Activities at Thistle Hill 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.

As well as marking Armistice Day by wearing poppies and observing the national two minute silence, residents were able to take part in the memorial service at Knaresborough castle to pay their respects to our fallen heroes, then in the afternoon residents in the home took part in a reflective stroll around our homes woodland walk Charlotte’s Way and spoke about loved ones they had lost in conflicts gone by.

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.

Staff and residents at the Thistle Hill Care Centre in Knaresborough celebrated Bonfire Night with a bang this November 5th when they wrapped up warm to gather around the bonfire to watch a fantastic firework display and enjoy lots of seasonal treats washed down with some mulled wine.

The residents enjoyed making the Guy Fawkes, making their own toffee apples using our hot plate, tasting traditional bonfire night treats, including jacket potatoes, hot dogs, toffee apples, treacle toffee and parkin beautifully prepared by the head chef Paul Drinkel.

Residents and colleagues got in to the spirit of Halloween by decorating the home, creating Halloween decorations, holding a pumpkin carving competition, hosting a themed Halloween cinema afternoon with ghoulish treats, having a disco with Halloween-themed songs and party games.

Residents at Thistle Hill Care Centre enjoyed celebrating the world’s largest folk festival by taking part in an authentic German experience, the event began with a German themed quiz, before our residents enjoyed some German folk music, home favourite singer Rochelle Ayris had our residents up and dancing with a fabulous musical performance featuring ABBA’s greatest hits, finally, no Oktoberfest celebration would be complete with the famous German beverages and cuisine. Our head chef Paul put on a live cooking demonstration, grilling up some delicious German sausages and other themed snacks.