My true love gave to me four calling birds.

It is important to keep up with your friends. We all know this and it becomes even more evident when you get out the Christmas card list and realise this is the second or third Christmas when you have said, “MUST meet up next year, but never got round to it.”

COVID made us less likely to go out and about, but in those days we did lift the phone more often and even got into FaceTiming, and Zoom and Teams. I sometimes think that sending a card or a letter is better, especially when the person you are in contact with has cognitive impairment. They might forget that you called, but the postcard is still sitting there as a permanent reminder of the fact that you cared enough to get in touch.

But maybe getting a stamp and going to the postbox is a bit much. Then is the time to just lift the phone. Take a second and let someone know that you remember them. But there is a hesitation sometimes. If you are always the one who makes the call, it might be giving you a subliminal message that they don’t reciprocate your interest or care. That might be true for some people, but don’t think it when the person, your friend, is a family carer.

Caring can be very isolating, so it is important to reach out and make contact with people who are doing the work of caring. They might not have time or energy to contact you. They might be feeling low and not wanting to initiate a conversation because they have nothing exciting to tell you. You can make a big difference to them by just making that call. If you are a carer yourself, tell the people in your life that you would appreciate a call, even if sometimes you feel a bit low.

When singing that old song, the Twelve Days of Christmas, I always wonder what I’d do with Four Calling Birds. Sounds like a messy and awkward thing to receive. But a phone call is always welcome. Sometimes just one call would make all the difference. Think of a carer and call them today.