The Minister for Loneliness shares her thoughts.....

Oh, that was talked about on a thread a couple of weeks ago, about winning the lottery.
I said that is what I would do, and somebody else said she is involved in a scheme doing exactly that in her area.

There was a community cafe in my area.... didn't get used much. They tried various things. Hobby days, repair cafes etc. Has now sort of evolved into just a normal cafe due to under-use although does still do free christmas day lunches for people on their own

I suppose its easy to imagine everyone being fired with enthusiasm and ready to pitch in.
The reality probably falls a bit flat after a while.

My children grew up having at least one 'four generation' holiday a year. Time moved on, the great-grandparents died and my children had their own children, so the four generation holidays have continued. I absolutely believe our joint holidays have cemented the very real friendships my adult children have with their beloved grandparents. Now my parents-in-law are in their eighties and are more limited in what they can join in, so we all adapt a little - making way for the needs of babies and toddlers alongside the needs of the older generation and it works very well for all of us.
Although I do usually need a holiday to recover from our self-catered 'family holiday'.

Anyway loneliness is usually for 52 weeks a year for a lot of people, not for a week or two.

A family holiday can be great, I've done it, enjoyed it...aside from the fact that a DIL thought a holiday essential was staying up as late as possible each night, drinking. Knowing the 2 year old would be up early and raring to go...I digress

What about the families who cannot afford a holiday? What about the older person who cannot afford it either? And loneliness affects many younger people too, those who live alone, single, divorced, no family etc. and are restricted from doing the 'normal' social things for one reason or another...health, disability, financial.

I also accept that a drop in idea is open to all sorts of problems, could be abused, have financial issues and face apathy/personality clashes/cliques in time.

A holiday is a special occassion

Its day to day that loneliness sets in, its really the small things that matter: people to have a cuppa with, someone to call for an impromptu walk if the weather is nice. Someone to discuss day to day stuff with. Someone who would notice if you were "out of action" for a few days

Not holidays

@Charliegirl5 you can come on holiday with my family!

Anyone who remotely thinks taking elderly relatives on hols with them is a great idea should really be made to watch "National Lampoon's Vacation" when the family realise that Auntie Edna has died on them......

We both take our DC and DGC on holiday with us and go on holiday with them.

What I really object to is it being assumed that because I am over 50, considerably over 50, I am some doddery encumbrance that could die on them any day.

Last year I planned, organised and ran a holiday for 14 people in a big town to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of DH and I. This Christmas we have had 5 people staying for 10 days, including DGC. Once again I organised and managed it. I expect to do something similar over Easter.

So much for us being encumbrances that need to be tied like millstones to our children's backs and dragge dafter them when they go on holiday.

No M0nica not you or me..though I am horribly incapacitated by a bad back atm. However I do know some folk ,who are quite frail , that do not see family for months..some for very legitimate reasons and some for less understandable reasons. Whilst we should not have children as insurance for old age if we have managed to create a positive family we might be lucky to be thought good company..even when aged!,