Due to public health funding cuts, my work in community health is due to finish shortly. During the last nine years I’ve visited people regularly in their own homes and have listened to literally thousands of life stories. I’ve heard accounts of childhood during the great depression and of the young adults who marched away to serve in the Second World War. Former refugees have described what it was like to flee across Europe during the war; and of years spent in concentration camps. I’ve listened to tales of personal tragedies too – childhood abuse, substance abuse, chronic illness and loss. Yet interspersed with this are accounts of love affairs and funny anecdotes and the joy of special relationships. I’ve never yet met anyone I would remotely describe as dull. People are so interesting and it’s been a privilege to hear their stories.