Activities at The Cedars Bourne Care Home

Residents and staff at Cedars Care Home decorated their home and garden to re-create the atmosphere of the carnival this August.

Staff, residents and visitors have had a fantastic time experiencing all the flavours of the carnival from street food to cocktails and live music, there has been a real carnival vibe at the home.

To celebrate World Calligraphy Day we tried our hand at something new. We looked at the most beautiful Book of Kells to see how the masters of old did it. The writing and illuminations are quite extraordinary, especially when you think when they were created. We practised some italic lettering and then had some fun exchanging the letters of our names for Pict Lettering,  an ancient Celtic script. Finally writing our Pict names on a bookmark to keep. We worked so hard we enjoyed a lovely cup of tea and a singsong out on the garden terrace.

We love using a variety of skills to create beautiful items to either give as gifts or use to decorate our bedrooms. This month alone, we have tried our hand at macramé, silk painting, basket weaving, watercolour painting, scratch art, origami and flower arranging. Creative activities are so good for the mind and soul; as well as supporting dexterity and intellectual development. Our residents really enjoy these sessions, and gain a real sense of achievement and pride in their accomplishments.

We loved taking our residents into the community. This month, we visited Tiny Steps Petting Farm where we met donkeys, goats, chickens, geese, guinea-pigs and alpacas. It was wonderful to see them roaming around, and to be able to get so close; to feed, stroke and to talk to them. Meeting the three and a half week old baby goats was an extra special treat. Marion from Tiny Steps was such an inspiration, and had a deep understanding of how important animal therapy is. Our resident Barbara Coleman said, ‘I can only explain by saying: It makes you feel alive and so very happy.’ We will definitely be returning! We also took Edna, Marjorie and Sheila to Springfields Festival Gardens this month. The weather was perfect for a picnic and stroll around the beautiful landscaped gardens; before we explored the wide variety of goods in the garden centre. A favourite spot was on the bridge over the river, where we saw baby ducks learning to swim. Sheila said 'it’s lovely here, thank you for bringing us'.

The third Barchester Big Quiz took place this afternoon, when our residents got super competitive...

Taking on their sister homes from all over the country, everyone was eager to see who got all the answers correct and to find out which Barchester home or hospital had the best quizzers.

The quiz marked Barchester’s 100th live event so there was a centennial theme - from historical humdingers and geographical gazumpers, to pictorial puzzlers and connective conundrums, the homes battled it out to find out who would prevail!

Although we didn't win; we got a very respectable 32 out of 35 - WELL DONE US!!!

Barchester care homes and hospitals nationwide linked together for a fantastic quiz in celebration of Barchester’s 100th live virtual event.

Residents engaged in a variety of questions ranging from historical trivia to visual puzzles and brainteasers.

Everyone who joined had a fantastic time and enjoyed some friendly competition.