“I’m probably the only person some older people see during the Christmas period, you can have a good giggle with them sometimes, you develop a relationship with them and a bond of trust.”

Mick has been delivering Meals on Wheels for over 11 years, five days a week. His experience with the people he visits gives a very clear picture of how they spend their lives. Mick has been
delivering to one gentleman for a number of years who lived with his elderly mother and Mick regularly delivered two meals to them, a few years ago his mother passed away and Mick could see the grief felt by him.

Mick also visits another lady who has been receiving meals for over eight years and has not been out of the house for a few years. In the majority of cases, he is probably the only person that some people see each day, apart from a couple of cases where they may have a carer.

Mick delivers hot meals every Christmas Day. He goes along to deliver with a hat, Christmas crackers and a good deal of festive cheer. For many of them Christmas Day is just another day, they don’t expect visitors, they have no relatives and no connection to the outside world. There’s nothing particularly ‘merry’ or ‘happy’ about Christmas, except of course Mick’s visit.

 Previous page