Last night John and I got in from work and shot out pretty dam quick .
Me, being a selfish old cow , worried about missing my dinner ,but I shouldn’t have done , because after making up beds, laying the tables, sorting out hand-made wash-bags filled with new toiletries , we meeted and greeted ( I was wash-bag monitor and john was on the door ) and then sat down to a fabulous 3 course feast of lentil and bean soup , shepherds pie or Indonesian veggie curry ( I had both ) ,followed by the best sticky toffee pudding and toffee sauce ever , with a load of new people .
Then we just talked .
This was our first night at Ealing Night Shelter .I don’t want to sound pious or patronising or do-gooderish ,because to be honest , me volunteering is probably more about me .Being with people who have more ( or different) baggage to me is good . Helping helps .Listening helps .Being kind-helps. It makes me feel less useless and takes my head to that elusive safe-place .Then I came home and couldn’t sleep for,thinking of them all and worrying and feeling guilty for being all toasty in my bed
you are the least selfish and kindest person i know .Knowing you ,i know they would have all had the best of times a giant sleepover could hope for