Activities at Ashcombe House Care Home

Remembrance Sunday is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.  

Our weekly Knit and Natter group worked very hard knitting so many beautiful poppies which we proudly displayed outside our home, we even had a little poppy field.

We observed the two minute silence at 11am to reflect on the service and sacrifices the Armed Forces make on our behalf.  Then the D Day Dollies entertained us with songs from the 1940’s. We thoroughly enjoyed singing along to songs which hold special memories.

General Manager Louise Lambert said: "We have many residents with personal ties to the military and many who have experienced conflict either at home or abroad, so it was important to us to mark Remembrance Day and honour the contribution of everyone involved in the World Wars and in subsequent conflicts."

Flower arranging in pumpkins gave our families and residents a fun and creative way to work together and make the perfect decorations to display around our home!

Our autumn flower arranging involved hollowing out the pumpkins before filling them with fresh flowers, creating unique floral arrangements.

Residents and family members enjoyed selecting their favourite flowers, arranging them in the pumpkin and admiring the finished product.

Bianca, our deputy manager, had the hard job of judging the beautiful pumpkins arrangements and said that the thought and care that had gone into each one was obvious.

We all agreed that they looked amazing, Gerry suggested we open a florist shop! 

Shirley told us that she has fond memories of living in Bournemouth and would really like to visit there with her daughter.  

Shirley also said that she would love to walk along the beach in the sea air and have a fish and chip lunch.

How could we resist!

We arranged to take Shirley and her daughter to Bournemouth for the day.  It was an amazing day out.  We started the day with a coffee in a hotel by Bournemouth beach, then we wrapped up warm to take a walk along the sea front. 

Shirley pointed out where she used to sit with a coffee looking out at the sea.  

Harry Ramsdens not only provided a fantastic fish and chip lunch but a beautiful view to enjoy. 

We walked back through the Bournemouth gardens where they were busy putting up the festive Christmas lights.

Shirley said that she loves Bournemouth and had the most lovely day!

The best thing about baking is that all the residents get a chance to taste test!  Our honey biscuits were a big hit with a cup of tea in the afternoon.  Although next time we need to make a bigger batch of cheese scones as residents were asking for more the next day!

We worked together to make the honey biscuits, using honey, flour, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.  We measured, mixed, shaped and chatted.  The conversation led to rationing during the war and the lack of bananas! Gerry said “If you got a banana, you’d eat it quick… and hide the evidence.”

The following week we decided to make some cheese scones.  The special ingredient in our cheese scones is…….a little bit of mustard!  We really had to use our muscles to mix the ingredients together but with a bit of team work it was soon ready to roll out.  We each rolled and cut out the scones ready for the oven.

Peggy told us that she used to enjoy making date and walnut cakes, so that will be our next baking for fun bake!

When Milestones Museum got in touch asking if we would like to join them for some reminiscing sessions in their Memory Lounge we jumped at the chance.  We spent the last four Wednesday mornings chatting about holidays in the 60’s, household items, cleaning items and toys of the past.  It was great to see, touch, smell and talk about items that used to be part of our everyday lives.  A glass baby bottle brought back memories for our ladies.  Gerry talked to us about Portsmouth in the war and his job delivering telegrams at the age of 14 on his bicycle.  Victoria made a postcard for everyone at Ashcombe House and Kate said that she had a lovely time in Memory Lounge.

We also got a chance to walk around the museum seeing what life used to be like in Hampshire in the past.  We walked down Milestones Pier and Penny Arcade and admired all the vintage vehicles.

The residents enjoyed the sessions so much they sent a thank you card to everyone at Milestones who made the Memory Lounge sessions so engaging and enjoyable.

Residents and guests at Ashcombe House were treated to a delightful evening of wine tasting, complete with plenty of laughter and fun. The event featured a wide selection of wines, ranging from sweet dessert wines to rich reds and refreshing rosés, all provided by Majestic Wines in Basingstoke. Residents were able to sample the different varieties while learning about the various notes and blends, from floral and fruity to zesty, bitter, and earthy combinations. The evening was further enhanced by the care home’s hospitality team, who prepared a delicious spread of sweet and savoury treats perfectly paired to complement the wines. General Manager Louise commented, “It was lovely to see our residents and guests enjoying such a wonderful evening. We always strive to provide a diverse range of activities, and this wine tasting has been one of our favourites.”  

One resident shared their thoughts on the night: “We’ve had lots of fun this evening. It’s great to get together and try different wines. My favourite was definitely the orange wine, and the food was delicious!” The wine tasting event was a resounding success, bringing joy to residents and guests alike, and showcasing Ashcombe House’s commitment to creating memorable experiences for its community.