What a scorcher of a summer! We have been making the most of the great outdoors and finding ingenious ways to beat the heat! We have been thankful for the shade of our new garden gazebos. Thank you to our staffing team for working so hard to keep residents hydrated and as cool as possible, with everyone still smiling through the heatwaves.
Sometimes it has been too hot to go outside – our Beach Party was one such day – but undeterred we set up inside with a sandpit, shells, Punch & Judy on the TV, ice creams, Beach Party music and lots of silliness with inflatables. Our team are always game for a laugh!
Thank you to Lianne Bridges for her summer themed art therapy session. Residents reminisced about holidays, with Lianne’s selection of old postcards helping bring back memories. Then everyone painted their own postcards with beach scenes, mountains and forests all in watercolours. We also had a brilliant jewellery making demonstration from Taylor Made Designs and residents were very touched to receive at the end a handcrafted pair of earrings or a keyring.
July began with the Wimbledon fortnight – lots of tennis viewing, balloon tennis fitness with Louis and Oscar for music and movement and strawberries and cream and Pimms.
Esme the Cellist visited to play to residents in the lounge and then visited residents in their rooms. She played old and new music and there was toe tapping and reflection. One of our residents was so delighted when Esme visited her room to play a piece entitled “The Swan”. She thought it was wonderful and was overwhelmed with emotion.
We also had a visit from The Vintage Ukulele group playing some wonderful tunes which everyone sang along to. It was a warm one, but everyone enjoyed it and the chat and a cup of tea afterwards. Plus, our regular entertainment from Alex Southgate.
Thank you to one of our residents Julian, for giving us all a talk on the history of Reynard the Fox, a famous medieval trickster from fables and stories. It is always so interesting to hear about residents’ interests and hobbies and fantastic when they want to share them with residents and the team.
Our Summer Fete
We had an amazing day for our Summer Fete. A scorcher of course! We are so grateful for the amazing support. Just wonderful to have the Black Cactus Choir in full song under one of our gazebos. Well done to their pianist and conductor who braved the full sun. Also the Tendring Dog Agility Team set up and put their pooches through their paces. We made sure there were refreshments for the dogs and for all the people who came along. Thank you to our residents and families for manning stalls. The tombola and the plant stall were fabulous. We are still totting up the grand total of funds raised, which shall go towards our Residents Fund, so we can continue enabling residents to live their best lives.
Coming up this August
We are making chocolate chip cookies for International Chocolate Chip Cookie Day – yes there is such a thing! And any excuse for chocolate!
Dottie our favourite Essex Therapy Dog will be visiting for cuddles.
We have lots of musical entertainment in the diary including an Elvis Tribute act, singer Alice Prescott and singer Stevie Richie – who was on The X Factor.
The Essex Concert Orchestra are back by popular demand and also Ukulele George and friends and Marianne the accordion player.