Being near a shop is priceless when you get older…especially if you have an annex and relative living with you!

My family has lived in the same house for getting on 40 years and when my dad originally bought it I am sure he paid little interest in the small shop up the road!

Over the years we have probably gone to it most days, when my dad was alive he would walk up there to get the paper and when he was gone my mum continued to do so with her faithful dog to pick up all sorts

When we were first here it was very small just papers and essentials but over the years it has expanded what is sells – and as my mum said whilst still using it you could survive just going to it – not needing bigger supermarkets

For my mum shopping was the main thing but contact with others was also still nice, getting to know the staff who were/still very helpful in many ways, from baging up groceries, putting it in the car but also keeping an eye on things seing how people were and letting others know if things were amiss.

Unfortunately as time has gone on my mum got less and less able to drive there and to also get around the shop – this now falls on me and my wife but it stills continue to be a lifesaver

Each day I go up to get the paper and other things, mum does less and less for herself – lazy she calls it and I am not sure if it is this, boredom or just not able to do things it don’t know but the shop enables me to get things when needed without going in the car to a supermarket – which would be a real pain in a busy family life!

I do have to say without it life would be very difficult for us all – and that is no exaggeration with internet shopping we can get deliveries but it all takes time and organization, mum has looked at the hot food delivery service but is just looks expensive so has taken to eating ready meals most days…

But I am so very grateful for the little shop, it gets very repetitive going there every day, but it really helps in family life and if you are considering buying a house with an annex or looking at building one on it think long and hard about a little shop, if you haven’t got one where will you get all the day to day things you and your family need to survive especially once they get older and are unable to get to the shops……

Please drop me line as would love to hear about your shop experiences and elderly relatives…

Thanks