A heart warming tale of how Hook Home Help helps inside and out

This summer my son has done an accidental garden makeover. Last summer when I suggested that he could help out with some gardening, he looked a bit scared and said he didn't know the difference between a weed and a plant! But as last summer's job was weeding a client's block paving, he couldn't get it wrong! If it was green it had to go.

His confidence grew. He learnt how to paint fences by practicing on mine and then took on this fence. While he was there some other jobs were found for him. Under careful instruction from the client he cleared brambles and weeds, cut down climbing plants and harvested rhubarb. Bit by bit the garden was cleared and compost put down.

Then the planting began. A look of panic spread across his face. He said quietly, "How do I know where to plant them?".

Well there are X fence panels and Y plants - you're the one with the maths A level

Happy that there was a mathematical solution to the problem he set about planting the many plants that we had got from the garden centre.

While he does the garden, I make cups of tea, fold laundry, iron clothes, clean the kitchen, do some decluttering, run things up and down stairs and do what I can to make the inside more comfortable while he works on the outside.

It has been lovely to see his confidence grow and his pride in his work. He told me that he walked past the house with his friend on the way to see someone else and said, "That's the fence I've been painting". The friend replied, "I was just thinking what a well painted fence that was", which was a complete lie but that is why I love them both

Now the plants are planted and thriving, the house is clean and tidy, and the client has had enough tea to keep her hydrated until we come back!

The whole thing has been so good for him, good for the garden and good for both me and the client as he's bigger and stronger than the both of us put together, and a lot better at going up ladders. Step by step he has made a real difference to this home.

Hook Home Help is helping people to live independently, providing companionship, support and generally helping to get things done in and around the home