August has been as usual another very busy month for all our residents with the theme “Around the world cruise”. Residents have enjoyed various activities, singalongs, and quizzes as well as sampling foods from some of the different countries they have visited along their virtual cruise. We started our cruise back here in the UK, before travelling onto Europe, Nepal, Australia and finally finishing in America. There was much reminiscing and funny story telling about holidays from all around the world. Here are in more detail some of the other things our residents have also been up to throughout the month.
On Friday 4th August residents from all three homes took a trip into Fleet for coffee and a spot of shopping. Residents all met up in the Emporium for tea, coffee and a slice of cake, whilst some residents took time out in Fleet to do a spot of shopping. It was a lovely morning out with lots of chat and laughter arriving back home in time for lunch.
Later in the afternoon Woodlands residents enjoyed a good old fashioned British knee’s up singalong to conclude our virtual tour around the UK. Songs included ‘My Old Man’, ‘Knees up Mother Brown’, and one of the resident’s favourite ‘She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain’, we finished the afternoon perfectly with tea, coffee and cake.
Monday 7th August began with the residents virtual cruise around Europe, firstly stopping in France. Residents spent the morning talking and reminiscing about all things French, and later in the afternoon really enjoyed a cheese and wine afternoon. It was a great afternoon listening to some French music whilst sampling lots of different French cheese, pate and wine. Residents also during the rest of the week visited other European countries which included sampling some traditional Polish cake.
Residents from Woodlands enjoyed a trip down the Basingstoke canal on a narrow boat called ‘Dawn’ on Wednesday 9th August. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side that day, but that did not put off our very excited residents, as they boarded for a leisurely cruise down the canal. Despite the weather, it was a really enjoyable day out cruising along the canal. Residents got to take in the many sights and sounds along the canal and stopped for a while to enjoy a fabulous picnic specially prepared by our award-winning chef which they washed down with a glass of wine or two before cruising back along the canal towards Odiham. The residents said they all had a great time and said it was a fabulous experience.
It was a trip to Redfields garden centre on the morning of Friday 11th August. Residents enjoyed a gentle stroll taking in all the colourful plants and flowers that were on display. They then met up with residents from our other two homes in the restaurant and enjoyed a chat over tea, coffee and some yummy biscuits.
During the afternoon residents got the chance to learn all about Nepal, as our virtual cruise stopped here for the afternoon. They enjoyed looking at pictures and learning about all the beautiful landmarks in Nepal as well as some great facts about the unusually shaped Nepalese flag. Residents also got to enjoy a traditional Nepalese dance by one of our wonderful staff Prem who wowed them with her beautiful traditional Nepalese dress. After the dancing we all got to try some traditional Nepalese food called ‘Haluwa’ and ‘Khapse’, residents couldn’t get enough from and many of them were having seconds and thirds. It was a wonderful afternoon and what a great chance for us to enjoy the Nepalese food and culture.
On the beautiful sunny Wednesday 16th August our virtual cruise travelled to Australia. Residents took to our beautiful gardens to enjoy an Australian themed BBQ with burgers and sausages along with some Australian red and white wine. It was a lovely afternoon with much talk from those who had travelled to Australia and the places they visited there, to those who wished they had been. It was wonderful to see so many residents in the garden enjoying the sunshine chatting and laughing. They were also quite taken with the inflatable kangaroo which they had named ‘Hop’.
On Friday 18th August residents from all three of our homes met up at the Wyvern pub to enjoy a chat and a drink. It was a lovely morning out with residents arriving back home in time for ‘Fish and Chip’ Friday.
Later in the afternoon, our virtual cruise came to a close, finishing off in America. Residents enjoyed talking about all things American, looking at photos of famous landmarks as well as an American themed singalong. The afternoon was finished off perfectly with some rocky marshmallow cake and American yum yums.
On Friday 25th August residents from all three homes met up at Badshot Lea garden centre. Residents enjoyed a walk around the flowers and gifts as well as visiting the aquarium. The aquarium was full of a wide variety of very colourful fish and the residents really enjoyed looking at them all. The morning ended in the café enjoying a drink and some yummy biscuits, arriving back home in time for lunch.