Celebrating life at Barchester

We love welcoming Zoolab to Waterside Court — it’s always a wild success!

Today our residents came face-to-face with Fred the Frog, a fascinating tarantula, a slithering snake and more, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable adventure. There were smiles, a few brave hands, and plenty of “wow” moments.

Thank you, Zoolab, for bringing the fun, the facts, and a little bit of the wild right to our doorstep — we can’t wait for the next visit!   

At Atfield House, we all enjoyed participating together in the Valentine's Day preparations: residents made heart-shaped biscuits that were topped with melted chocolate. Staff members created roses from serviettes and placed a biscuit heart inside as a morning surprise for our residents for Valentine’s Day at breakfast! It all looked so beautiful with the red roses. 

We created personalised Valentines cards for all our couples, and residents enjoyed anticipating the special afternoon guitar concert with Chris and a special Valentines tea! Family members and residents filled the dining room for our special Valentine's tea and concert and one resident even presented a rose to his beloved. The atmosphere in the room was so beautiful, everyone was chatting, tapping on the tables, the rhythm of the music and enjoying the treats, and the sound of the guitar enhanced the howl Valentine's feeling. Truly love was in the air! Our residents and visitors said that they enjoyed the afternoon very much and thanked us for this lovely experience. 

How nice to see everyone having such a great time!   

The rhythm of the week found its groove on Monday afternoon at Ashlar House, as the smooth sounds of jazz filled the air. Residents gathered in the lounge, tapping their feet and swaying gently to the music, ready for their much-loved session with Alex.

From the first warm notes, the atmosphere transformed. Classic jazz standards blended with familiar favourites, creating a soundtrack that sparked memories and smiles. Some residents hummed along, others softly sang, and a few couldn’t resist moving to the beat. The music became more than just a background sound; it was a shared experience that brought everyone together.

Alex’s warm presence and lively performance encouraged participation, with stories and laughter flowing between songs. The session wasn’t just about listening; it was about connection. Residents shared memories of dance halls, favourite artists, and evenings spent enjoying live bands in years gone by.

By the end of the afternoon, spirits were lifted, and the room was buzzing with conversation. Monday Afternoon Jazz has quickly become a highlight of the week at Ashlar House, a time to relax, reminisce, and celebrate the timeless joy of music together.

The residents prepared early this year for Valentine’s Day. They enjoyed a fun afternoon of crafting using Valentine heart art. Everyone used their imagination with an assortment of colours, and we will hang the decorations up for our loved ones. 

We also made some beautiful flower arrangements using red roses and carnations. We are so lucky to have a trained florist as part of our activities team.        

We have been out in our beautiful gardens looking for signs of Spring. The residents spotted daffodils and catkins. The daffodils are ones we planted in Autumn and are well on the way to making a wonderful spring display in our raised flower beds. 

We will soon be resuming our Snip and Socialise Gardening club for anyone to come and join and help plan and plant our displays.      

This month we celebrated National Activity Providers Week with our amazing activities team. This is an annual event to support activity professionals, and thank them for all the many different and varied activities they provide for our residents. 

They always go above and beyond their role and everyone at the home is truly grateful.   

Residents have enjoyed various activities to mark our ‘Love is in the air’ week for St Valentine's Day. The week started off with a chocolate truffle making class to enjoy throughout the week. Arts and crafts sessions were enjoyed creating valentines cards and our midweek concert saw the room filled with red hearts for an afternoon tea. Residents throughout the week gave words of wisdom on how to achieve a long and happy marriage. From ‘Don’t go to bed in an argument’ to ‘Saying okay dear’, there was a tip for everyone to give thought to. 

We were also lucky enough to enjoy a mini-bus outing to one of our sister Barchester homes, Plas Y Dderwen in Carmarthen, where residents were treated to a live harpist who played an array of love songs to end a lovely week. 

Valentine's Day is just one of a number of special themed events that occur throughout the year at Highview. This year, residents celebrated with a special luncheon/dance with music from Eric Bell, accordionist extraordinaire.

A special Valentines snacks trolley was served in the decorated dining rooms, and in the evening a high tea was served to residents and their invited guests.          

Love and friendship were at the heart of a very special afternoon here at Waterside Court. Residents enjoyed singing along to timeless love songs while sipping pink bubbly and treating themselves to strawberries and chocolate.    

Moments like these remind us that Valentine’s Day is not just about romance — it’s about kindness, connection, and sharing smiles with those around us. Because love is best celebrated together.