The Aorta complex

This is going to be a rambly one. I apologise in advance, because I can feel it coming on. There seems to be an awful lot going on at the moment; a lot to think about. BP and the disaster in the Mexican Gulf; the recession, and the cuts that are starting to be announced; floods in the south of France; the World Cup in South Africa (England are playing tonight); the strike by BA cabin crews (is that still going on?). I'm not going to comment on any of it. Not today, anyway. I'm just glad to be sitting in a place where I feel calm and relaxed, where I can reflect quietly on what's going on in my head. Grove House.

I'm indebted to the writers and publishers of a book I read many years ago called (I think) "Let's Talk Strine". The book was a humorous insight into Australian ways of speaking and thinking, and I will always be grateful for the introduction to the Aorta Complex. I should explain that it's not a medical term. It's got nothing to do with being worried about a heart attack. It can be found in expressions such as "Aorta do something about the state of our roads (or the economy, or the health service, or whatever)". Why has it stuck in my mind, when it must be 40 years since I read the book? I think it's because there's a serious point behind the play on words, and it's about passing the buck; complaining about things, but not thinking that it's up to us to do something about it.

Now I know where this is going (see what I mean about a rambly one?). Did you know that there are over 500 volunteers that help to run Grove House? That's compared with, I don't know, less than 50 employees? It's an astonishing figure. And these are all people who, one way or another, have recognised that there is something missing in our health service, a need that must be met, and have got off their backsides and done something about it. Now I'm not going to romanticise. I'm aware that many of the volunteers are retired, working part-time (or not at all, lucky things!), or have time on their hands for a variety of reasons. The fact remains, they could still be sitting at home watching telly (especially at this time: World Cup, Wimbledon starting next week ... ). But instead, they give up some of their time to help out at Grove House. Maybe by driving patients to and fro, maybe by working in the garden (the gardens, by the way, are beautiful), maybe by working in the Day Hospice, or helping patients at home. I think that's fantastic. So what makes them do it? You know what? I've talked to many of them, and they actually enjoy it! It gets them out of the house, meeting people, and gives them a sense of doing something useful, making a contribution.

What a contrast with all the negative emotions we're bombarded with on a daily basis. Aorta do something about it. Aorta start straight away.