Autumn at Abberton means Halloween! And we have also had some brilliant activities, poignant moments with Remembrance and are planning for Christmas.
Fun Autumn events
Tickled Pink Productions entertained us with their crazy sea-faring capers. We cruised Around the World in 60 Minutes! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the show and couldn’t resist joining in singing, dancing and toe tapping. We have also had Tony play the piano for us. He is an amazing pianist and played both classical pieces and songs from musicals. Just wonderful to hear.
Taste buds at the ready for our Tea Tasting. Everyone was feeling adventurous to try something new. A lovely warming Autumn activity. Of the ten flavours we sampled our favourites were “Feel New” and “Elderberry and Echinacea”. There was a resounding “yes” to add them to our tea trolley. Mixed reactions to others, with comments like “dishwater” and “you cant beat a traditional British cuppa!”. Together with some of our home made shortbread and some tea related brainteasers, the event went to a tee!
For Halloween, we decorated our dining room and residents and our team transformed into witches and wizards! Halloween activities included games, apple bobbing, a sound quiz, pumpkin carving to create spook-tacular Jack-o’-lanterns and pumpkin soup.
Remembrance
This is always a poignant time of the year. This year we created our own field of poppies and residents made a display in our dining room. They made a poppy wreath and Spitfire planes. One resident used their iPad to google the Spitfire wing camouflage as it was important to get it just right. These crafted planes, in particular, have bought back lots of memories and our team have listened to residents’ wartime stories and songs. We have huge admiration and respect for everything they went through. It has been lovely to see residents’ faces light up as they admired the final display. You can see it here. https://www.facebook.com/abbertonmanor/videos/411037573813164
We also enjoyed a visit from Reverend Tony for a Remembrance Day service. We marked the two minutes silence and then made poppy decorated cookies. “Look at us Mums back decorating cakes” said our resident as they decorated the cookies.
Christmas plans
We are welcoming Tickled Pink Productions for their Christmas panto. Plus lots of Christmas traditions; creating floral table centres, door wreaths, lots of Christmas song and festive cheer. Better order in the Baileys and mulled wine!
Shhhh! Don’t tell our residents! We have some Christmas surprises lined up, including fabulous decorations with outdoor lights and two Christmas trees. Thank you to FiveWays Fruit Farm in Stanway for donating these. One is 10 feet high! Plus a special winter wonderland grotto and our lovely lifestyle and wellbeing co-ordinator Nicola is hand making stockings for each of our residents.