Madam,

As the sun rose behind Plynlimon, at Bronhaul wing in Bodlondeb, Penparcau, Henry would accompany me down the corridor, staff would go in and out of bedrooms, shower room, sluice.

In room 36 if Gareth was awake, we would talk about rugby, football, St Anne’s Church. In room 35, from Mair’s sister’s room, I could smell roses, overlooking Neuadd Goffa Park, with children going to school, owners walking their dogs, play area quiet.

And so it went on. I could not get a word in with some residents. If they were short of staff I became the waiter in the dining room; gloves on, coffee, tea, porridge, toast, marmalade, served with a smile, followed by medication.

I left home at 7.30am to my other home with benefits.

On Friday we would go out in a 16-seater bus, all 50 residents in turn, along Aberystwyth Prom, to Tre’r-ddol, Borth, Ynyslas, Devil’s Bridge, Nant y Moch, Talybont, and home just in time for lunch.

At the home, bingo, live entertainment, keep fit, friends of Bodlondeb would visit, arrange lunch, and there were teas at various hotels, restaurants.

Doctors from three surgeries in Aberystwyth, and from Borth and Llanilar surgeries could call, along with district nurses.

Emergency services and Bronglais Hospital were less than two miles away in Aberystwyth. How many homes in Ceredigion can say that?

As a volunteer with ‘Hospice at Home Aberystwyth’ for approximately three years, I say, if only Bodlondeb was open for respite and day care, husbands and wives would not have to stay at home, their lives on hold, television on, sleepless nights, getting up - how sad.

I can’t believe all of us who gave all those hours were not taken seriously. We should still have a day centre in Park Avenue, it would not have been in the way of M&S and Tesco. We can still have Bodlondeb.

Yours etc, Dai Thomas, Friend of Bodlondeb, Penparcau, Aberystwyth.

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