Quite recently my elderly mother came to live with us. She had lived for over 50 years in a town in the Midlands. She had been finding it difficult to manage without some assistance for some time so it seemed sensible for all concerned for her to live with family who could help out. Since her arrival she has been amazed at the services available to her within such a small village.

Her first shock was when she registered with the local doctors' surgery and found that she was seen immediately and given a full check up as a matter of course. Getting an appointment in town had required at least a weeks notice and a taxi both ways costing her about £7. She has been to the surgery a number of times now both to see her GP and the nurse and on each occasion has been seen almost immediately. The arrangements for obtaining her repeat prescription were quick and efficient rather than the further £3.50 it had cost her before, in yet another taxi, to sort this out in town.

She also had to visit the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on one occasion when we were away for a few days and a hospital car came to the house and picked her up. The driver waited for her and brought her home. Again she was amazed at the kindness shown to her.

She has now been on a couple of outings, locally arranged, where she has been picked up from the house. She regularly goes on the Dial a Bus outing to Wroxham which has given her independence and has introduced her to new friends. She has even been to the Jubilee Players latest production in the Tithe Barn and had a wonderful evening.

I mention all the above just to remind myself and maybe some of you as well how fortunate we are to live in such a lovely community and to be so well served by the professionals and volunteers who give so much to improve the quality of all our lives.

On the subject of volunteers I would like to thank those who came forward following our most recent appeal for staplers and deliverers and also to help with photography and photographs. We are still looking for assistance with the web site and any other photos of the villages will be welcome. For details about the web site please contact Ronnie.

This is a double issue so you will find notices for September as well as August. Make a note of them in your diary now. Have a lovely summer and remember the sun screen, I hope we need it.

BG