comment and a bit of a moan

Yesterday at Holi-day thankfully the rain stopped and there was a bright blustery day.

Feedback after perfomances is often given verbally and normally to the dancers not directly to me, although i am then often passed on to, to discuss the groups, people joining etc
Yesterday a woman sought out the dancers to compliment and comment and as I was present i asked her to write something down for us, this is it;

"The dance was so poignant and i felt in tune with the folk who struggle in life."
Patricia Brocklebank

an interesting comment, we are grateful for it and it gives food for thought

Yesterday i was shocked and very pleased to see some old friends from my early work days, arising from this this morning i woke in grief at the news of deaths, struggle, sorrows - with their joys. Many people i remember strongly from my first years of work, we were all in our early 20's, i had / have high hopes for what can be provided, in reality, has it? can we without a major shift..will it happen?
how dependant vulnerable people are on others being able to envision, respond creatively to where they are and build from there...the danger of people settling for very little and becoming the unseen with staff who haven't enough support, training or time to provide more.
That many people shine when they stay in their families, despite the difficulties this can present and the sacrifices involved a loving parent knows you well, can forsee where you would shine, what you would enjoy, and is used to sacrificing for you and is often more adaptable than a shift system of carers. A community i know in Totnes tried many ways to reproduce what had been a family community and eventually settled on staff living in for 2/3 days at a time, more like normal life, is this a potential care model that could be reproduced? (for many vulnerable people staying at home is not a positive option).
 i don't know art is my speciality but i also lived in one of the first independant living houses as a community service volunteer when i was 18!..I am beginning to notice my age.
I do believe you can never rest back, there is always more to be done or even just maintained.

What has shaken me is now some of the people I worked with are ill or dead and what has life given them, it's not what could have been? I only need to meet one carer who puts their own needs before the "client" and I am taken back to all the shocking things I have seen in the past.....equally always there have been amazing, inspired, wonderful, caring staff, but they need support and recognition.

Finally as i realise i'm about to title this "a bit of a moan", there have been occasions such as the People first Music Festival at Porthtowan Eco Park a few years ago where so much seems possible and the atmosphere, support etc was fantastic.

"For the people by the people" comes to mind, we could as disability awareness reminds us, all end up permanently vulnerable one day, ( all of us will have sometimes of it in our lives even if short ) in receipt of care, maybe we all need to look at that provision, it could be us or those we know and love, in that situation.

Equally i have travelled and seen countries where there is little or no provision, so am grateful for what we have...but.....