Compassion, Winter 2021

Winter 2021 - Compassion | www.tcf.org.uk 8 experimented with two sessions on a Monday, one in the morning, one in the afternoon but afternoon numbers dwindled as everyone wanted to be together so we reverted to just a morning session. March 2020 and Covid struck. We had, thanks to Julie, one of our members, started a WhatsApp group. Julie also arranged zoom meetings once a fortnight during Covid. Many were on Facebook so more contact there too. As it became allowed we met up in parks with flasks of coffee in 6s, met in 2s in our gardens and walked in 2s. We started back in October 2020 in a much bigger airy area in The Venue at church. We kept our distance, wore masks, all was disinfected and everyone brought their own drinks. This was popular with some, but naturally some were wary and didn’t return yet so Mary and I felt we should revert to parks. We met once in The Venue in January 2021 then back to Zoom and parks for that winter/spring. Sometimes it was quite chilly! In May 2021 we started back in The Venue with care. We also had an evening get together in Mary’s garden in June - thankfully the weather was kind to us. We make coffee and supply biscuits, but only pre- wrapped ones. Still no hugging though; sadly that might not return for a while. We started with just ladies in 2015, and we now have five dads who attend regularly. Throughout Covid restrictions we didn’t neglect our members needs, we had contact in whichever way we could. I am sure this was the case for many of us. Where there is a will there is a way!! Joy Rooke