Come on over to my place

Joan is 74 years old and lives in Harp House. She sometimes forgets things that she did yesterday, but she can vividly recall the Christmases she experienced as a young child.

Her stocking would be filled with fruits, sweets and nuts. For dinner, she and her family would enjoy a turkey with all the trimmings. By contrast, she recalls one lonely Christmas a few years ago when Meals on Wheels delivered her dinner. She says the meal wasn't very tasty and "it felt like a normal day, nothing special".

But Joan certainly enjoyed last Christmas at Harp House in Barking, Essex. Lunch was freshly cooked and washed down with some wine, while she and her neighbours laughed, had a singalong and watched TV.

I remember last Christmas a little differently from Joan. I live locally and usually pop in to see the residents on Christmas morning.

When I arrived at 11 o'clock, I realised there weren't enough kitchen staff to cook and serve the meal. Luckily, the turkey had been cooked the day before and, rallying to the cause, my sister and two cousins, who were visiting, helped out with preparing lunch. It was only half-an-hour late in the end, which wasn't bad, and everyone really enjoyed the meal.

However, it's very important that retirement estates like ours do not become ghettoised. So, we arranged for one of the local churches to hold their carol service at Harp House, opening up the estate to the local community.

We're helped here because two groups use our facilities: Age Concern attendees get involved with our Christmas party and help arrange other festivities, and the Sunrise African Caribbean day centre organises a separate party with food and music.

Most people get the opportunity to celebrate with friends before Christmas, and Harp House is no different.

Before the big day, we have a Christmas party with food, drink, dancing and singing. Most of the residents come along (although some prefer peace and quiet) and all the staff join in.