Life under the Stairs

By Local Resident, Jane Stevenson

COFFEE, CAKE AND COOKING This month’s bit nearly didn’t happen! I’ve been so wrapped up in other stuff I didn’t realise the date until today (12 th September). What with some community work, family stuff, upcoming MacMillan Coffee Mornings and Emma Raducanu my mind’s been elsewhere. over everything else. Now with spare time I can support what is close to my heart. I’ve sent out my invites, asked friends via text, Whatsapp and email. I’ve planned the preceding week like a military campaign so I can enjoy the event as well.

Everyone knows how precious our time is nowadays. Only our commitments and priorities may differ. Now I’m retired, I can pick and choose my tasks and commitments to some extent. With that comes a satisfaction and enjoyment not always experienced by others. The coffee morning is an example. I do it through choice. My kid brother died from cancer in his mid-fifties – that’s no age at all. He married my wonderful sister-in-law and they produced two amazing children, now adults. His death left a void in their lives and mine which can never, ever be filled.

Afterwards, like other grieving relatives, I started a small monthly donation to Cancer UK. I wanted to do more but was studying and coming to grips with his death. These events took precedence That said, the single biggest stumbling block to all this is that I can’t bake! Cakes never rise, biscuits resemble small paving slabs and my rock cakes are well named. Sponges sag and any attempt at jam tarts results in soggy bottoms all round. I’ve spent some time poring over my meagre collection of cookery books but have felt overwhelmed by the skill required to make even a cup cake. Googling ‘easy cakes’ wasn’t a big help either. I could cheat and buy some in, but it doesn’t sit right with me. I feel I should make an effort for my brother. Some friends have kindly offered to bring their own foodie masterpieces along and for that I am truly thankful. When I started thinking about this (I tend to overthink everything) there came the realisation that perfection in cake baking isn’t required. Wonky cakes, dripping icing and oozing brownies don’t matter. Soggy pastry? Don’t make jam tarts. I will make some cakes and biscuits. I’ll buy in some stuff, accept the kind gifts from others. It really doesn’t matter. The whole idea is that I share a morning with friends, provide them with tea, coffee, Gaviscon if required, and hope they donate to MacMillan That’s what it is all about.

SKY’S THE LIMIT? As I’ve said in earlier issues, I don’t have Sky. Friends used to tape items for me, and I would spend a great deal of time using the fast forwards button to cut out the incessant ad breaks. They were irritating and spoilt my enjoyment .

Freeview now shows some Sky content, albeit quite old – and I have been revelling in Sky Arts. I recently spent an afternoon and evening watching documentaries on Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd and Yes. These were my music heroes from the early 1970s and it was delightful to see them in their old age, as well as clips from concerts filmed over fifty years ago. The music and innovation these artistes produced remains fiery and passionate. Sadly, some of them are no longer with us, but the adage ‘the music lives on’ is testament to their skills and creativity. Watching and listening to Keith Emerson at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, introducing a young and impressionable crowd to his take on Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ brought memories flooding back. It was worth the few hours out of the day, and thanks to Spotify and YouTube I can relive it again and again. Older age has its advantages Take care people

NOT SO ‘FAR, FAR AWAY’ FOR DARTFORD THEATRE GROUP

One of Kent’s longest established theatre groups is putting the finishing touches on its next major production at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre this October.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Minnie; Caroline, or Change) and a side splitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire.

Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life of stage and proves there is more to the story that meets the ears.

The show marks the start of an exciting time for the society as it we return back to The Orchard after the doors sadly had to close due to COVID-19. We are so thrilled to see our loyal supporters andhope you enjoy the show.

Shrek The Musical is being performed from 20th – 23rd October at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford.

Tickets: 01322 220000 or www.orchardtheatre.co.uk

VOLUNTEER ROLE KEEPS GEOFF’S MIND ACTIVE

were all about until I went to St Christopher’s in Sydenham to play the drums at a little gig my friend had organised some years ago. I went in there and it was just such a wonderful place.” Geoff, 68, is married to Barbara, who still works two days a week, and they have three children and four grandchildren. He spent his career working as a financial controller and accountant for large organisations like GEC, and his last job was for Kent Fire and Rescue Service as principal accountant. “I suppose I have always had that inclination to work in finance, and I knew I wanted to continue in that area in my retirement,” he said. As the hospice opens up now the Covid restrictions have been lifted, Geoff is looking forward to making home visits again, and seeing patients at the hospice as part of its Living Well services. Since the Autumn of last year, he has also been a Front of House volunteer. He said: “I could see the hospice had lost some volunteers during the pandemic -- some were vulnerable and isolating -- and I thought I would like to give it a go. I had really missed talking to people face to face during lockdown. “I enjoyed meeting and greeting the visitors so much that I wanted to do both, which means a bit more of a commitment. “Like most people, I thought hospices were places you went to die. I didn’t know about the range of support and services available, and there’s always something new to learn. I always enjoyed that when I was at work and I wanted to continue learning.” “At ellenor, I feel part of a team – and not just the financial support side. It’s very rewarding being part of the wider Wellbeing and hospice team.” If you would like to find out more about ellenor’s Finance Support Service, go to https://ellenor.org/ our-care/i-am-a-patient/wellbeingservices/

When Geoff Cousins retired from a career in finance six years ago, he knew he needed something to keep his brain ticking over. He said: “Just sitting around or pottering in the garden all day long was not for me. I come from Gravesend so I have always known about the original Lions hospice and about ellenor. When I saw they had a volunteer financial support role vacancy on their website, it seemed the ideal thing to apply for. “For me, it was a way to continue seeing people. It’s easy to lose that network of colleagues and friends when you finish work, and I wanted to keep seeing people face to face.” Now Geoff dedicates the equivalent of about a day to the hospice every week, and his knowledge is vital to ellenor’s Financial Support Service. The service helps with benefits claims, grant applications, housing and health costs and transport concessions such as Blue Badges. It also offers support to patients and their families about working and pension rights, life insurance, wills and financial planning, although this often involves signposting the patient to an outside organisation or service. Geoff said: “When people get something like a cancer diagnosis, budgeting and finance are not the first things on their minds. We often end up working with sons or daughters on behalf of their parents. If we just take a little of the burden away, then it’s worth it. “It’s nice to be in a position where I can make a difference, and there are also benefits for me. I’m doing something I feel is rewarding. I also wanted to volunteer for my own wellbeing, to keep my mind active. I started work at 16 and retired at 62, so that’s over 40 years working. “The time commitment at ellenor does vary because it depends on how many referrals we are dealing with. There are just two of us running the service at the moment, myself and Anne Wilkinson. It would be good to have a few more on board, especially when we have a lot of referrals. “We always have a great deal to learn. We are not experts or financial advisers, but are able to offer support at what can be a very difficult time for patients and their families. When new things come along, we can do a bit of research. “We do try and deal with each case as quickly as possible, but we can always prioritise urgent cases over less pressing things like blue badge applications. It’s crucial to help people get the benefits they are entitled to. Often, they don’t even know they are entitled to them, or believe they are eligible. Geoff has also treated hospice staff and patients to his musical talents, playing his drums with the choir during the Christmas before lockdown. He has always loved music and has belonged to several bands including a jazz and blues band and a group called Holly’s Buddies. He said: “When I was young of course I wanted to be a drummer for a living but that didn’t happen! To be honest, it’s getting harder to cart all that drumming gear around nowadays.” Fittingly, it was his love of music which first led him to the idea of helping in a hospice. He said: “I didn’t know what hospices