What ho! Pepys...
Tonight I spent the evening in the company of a good many older folks in a new wardened block of flats within which my Mother has purchased a retirement home for herself.
Everyone has to eventually face the prospect of growing old and coping with all that being aged brings with it and moving to a home which is more manageable is just one of those phases that one has to go through.
They have the added advantage of a communal living room which is available for all resident to use to sit and chat, play cards and (as was the case tonight) run 'fish and quiz' nights.
Tonight's quiz was entirely based on the Royal Family and had a real Jubilee feel to it.
Although I failed miserably in achieving anywhere close to a reasonable score, the general vibe and chatter within the room had a really pleasant and friendly feel to it and it was a pleasure to be there.
Everyone there is in the same boat, having recently moved in from their previous homes, and all are suffering the same problems and worries of having furniture delivered, trying to get round the new in-house alarm systems and adjusting to their new environments and it's bonding them all wonderfully.
At the end of the night my Mother was really reluctant to leave and hung around chatting to other residents in the lounge area (which is most unlike her - believe me).
So she's gone from being frightened of this new and imposing community to feeling a real desire to want to be a part of it in a short space of time, thanks to a communal living room.
In my view ALL residential housing (flats) could benefit from the same simple facility and I believe it should be an essential part of all new builds.
I'm a convert!
Tallyho!
Best Wishes - Lord Noel
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