We started the week on Monday 4th. May with our chair-based exercises and ‘Love to Move’ variants before a few rounds of ‘Hangman’ which we love. During the afternoon we enjoyed tea in the garden in the lovely sunshine and a special flag identification and country reminiscence discussion with Elizabeth. This week we will have an extra wordsearch/reminiscence activity every day at 4.00pm with Elizabeth except Friday as it was to be our VE Day 75th.Anniversary Garden Tea Party and celebrations.
Patricia loves to be in the garden to read her newspaper and/or participate in a quiz. Here she is wearing a fragrant ‘Pink’ carnation in her hair with her sunhat.
On Tuesday 5th. May Alison met us all for the regular monthly resident’s meeting and updated us all on the pandemic and how are coping as a company. How they are keeping us all safe from the virus with strict infection control, PPE, temperature readings as well as testing of both ourselves and the staff across all the four care homes.
During the afternoon we had a sing-a-long and then an extra Sports word search and reminiscence activity.
Sports Wordsearch/Reminiscence Discussion on Tuesday 5th. May.
On Wednesday 6th. May we did our chair based exercises and then had a great British themed quiz. During the afternoon in the garden we reminisced about VE Day and enjoyed the Poetry Club including some upbeat VE day poems ahead of VE Day 75 on Friday. After this we enjoyed an ‘Occupations’ discussion and word search.
On Thursday 7th. May we managed no less than a 89 words (with the target of 50) from ‘Winston Churchill’ in honour of VE day and some of us were interviewed and shared our own experiences of the War and VE day back then ready for a planned group reminiscence activity on VE day itself.
We also enjoyed reading and composing letters back to some more ‘Postcards of Kindness’ from the pupils at both Heatherside Junior School and Calthorpe Secondary School.
Diane with letter from pupil Ollie, who has his own alpaca!
Angela reading letter from Chloe P. She loved her sunset drawing!
Kath enjoyed reading letters from both Isabella and Theodore and has composed a letter to each to send back to them. We hope very much that these pupils can visit us so we can meet them in person after the lockdown is lifted.
Additionally, we got busy creating colourful posters for VE day on Friday.
Len and Peter’s posters for Friday.
On Friday 8TH. May VE 75th. Anniversary Day we watched the wreath laying ceremony by Prince Charles in Balmoral and participated in the 2 minute silence in honour of all the veterans and those who lost their lives serving for our country.
Then Sally-Anne shared with the group our own memories of this day based upon the interviews earlier in the week, and presented some of us with our own little histories which we intend to display in the future in a special Woodlands VE Day scrapbook.
Len’s memories of sleeping in Paddington tube station and an Anderson air raid shelter.
Kath was working at Keith Blackman Engineering Tottenham the day they announced the Victory in Europe and said they didn’t ‘down tools’ but just sung louder!
Beryl’s Mum made all their clothes as well as for other people too!
Evelyn has a very good memory indeed of events back then and recalls being evacuated first to Cambridge and then South Wales and still has her original ration book and pictures of her VE day party celebration back in Muswell Hill London.
At lunchtime we went outside into the beautiful warm sunshine for the VE Day 75th. Anniversary Tea Party in the garden, bedecked with flags and bunting. There were jugs of Pimms, prosecco, sherry and wine and a delicious afternoon tea, served with plenty of savouries as well as fresh cream cakes, scones and sweets.
We raised a glass for all those who fought and lost their lives in the war and then enjoyed a spirited wartime sing-along as the wine flowed and we enjoyed the food.
Patricia getting very patriotic!
Everyone raised a glass to honour our veterans and those who lost their life.
Len, Peter, Arthur, Ken and George make a toast!
Gill and Patricia enjoying the Pimms with Elizabeth
Daphne, Margaret and Peggy raise a glass!
Beryl enjoyed the Pimms and Iris, Sylvia and Evelyn flag waving
Mary and Sylvia being served, the lovely Pimms and the scrummy scones and cakes! Margaret pays tribute!
Diane paid tribute!
Ken with phtograph of him as a boy at his VE day party 75 years ago in Cowley,Oxford.
On Saturday 9th. May the weather was again lovely so we were able to enjoy the garden once more and carry on reminiscing about VE day then and now.