often for a walk and he would wave but I never went inside the house just left sticks by his door to start the fire. I'd print photos of birds that I saw and he never knew that there were so many different ones. He had to have wire mess on the windows to stop grey squirrels getting into the house, he once saw one running up his stairs with an apple in its mouth, pinch it from a fruit bowl. Last year he celebrated 90 years and his family came from afar and gave him a little family party, I gave him a small gift and he was so thrilled with all the attention.
This last summer his walking became worse and the family got carers in and the weather got rubbish so I didn't go as much. 15th Dec in the evening for some reason he decided to go out in his car and the following morning he was found dead by his car. What a sad end to get to 91 years old and then that happens.
He told me that 50 years ago his parents had a smallholding and they used to picking Snowdrops tie them up with string and post them all over the country a sort of interforal service. He told me all sorts of stories about times gone by and now I'm so glad that I listened.
Spare a few moments with an elderly person this Christmas and have a chat to them, company is what they want especially those alone.

 

[KMPhoto]

Well said.

The gift of time and an interest in others is something that most people can offer.

 

[the black fox]

Was that the old place you took us to Shirley ?

 

[Shirleyr]

Yes Jeff it was. No one knows why he suudenly decided to go out in the dark, we'll never know. Shame.