Celebrating life at Barchester

Our residents enjoyed a relaxed afternoon out at our local garden centre, spending time together over tea and cake and making the most of the sunshine. A simple pleasure that brought plenty of smiles.

Our residents had a brilliant time enjoying tea, cake, sunshine, and lots of laughter at Kimbridge Barn in Romsey. Smiles all round and very happy hearts — days like this are the best!

Our residents enjoyed a fan session held in traditional clothing with Chinese music and beautiful coloured fans. They were in different colours and sizes and looked beautiful when waved through the air. We were instructed by our Chinese dancer with dance moves that coordinated with the Chinese star sign for 2026, which is the fire horse.   

We learnt to make fire with the fans, make symbolic finger movements for a positive and energetic new year. We passed a ball from fan to fan, which is a traditional game played on Chinese New Year in China. Then the dancer performed for us, and it was breathtakingly beautiful, to watch the energy, movement and grace with which she performed for us. We had a real taste of Chinese culture and traditions brought to us. Thank you to our 2 dancers for sharing the experience with us on Chinese New Year!     

This year at Atfield House, our Chinese New Year was packed with exciting activities and events: we have been making our very own dragon costume over the last month and residents helped to cut out the cardboard box, paint the teeth and gave great instructions to make it look great. They saw how the dragon took shape and at last came alive on Chinese New Year on the 17th of February! The home was beautifully decorated with red lanterns and banners, and we learnt that the bad Nairn could be chased away with noise and the colour red! 

So family members and residents all played drums, shook coconut shakers and watched how the dragon danced through the room. One of our residents even played along with his own professional drum. He played so well and energetic, and everybody cheered him on and loved it! We all had great fun and enjoyed the afternoon with Chinese treats and were all eager to know what the fortune cookie message held for each of us for the coming year of the fire horse!      

This afternoon, Challoner House held an informative talk given by senior dietician Caroline Francis. Caroline came in to give a presentation about how to heat well and stay hydrated in her later years. The residents found the talk fascinating and were able to ask loads of questions about food varieties and quantities. 

They were able to look at and discuss the Eatwell Guide to learn portion control and discuss different levels of dietary requirements. It was a fun learning afternoon enjoyed by all.      

On the 4th February, the residents enjoyed joining World Read Aloud Day. We had a lovely afternoon sharing short stories, poetry and limericks as well as reminiscing about childhood stories we all loved and shared with our own children and grandchildren. World Read Aloud Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday in February and takes place on February 4 this year. 

This is a day dedicated not just to reading, but to the art and practice of reading aloud. Stories were passed down from generation to generation even before writing was invented. Oral forms of storytelling were the earliest way of preserving human knowledge, insight, and creativity. This day helps us bring this tradition back to reading while promoting literacy.     

Residents enjoying an afternoon with Tom Byrne our Valentines count down has started. Lots of singing, dancing and laughter. Residents at Field House feel like they know other homes when it comes to a party. They all enjoy nothing more than a good dance and getting each other up as well. 

Resident ambassador Jean chose not to join each other as she was feeling under the weather. She was so disappointed, so we thought: why don’t we live stream it for her? So we did!

She was so happy to watch all the goings-on through a live stream in the comfort of her room and was very thankful.     

Residents enjoying an afternoon with Tom Byrne our Valentines count down has started. Lots of singing, dancing and laughter. Residents at Field House feel like they know other homes when it comes to a party. They all enjoy nothing more than a good dance and getting each other up as well. 

Resident ambassador Jean chose not to join each other as she was feeling under the weather. She was so disappointed, so we thought: why don’t we live stream it for her? So we did!

She was so happy to watch all the goings-on through live stream in the comfort of her room and was very thankful.