We had so much fun throughout December, celebrating Christmas and the New Year. Here are some of our highlights.
- We have such a splendid home to decorate and the BIGGEST tree was pride of place in our panelled reception hall. So much fun putting up all the decorations – reams of tinsel! It brought back so many special childhood memories when we assembled our nativity scene.
- We supported The Alzheimer’s Society with their Elf Day 2021. Our cheeky elves brought the mischief and laughter. Putting the “fun” into “fundraising” as always!
- Christmas crafting (a particular favourite being our handmade advent calendar) and lots of baking, especially our delicious gingerbread men tree decorations.
- A brilliant Astley Hall Family Christmas party, with singing from Melissa Horlick. We had a ball singing along to Christmas hits and old classics.
- And it wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit from Santa – who looked like he had eaten one too many mince pies! Residents couldn’t believe their eyes seeing our fabulous Lifestyle lead Maddi in an inflatable Santa suit. She said “It had everyone laughing and was definitely worth not being able to walk through small corridors and bumping into everything!”
- Such a wonderful Christmas time with family and friend, festive treats and tipples and then seeing in the New Year with games, fizz and Auld Lang Syne.
Fun times ahead
We are relaxing into the New Year and asking residents what they would like to do this year. Any resolutions for example? One resident said ‘’Why have a new year’s resolution when you can just keep making yourself happy. It shouldn’t matter what time of year it is.’’ Another said ‘’… drink more wine and eat more biscuits!’’ Sound advice as always!
We have lots planned to banish any January blues and our resident florists are already brightening up our home with their lovely displays.
Afternoon teas and The Full Works breakfasts have been requested and are now weekly diary events – nothing like a long, lazy breakfast with the papers to ease into the day. The afternoon teas seem to roll gently into a Scrabble-off or game of draughts.
We have new fitness sessions for flexibility, to stretch and burn off some of those cake calories and with the days lengthening thoughts are turning to the garden. On a recent stroll, we spotted that all our spring bulbs are starting to grow.
There is Burns Night at the end of January and the Chinese New Year. February starts with Dignity in Action Day and love will be in the air for Valentine’s Day.
We also have plans afoot for the 2022 Olympics and, of course, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.