With many of us having enjoyed holidays in Wales from trekking up Snowdon to rides on steam trains with our children, we were able to share many memories of this wonderful country as we made cupcake case daffodils, made and enjoyed eating Welsh cakes, welcomed the children from the local nursery school and even had a Welsh singer perform for us on St Davids Day. What a special week it has been.
Monday 26 February, after doing some morning exercises and ball games, Nicole toured around the home with her ‘Glasses Cleaning’ trolley. Having good eyesight is very important and can stop falls and trips and so giving everyone’s glasses a quick clean ensures they are free from greasy smears.
In the afternoon we enjoyed afternoon tea with a quiz hosted by Susie, one of our fantastic volunteers. She always puts together a quiz which is very informative, we always come away having learnt something new.
Tuesday 27 February, in our craft club we made lovely little paper plate Welsh sheep. Other residents made apple feeders to go on our trees around the garden.
In the afternoon residents gathered for Gardening Club. One of our chefs, Steve, is keen to grow lots of vegetables to supply the kitchen so he gathered lots of residents and they planted all sorts of seeds, ready to plant out in planters when the weather is warmer. Peppers, kohlrabi, and cucumbers were the first to be sown, checking later in the week, they are already sprouting.
Wednesday 28 February, music therapy was our morning activity. A chance for residents to tap, beat, clap, and sing along.
In the afternoon daffodils were being made by residents using paper cupcake cases. They looked so realistic and have decorated the home ready for St Davids Day. Tinkerbell, our pet therapy dog also paid us a welcome visit as everyone likes to give him a stroke.
Thursday 29 February, children from Tootsies Nursery School visited us and played with our residents in the activities room. Sarah, one of our activities co-ordinators, had brought in a big box of colourful Duplo and the children were able to create little scenes and houses to show to the residents, and staff. It was so interesting, and the children said it was a better selection than they have at nursery.
In the afternoon we sat together and arranged flowers, had chats with our friends and shared stories of our gardens and the flowers we grew in them. Such wonderful sensory experience.
Friday 1 March, as it was St Davids Day, we enjoyed making Welsh Cakes with our chef, Steve. We all helped measure out the ingredients and mix them. It was a great opportunity to chat and reminisce about our own baking days and what we liked to bake. Steve cooked them whilst we sat around the table with a cup of tea and then we could taste them, adding a knob of butter to melt on them. It was a great success and we shared them with other residents in the afternoon.
Gareth came to perform for us in the afternoon. A great Welsh singer who sang a variety of our favourite songs and also sang a few in Welsh. One of our residents who is Welsh himself, also sang along with him in the Welsh language.
It was also one of our lovely lady’s birthday and we celebrated with her and her family with her favourite – a chocolate cake.
Saturday 2 March, we played a range of skittles, giant snakes and ladders and word games. It was a very busy morning.
In the afternoon it was more cooking as tasty leek and potato soup was being made by the residents. Leeks are a traditional symbol of Wales and so it was only right we used them for this delicious soup. It was served for supper and was a big success.
Sunday 3 March, whilst some residents enjoyed walks in the garden on this lovely sunny day, others browsed books and magazines from our regular Sunday book trolley. Some of the books tied in with the theme – Welsh week and Mothering Sunday.
In the afternoon, after a delicious roast turkey lunch, we gathered in the activities room for some shared reading. Sarah read some short stories whilst we enjoyed a cup of tea and some lemon drizzle cake. What a great way to end the week.
