Activities at Lochduhar Care Home

We were delighted to join Blooming Haus’s Christmas Wreath Making Masterclass, where Master Florist, Michal and his business partner - Michael showed us the best method to create beautiful festive wreaths.

Following the tips and ideas learnt during the amazing virtual experience, we were happy to put our skills to a test and to enter the #BarchesterChristmasWreaths competition.

We all had a wonderful time creating our festive wreath/s.

Thank you @bloominghaus for helping our residents flow into the true spirit of Noel.

When our residents heard that the HM the Queen had had a visit to hospital a few weeks ago, they decided they would create a very special thinking of you card to send to her Majesty.

Residents each wrote a few words in their card to the Queen including ‘Put your feet up, have a cuppa and enjoy the rest.’ They were so happy when they had a reply from the Queens Lady in waiting in which they had been thanked for their kind message and good wishes.

Lochduhar commemorated the signing of the Armistice Day agreement on the day that the guns finally fell silent.  They joined the rest of the United Kingdom in holding a two-minute silence at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.

As well as marking Armistice Day by wearing poppies and observing the national two minute silence, residents took part in therapeutic activities making poppy displays and listening to old wartime songs.

Residents shared memories of their loved ones who served in National Service and who had made ammunition during the war.

Our residents enjoyed a stout and a general knowledge quiz as part of their International Stout Day celebrations.  Did you know that International Stout Day is celebrated on the first Thursday in November each year. Stouts, developed from porters in the 1700s, have become some of the most beloved beers in many different nations. So beloved, in fact, that on November 3, 2011, stouts were given the recognition they deserve with the advent of the first International Stout Day. Like the name implies, stouts are typically strong and robust in flavor and, although they may be hard to chug, a stout is the perfect beer for sipping and savoring.

We celebrated Remembrance Day with English National Ballet Associate Dance Artist, Richard Bermange, who led a creative dance workshop for our residents followed by a special extract of Akram Khan’s work Dust, premiered in 2014 as part of ENB’s Lest We Forget programme, commemorating the First World War.

ENB company dancers, Erina Takahashi and James Streeter performed the extract and provided some insight into this moving work.

Our residents had a wonderful time as they listened, danced and were able to singalong to famous war time music performed by ENB Associate Musician, Matt Hartley-Stevens.

Residents of Lochduhar enjoyed celebrating Guy Fawkes with colourful glow sticks to create their very own Catherine wheel with a difference, followed by a piece traditional tablet which went down a treat.  Instead of braving the cold residents stayed indoors, watched celebrations via YouTube and tucked into a delicious warming spread especially created by the homes hospitality team.