Volunteer Newsletter - July 2003

Welcome to the third Helping Hands Newsletter!

We would love to have your thoughts, suggestions or articles for future editions. Please contact 206456.

The joys of dieting!

A woman in our diet club was lamenting that she had gained weight. She'd made her family's favourite cake over the weekend, she reported, and they'd eaten half of it at dinner. The next day, she said, she kept staring at the other half, until finally she cut a thin slice for herself. One slice led to another, and soon the whole cake was gone. The woman went on to tell us how upset she was with her lack of willpower, and how she knew her husband would be disappointed. Everyone commiserated, until someone asked what her husband said when he found out. She smiled. "He never found out. I made another cake and ate half!"

Sunday Teas

Helping Hands teas are going from strength to strength, thanks largely to the efforts of Lily Bernstock and our wonderful ‘tea team’ who lay on such delicious food and entertainment for our guests. The latest tea, on July 20th at the Ajex Centre, included many visitors from Southend. On August 31st, September 21st November 2nd and December 14th it will be back to the Mark Luck Hall. The tea on December 14th will also be our ‘Chanukah Special’

Drivers

We are of course delighted that our Helping Hands teas have become so successful but we are in urgent need of drivers to take guests to and from them. Please contact Liz or Sarah if you think you may be able to help.

Solitude

Have you ever considered with your family at home
Just how many people live home alone
All day long to look and to seek
To hope that someone will call and speak
To take all this loneliness away
Than having to be alone all day
So let Helping Hands be a comfort zone
To help those who are living home alone

When we are old

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple.
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy, summer gloves and satin sandals, and say we have no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells.
And run my stick along the public railings and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain, and pick the flowers in other peoples gardens.
And learn to spit !
You can wear terrible shirts and grow fat
and eat three pounds of sausages in one go, or only bread and pickle for one week.
and hoard pans and beermats and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay the rent and not swear in the street, and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now ?
So people who know me are not too shocked
when suddenly I am old and start to wear - Purple!.