Christmas with the old people
I remember my father was working on Christmas Eve, so had to be in London, not coming home to the countryside until Christmas morning. He woke up, left his flat in his slipper and dressing gown to go to the local shop to buy himself some milk. Upon his return to the flat he found that he had locked himself out completely.
If you know London you know that on Christmas day it can be pretty ghostly, no one was around and he was beginning to get a little chilly. In those days mobile phones were the size of bricks so people didn't carry them around in their pockets. He saw that the old peoples home lights were on, he decided to knock on their door. Some kind nurse let him in and he was given a hot cuppa, a slice of toast and a phone call to my mother. He sat in the dining hall, the old people looking on at this stranger with interest. He began to talk with them, he amused them and they amused him. He was invited to join them for Christmas lunch, still in his slippers what else could he do?
When my mother arrived to pick him up he was merry on wine as were all his new friends. I like to think that he made a difference to them on that Christmas day, it was definitely a wonderful story for him to tell us when he got home as he tucked into his second Christmas lunch with his family.
I am not sure how much of his story is true as I was just a child, so pups please forgive me if I have got it wrong. But it was an inspiration to me that you were able to have a wonderful day with a group of strangers and accept that not every Christmas Day goes to plan.
