North London Cares Turns Eleven!

Please note: this post is 28 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

The temperature might have hit 36 degrees last weekend but that didn't stop nearly seventy of the North London Cares community getting together to celebrate our birthday. It was our first birthday party for two years at which we've been able to invite as many people as we wanted and we made the most of it! Neighbours arrived from one o clock and were soon feasting on some party treats whilst catching up on some gossip.

Younger neighbour Sophie had brought alongsome outdoor games for everyone to enjoy and there was soon a group of Limbo Legends competing to see who could go the lowest. Sarath, Janet, Marion, Virdon, Risa and Sophie were in incredible form and there were huge cheers as the bar went lower and lower!

Meanwhile, Albert was showing some of the shooting skill that has made him such a goal threat at the walking football lessons, we are pretty sure that one of the balls he kicked is still travelling around Archway, what a player!

One of the best parts of the party was being able to sit and chat together again, new friendships were formed and old pals reunited.

Janet, is a regular older neighbour and was at her fourth NLC birthday party. She said

" It was a brilliant party, I had such a good time. Was really nice to catch up with people I hadn't seen for ages and chat to lots of new neighbours"

Sue has been attending social clubs for more than five years and said

"It was fabulous to be all together again. Lovely tea, fun activities and really nice conversation."

If you thought that the rising temperatures, a full throated birthday singalong and some intense limbo action would have tired the neighbours out then you'd be wrong! It was soon time to end the party in the NLC tradition, by hitting the dancefloor for a disco. Younger Neighbour Natalie has been sharing her dancing skills with the community for the past few months as a flamenco instructor. Her monthly sessions have proved so popular that we are getting requests for her to be a permenant feature in the programme. Older Neighbour Maureen is well known for her love of the macarena and between them they had everybody on their feet and smiling.

At four thirty it was time to pack up and head home, sad that the party had finished but delighted with how much fun we had. I will leave it to Older Neighbour and resident poet Peter to sum up the day. This is a verse from his wonderful poem that he wrote on his journey home from the party.

"We went to celebrate, NLC 11th birthday,

We’re friends, some we've not met yet,

I was talking to people and showing them my poems,

We were all friends enjoying ourselves."

Well said Peter, bring on the 12th birthday bash!