Volunteers at Amarna

So yesterday evening was a volunteering event at Amarna House in York. What I liked about it was how everyone mucked in? In fact I am not sure that anyone was actually being paid to be there….

  

Charlie, the homes lovely manager, had been there all day and stayed into the evening to meet people and show them round. Then David and Steve were there just to give a bit of a helping hand, and it was certainly after their working day had finished too. Then there were the lovely committee members: Alan had come all the way from Bradford. However, most important were the new volunteers… I was amazed at how young they all were… and not a string of pearls or a twinset in sight…Not that I have anything against them….perhaps that could be a future photo opportunity…. Let’s see….

They were talking about fitting in volunteering at the weekend, and in the evenings, around work university and school…. And they had all volunteered before somewhere… its amazing… a real sense of community…

And of course the lovely Pam was there…. she was sitting knitting my running outfit while everyone chatted...my girth… honestly….While she is very capable, apparently my leg holes at the front are causing a few problems…. so at the other end of the spectrum to a cashmere cardie, we are reinventing for the ‘80s classic… a boobtube (if I write it as one word, I hope it isn’t rude)…and lets face it, I have stations for seven puppies to latch on… so there is plenty of boobs, and plenty of tube needed….(and I was worried about the concept of girth being a bit near the mark…)

Scooter

As my back up vehicle, I thought I had better give scooter the once over: i wanted to make sure it works, particularly given the shortness of my legs.

Since its transportation down from York, it has been living in Steve's garden room, and as the sun seems to have come out it seemed worth a good look over....

It seems like a sturdy beast.... but then it would need to be.... I am not casting any aspersions.... but Pam did say she needed to disclose her weight before purchase..... what's my girth?......honestly.....

Anyway getting back to my petiteness... I think the basket is too small.... I had something in mind like Nerys Hughes had on the front of her pushbike when she was in the Sunday night district nurse thing..... all big and wicker, with room for a big blanket, and place for me to bury a selection of tasty high energy snackettes...

I am sure you have all gathered I have never been one to economise... on any front... so there is a tad of shopping to do before the big day....I am not seeking a winnebago... just some space to stretch out....

Mothering Sunday

.... so today is Mothering Sunday....

Although I am very bright, I don't tell the time, I don't need to... my internal clock is very clear. I like to be snuggled down for the night by not long after seven, and I really don't want to be up before nine in the morning. Week days are a bit of trial in that sense, but weekends are lovely... Long lie ins, and even a snuggle up and snooze with Catherine. Today it all started a bit early... something to do with British Summer time....

So it was breakfast for the girls in bed.... I love that, because it's easier to beg titbits.... and Catherine got some sunnies... She collects sunglasses and surprise surprise (suddenly went a bit Cilla) she has another pair...however, they aren't run of the mill.....

 

Somehow they don't strike me as everyday wear......

Anyway the hilarity continued... and here is Edna, Catherine's Mum wearing them.... There were lots of jokes about Elton John, and being able to give Dame Edna a run for her money....

And I wanted to wear them too... People look at me, and forget I am a Mum, a Grandma, and a Great Grandma.... its because no one who knows me now, knew me then.....just like my friends at fAABI and Amarna... people see them as they are now, not as they were...

But, like them, I remember who I was, and it can make me a bit sad.... but needless to say I eventually got to wear the Mum's sunglasses.... and I was officially one of the gang....

"fun"draising

This is a picture of the swimming event that some of the team took part in last October. It was hearing about this, and how people threw themselves into it, despite not really being able to swim, really inspired me to give this run a go.

There are Attend staff taking part, some of whom I wouldn't immediately class as runners: there is David, Steve, Janet, Dawn, Debbie, Rabia, Subbail, and Andreea... No names.... But some of them aren't in the first flush of youth..... David can even stop and sit outside a cafe for a hot chocolate... And that's in the middle of a half an hour walk.....I am sincerely hoping they have good first aiders on hand.....

And then there are some fAABI Trustees... There is Eric, Mary, Leianne, Tony, Ann, and Kieran....I hear they are a more athletic bunch... Ann has even run a marathon....

Some people are even bringing friends and family to join in.... I thought that perhaps they were people they didn't like...... as some sort of punishment.... but I have learned that some people like to run just for fun....

And finally we have a number of clients including Jamie and Mark, who I met when I can to the service.....in total there will be four people with a brain injury running.... How great is that.....

Apparently there are even more people coming to watch. Charlie the manager at Amarna House is coming down from York, and supporters are coming from around London.

Part of me says isn't it great that so many people want to support this. However, the reality is that for most people it is a bit of fun... a good way to spend a Sunday morning.... something a bit different... but certainly a chance to be part of a wider community, and feel like you belong.