"Today Hook Home Help helped to make someone's birthday a bit more special than usual…When someone phoned she told them she couldn't chat because she was having a birthday party!"

Two years ago I posted this with the words, "Today Hook Home Help helped to make someone's birthday a bit more special than usual. Someone who is housebound and isolated. I organised a visit from an old friend and we had tea and homemade cake with candles. When someone phoned she told them she couldn't chat because she was having a birthday party!". That was so sweet.

Every year she would tell me firmly, "Now there's no need to do anything for my birthday". And when I say firmly, I mean very firmly! I thought maybe I could get away with a little cake and some flowers in her favourite colour.

That day I went over to do the usual household tasks and took my son to do some jobs in the garden and invited an old friend for company. He's not only good company, he will fix anything that needs fixing. He fixed her car and her cupboards and anything he could.

Every week I would help her stay on top of the washing and general household tasks. We had a few trips out to the hairdressers, opticians, to see the Christmas lights and the calves in the spring. My son painted her fences and transformed her garden. He sorted out smoke alarms and anything that involved going up ladders because I am not good at ladders. She got to know him a bit and loved hearing about how he was doing at university. She said how she could see his confidence growing over the years.

She was so delighted when we all arrived and had brought her a cake with candles. She blew out the candles and we all had tea and cake before we started on the things that needed doing.

It is often the small things can a big difference to people. That day took a small amount of effort from the three of us but it certainly made a big difference to her. She was very touched and often said so.

Small things like that drew us all closer over the years and she started to feel like part of the family. Sadly she has recently passed away and left a big hole in some of our hearts.

After many hours of listening to her talking about her long life, I will remember her stories and take her with me in my heart.

Hook Home Help is a small team of women supporting older people in and around Hook, Odiham, Rotherwick and Hartley Wintney. Contact me if you would like to know more about what we do.

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