Several years ago, when visiting my Mum in Leslie House, I obtained a copy of a prayer, which was set on each dining table. The prayer encapsulates the attitude that we should all have for the frail and the elderly. It goes as follows:

Beatitudes (for those who work with the aged)

Blessed are they who understand my faltering steps and shaking hand.

Blessed are they who know that my ears today must strain to catch the things they say.

Blessed are they who seem to know my eyes are dim and my mind is slow.

Blessed are they who looked away when tea is spilled on the cloth that day.

Blessed are they with cheery smile who stopped to chat for a little while.

Blessed are they who know the way to bring back memories of yesterday.

Blessed are they who never say "You've told me that story twice today!"

Blessed are they who make it known that I am loved, respected and not alone, and

Blessed are they who ease the days of my journey home in loving ways.

• Shame on those who do not respect those beatitudes.
• Shame on the Board of Social Responsibility.
• Shame on all of those at the General Assembly who voted against the Motion to keep Leslie House open until the physical, mental and social well-being of the residents was secured.
• Shame on those who voted and who were not present during all of the pleadings and all of the debate, despite being counselled on three occasions by the Principal Clerk that they were not entitled to do so.
• Shame on the Reverend Hugh Conky from Kincardine and Deeside Presbytery who, when moving that Leslie House be closed, said that he realised that when such a home was closed people would die.
• Shame on the so-called Friends of Leslie House who abandoned the residents after the Board announced that it proposed to close it.
• Shame on the local parish minister who has not held a single religious service in Leslie House for some months thereby denying the residents the associated spiritual comfort.

Leslie House must stay open until the well being of my Mum and the other residents is secured. Moving my Mum will end her life. I don't want my Mum to die in distress in a foreign environment and I certainly don't want my Mum to die at the bidding of the Board of Social Responsibility.

I would like to add an addendum to the Beatitudes: "and blessed are they, who despite political intrigue, ease my Mum's journey home in loving ways".

Written by a relative. October 5th 2002