Woodland View Care Home has hosted and enjoyed a number of poetry days over the past year but it was time to take on a slightly different angle. As usual the residents were up for it!

Those attending were presented with a number of pictures and one by one asked what things came to mind when looking at the pictures. Everyone's thoughts were written down on a flip chart, forming a list and then a little time was spent reviewing the list. The list was then stuck up and work began on a new sheet of paper. Line by line, each was transferred to the new piece of paper in an order which flowed and before long residents had created their very first poem. They all seemed quite surprised but delighted.

Using the same technique, but a different picture, a second poem was created. This time the picture used was intentionally one which would get them thinking about emotions. The end result was very different from the first. Everyone enjoyed the session and it will be repeated in a couple of week time using new pictures. When the poems library has grown enough, all the poems created will be compiled and a Woodland View Poetry booklet created.

It was the ideal, glorious, hot and sunny July day. The Woodland View Care Home minibus rolled up to St. Michael's Parish Hall and a number of residents alighted and entered the Parish Hall.

Woodland View had again been invited to attend the annual Mother's Union Strawberry Cream Tea. The large hall was packed with rows of floral decorated tables, all loaded with plates of scones, jam, strawberries and of course.... lashings of cream!

Along with pots of tea, coffee, jugs of water and lots of women buzzing with conversation - it couldn't have been anything less than a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. The event was a fund raiser so the group’s financial objective would have been very satisfactorily achieved as well, which is great to know after all the hard work done for the event.

A small number of very disappointed Woodland View residents weren't feeling well enough to attend this event so a few of the Mother's Union members have been invited to Woodland View hosted Strawberry Cream Tea so those who couldn't attend won't have completely miss out. 

Woodland View already have a range of future Mother's Union event dates in the diary for the rest of the year.

17 residents at Woodland View Care Home gathered together to welcome back the hugely popular singer Tania Honey.

Tania, who used to sing on some of the biggest cruise ships, now concentrates on care homes in the Colchester area. Tania beautifully sang one popular tune after another with residents joining in for just about every note.

Special effects for the day were controlled by resident, Liz Van Krinks, who loved being in charge of the bubble machine. The hundreds of bubbles added to the fun afternoon with many residents reaching up to catch them if they could, which created even more smiles and laughter.

This was just about as good as it gets, with everyone saying what a wonderful afternoon they'd all had. Tania returns to Woodland View on Thursday 3rd August and will also feature as part of the Woodland View Summer Fete on Saturday 2nd September.

Juliet Driver, General Manager at Woodland View, was going about her business as usual, when residents called her over to join them in the regular Thursday morning ‘Dancing Chairs’ session for a sing along and a bit of a dance. The music stopped and the fifteen residents, led by Ann Harvey, sang ‘Happy Birthday’. Juliet was clearly really pleased and thanked everyone. Cakes were then distributed around the home to mark the occasion in the traditional way.

There was a rumour that a specialist was due in to carbon date Juliet, as it was believed that she is actually far older than she has been telling people.

Watch this space... We’ll let you know the results if we can figure it out.

Woodland View resident, David, received a lovely surprise on his birthday. David was invited into the activities lounge to find a large group of his fellow residents waiting with a surprise birthday cake.

After singing the obligatory 'Happy Birthday', David blew out the candle on his cake to a rapturous applause and three cheers from everyone there. David, who lives with dementia, replied with the following: "Thank you all so, so much. I know you all think I'll forget this, but I want to remember this moment each and every day."

Looking around the room, a dry eye couldn't be seen.

As part of National Volunteer's Week, Woodland View wanted to say thank you to some very special people.

Each week, including weekends, a number of volunteers visit Woodland View and spend time with residents. 

Volunteers spend time speaking one-to-one with those living with dementia, playing piano, providing meet and greet sessions with dogs, playing games with residents or just sitting and chatting with them.

Having celebrated Colin Bennett's weekly voluntary contribution to the home as a pianist last year, we honoured Sophie Child and Amie Lennox this year - students from The Gilberd School in Colchester. The girls were not expecting an afternoon tea in their honour and to be awarded a certificate of appreciation for their highly valued contribution. Residents also gave the girls a well-deserved round of applause.