We have been getting out and about in the spring sunshine. We are lucky enough to have Churchill Gardens within walking distance. It's lovey to have a stroll there with residents and we often take the opportunity for some one to one time. A simple chat, being listened too, having a laugh and time together can really brighten someone's day.
Our green fingered residents have been getting our vegetable beds ready, tidying up the hanging baskets and sprucing up the garden, ready now to watch things grow!
We had a day all about the Philippines at Newstead House. Our lovely Belinda cooked up a storm in the kitchen with Miha as an assistant chef (a role reversal for the day!) Belinda shared her culture and we all learnt something new. We made a sweet dessert and in the afternoon we made some traditional Filipino fans. Residents and staff enjoyed the food and the fun. A big thank you to Belinda for making the day so special.
We celebrated Mothers Day with an afternoon tea, enjoying delicious cakes made by our residents and served with our best china.
For St Patrick's Day, our Residents immersed themselves in the Irish culture for the day. Some wore green to fend off those pinching leprechauns! We then tried a bit of Irish dancing. The mind was willing, though the legs were not cooperating, so we moved onto traditional Irish folk music. All enjoyed with a few Irish creams, whisky and a pint or 2 of Guinness. And to top it off our lovely cook, Sarah, prepared a traditional Irish lunch with a chocolate and Guinness cake.
It was wonderful to share the celebrations of a wedding anniversary with one of our residents and his wife. He surprised his lovely wife with a beautiful bouquet and walked her part of the way home. This was something he missed doing, so with a little help from the Newstead team we made it possible. They are a gorgeous couple and really do prove that love never fades, not with time, not with age, not even within the quiet walls of a care home. It grows, it adapts, and it stays. In a place where days move a little slower and memories may come and go, their love still finds its way — in a look, a touch, or simply sitting side by side. Because real love isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about choosing each other every single day, in every stage of life.
And then it was Easter. We made Easter decorations, simnel cake and chocolate nests too. We gave the Easter bunny a break and took a couple of our ladies out to Asda. They helped to choose Easter eggs for staff and residents. They also had a quick explore around the clothes department and then headed to the Café, for a well deserved cuppa.
We had lots of visits from children and grandchildren of staff and residents over the Easter bank holiday weekend. The kiddies joined us for our Easter egg hunt. We also had a beautiful service from Reverend Andy and Alex. We enjoyed fish and chips on Good Friday and a delicious roast on Easter Sunday. Thank you to our lovely hairdresser Sally, for her gifts of chocolates and Baileys for our residents.
We have also just started a Computer Club. Our first session was on Google Maps. We found Australia, Canada, Liverpool, Slovakia and a little cottage in the middle of a field. Lots of reminiscing our holidays and places we lived. It was a busy day - we also made a coffee cake and two Bakewell tarts in the morning.
