I’m afraid the older I get the less I’m invited to 21st birthday parties! One I was invited to was the 21st birthday of Balham Pensioners Centre on Wednesday, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I attended a special thanksgiving service at Balham Baptist church where the theme was “Celebrating Age”. Reverend Steve Rouse is one of my favourite religious leaders locally. Yes he’s funny and inspiring, but he’s also down to earth and cool! The last time I saw Steve was a rather more surreal experience. It was when we were both in Wimbledon Theatre waiting for our respective daughters during a break in High School Musical surrounded by literally hundreds of school children. I think we both felt far more in our comfort zone this week in the surroundings of Balham Baptist church.

The vision of Reverend Steve and Balham Pensioners Centre is to serve with “Food Fun and Friendship”. As they enter their 22nd year, it is clear to me that they pull this off really well. I wish the pensioners centre and the luncheon club many happy returns and I look forward to being invited to many more birthdays.