Sarah opened the gate and walked up the path to the front door. The front garden was a blaze of colour with roses tumbling down the fence and hanging baskets full of busy lizzies. The lawn had just been cut and the smell of fresh mown grass mixed in the air with the perfume of the roses.

Sarah smiled to herself as she rang the doorbell. The front garden had always been spectacular. Dad had even won the small gardens entry in the Britain in Bloom competition in 1990. Her mum had been alive then and she remembered how they had all clinked champagne glasses in celebration.

There was no answer so Sarah guessed her dad was in the back garden working on his vegetable patch.
She let herself in with the key dad had given her while mum was so ill and he told her to hang on to it after the funeral.
“You never know when you might need to get into the house.” Dad had obviously been suggesting that he too was getting older and could collapse or worse so Sarah hadn’t argued just put the key back in her purse. Dad wasn’t that old anyway, these days 70 was no age at all.

The house as usual was as neat as a pin. Dad had kept up his wife’s very high standards since her death from cancer two years ago. Sarah noticed just one mug, plate, knife, fork and spoon on the drainer and for some reason she felt sad and a little guilty.
She knew she should visit more often. She phoned every day but her life was so busy with the two boys her husband Peter and her part-time job at the local school but even so she knew her dad got lonely. They had talked about him moving in with them but it would be a tight squeeze and dad would miss his garden. Sarah smiled when she thought of her little patio area-“no room to swing a cat” her dad had said when he first saw it “but granddad we haven’t got a cat” Mike then aged 4 had said very solemnly making them all laugh.

She was right dad was busily picking runner beans.

“Hello lass” he said with obvious pleasure.” Got time for a cup of tea?”

Straightening his back slowly he came over and gave her a fond kiss.

“Well this is nice a beautiful day and my favourite daughter visiting.”

“I am your only daughter dad.” Sarah laughed up at him “I know sweetheart but if I had 10 daughters you would still be my favourite.” Go on with you” Sarah gave him a gentle shove and went into the house to make the tea. Sarah had made a fruitcake so she cut two thick slices and then carried the tray out to the garden. She put it down on the table, which had been there ever since she could remember along with the benches that her dad had carved himself.

“I am glad you came lass, I got this letter yesterday and I really don’t know what to do.”

The letter was from the council saying that it was their practise to move single people out of three bed-roomed houses and offering her dad a one-bed bungalow.

“How can I go to one of those bungalows They are full of old people and they only have small gardens- this is my home and has been for the last 30 years. Your mum died here and I thought I would too.”

Dad was obviously upset and Sarah’ heart went out to him. All his memories were tied up in this house and he had put his soul into the garden. If only he had bought it when he had the chance he would be able to stay but he had always felt it was better to pay rent than tie himself up with a mortgage although he had encouraged Peter and her to buy their house even helping with the deposit.

“The garden is getting a bit much for you now dad and you only use one bedroom so it might not be too bad perhaps we should go and see them first and then you can decide if you fancy a move.”

They made arrangements for the following Friday. Dad would come to them for lunch and then they could all go over and see for themselves what the bungalows were like. Dad would meet the man from the council at the bungalow. “Some poor old dear died I suppose” dad said a bit bleakly but by the time Sarah left he was quite looking forward to visiting what could be his new home.
Sarah made dad his favourite lunch liver bacon and onions. He enjoyed it so much he had seconds.

” That was as good as your mother used to make.” He sat back patting a full stomach. That was high praise indeed as mum had been a wonderful cook her pastry had been as light as a feather and her sponges rose every time!
After lunch they all piled in the car and went to see the bungalow.

It turned out to be small attractive but in desperate need of decoration. “This place hasn’t seen new wallpaper since the 40’s” dad said picking at the red flock in the lounge. Mike and Tom, Sarah’s strapping teenagers, offered help with decorating and Peter her husband promised to do any carpet laying needed.

“There you are dad if you decide to move in we will soon have it looking good.” Sarah said trying to cheer her dad up a bit.
“We intend to install new double glazed windows and doors and new kitchens are to be fitted next year.” The man from the council explained all the other facts about rent and the tenancy and then left them to look at the garden etc on their own.
The bungalow stood in a small cul de sac and several people smiled or waved in a very friendly manner.

“I think you could be happy here dad” Sarah had fallen for the roses round the door and the cherry tree in the small overgrown but pretty garden.

“What do you think granddad?” Mike asked,” I think it is pretty cool.”

So it was decided and the next month rushed by with redecorating the bungalow and clearing out the old house.

“You accumulate so much rubbish in a lifetime” Sarah said staring at the heap of old toys and camping gear she had brought down from the loft. Her dad said nothing but she knew he was finding all this really hard. As each new thing was brought down he handled it with care and memories came flooding back. He had lived in the house over 30 years and it was so full of memories. He had brought his young bride there and life had been full of love and promise. Their children had been born there and a baby and his beloved wife had died there. Sarah just hoped that the move would be right for him.

A month later Sarah drove up to the little bungalow. She noted in passing that the small front garden was weeded and a new crazy paving path had been laid. Dad had been really busy! She had to ring the doorbell twice before a strange lady opened the door.

“Come in come in you must be Sarah” She bustled Sarah into the lounge where there were at least 6 other strangers sitting around drinking tea with her dad.

“Hello sweetheart good to see you have a cup of tea and try a piece of Elsie’s lemon cake or Florrie’s scones are very good.”

“Well you seem happy dad what’s this a party?” It was a long time since Sarah had seen her dad look so contented.

“No lass we have tea every afternoon in somebody’s house and today it is my turn to entertain all these lovely ladies and gentlemen.”

Sarah sat quietly drinking her tea and eating the delicious lemon cake her heart filled with love as she watched and listened to her beloved dad talking. He seemed more animated than she had seen him since mum died and his neighbours appeared keen to hear what he had to say.

“I think we should enter the Britain In Bloom as a group because we would have more of a chance that way and I can provide plants from my new greenhouse for those who haven’t got green fingers-I will even fill the hanging baskets and help you hang them-what do you think?” Everyone in the room seemed happy to go along with her dad’s suggestions and he beamed contentedly at them.

Back home again Sarah was able to tell her family that granddad had settled well into his new home and he had made a very good decision moving to Elmside Bungalows.

Jane Manning

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