August was holiday month
We chatted together about our favourite holiday destinations, or somewhere residents wished they could visit and then everyone enjoyed going there virtually, with the help of our Tiny Tablet: Touch Screen Activity Tables for Care & Education and RecreoViral our virtual reality headset. We visited beaches, stately homes and gardens, farms and aquariums all in one afternoon! Although the experience is individual the residents enjoyed watching each other as they talked about what they are seeing through the headset.
We holidayed for a week in Italy. We made amaretti biscuits which residents enjoyed with a cappuccino. They also liked trying homemade fig syrup mocktails at lunch to carry on the Italian flavours!
Then we set off to Greece and residents experienced island hopping via our Tiny Tablet. We made a Greek salad and enjoyed a continental breakfast and chicken Gyros. Carol came in to talk about writing postcards and places we have been and we also had a sensory afternoon with shells.
Next stop France! As part of French week, we made a French apple cake with apples that had kindly been donated to us. It went down very well with a hot chocolate and café au lait! Inspired by the famous French artists, residents then spent an afternoon creating their own masterpieces.
And keeping us in the holiday spirit and enjoying the weather, there's nothing quite like an iced lolly, whilst dipping your feet in the paddling pool, on a summer's afternoon!
September is Classical Music Month
We have asked residents about their favourite piece of classical music and which instrument they would like to see played. We enjoyed a fabulous performance from DownsideUp; a collaboration of Corinne Frost on Cello and Stephen Warner on double bass and other instruments! This was organised via the English Symphony Orchestra Concerts in Care Homes. Ewan is coming in to play piano, as well as a lot of our favourite entertainers, and we are having our own Last Night of the Proms.
We are preparing our entries for the Herefordshire Growing Point Autumn Show on 9th October. Liv from Creative Minds, Herefordshire came in to give us some creative direction and then Angie from Herefordshire Growing Point helped residents create miniature gardens. The residents worked in pairs and had a lot of fun - they are very happy with the end results.
We will be celebrating Mexican Day on 16th September with a pinata! We are hoping for a day trip Croft Castle. We will also celebrate Chocolate Milkshake Day, Oktoberfest and first day of autumn. We are hoping to see the school children for some autumn visits and have 15 art therapy sessions in the diary, funded by Herefordshire Council.