"Mmmm... What do you think?"

One of the many questions that was considered by the visiting residents of Woodland View when visiting The Minories School of Art in Colchester, Essex.

Various contemporary pieces on display were discussed, with a number of them causing residents to raise eyebrows rather than gaining appreciation.

The Minories was the latest gallery to be visited as residents search the region for a truly appealing collection. Their search continues!

Staff and residents at Woodland View joined together to form a graveyard shift, dying to take part in the fun for Halloween.

A spooky cave was constructed in the reception area for people and monsters to stop and brush off the cobwebs in conversation. On Friday afternoon, pumpkins were carved and put on display over the weekend, which in itself was a scream of an activity. On Monday afternoon, the graveyard shift were brought back to life to judge the best pumpkin.

Evelyn Greenland, Granddaughter of Nurse, Karen Greenland, was successful in working her magic on the assorted ghouls, zombies and vampires gathered to cheer for their favourite creation. Frankenstein wasn't there, so Evelyn's pumpkin won! There were no bones about it.

General Manager, Riet Jones, was on hand to oversee proceedings, although the invisible man also made an appearance!

A little idea goes a long way in a care home, and that's certainly true at Woodland View!

The home's weekly craft workshop started with a couple of ladies doing embroidery and knitting; a few more ladies joined in, then staff started getting involved, including the General and Deputy Managers. Now there is a team of people, including relatives and friends of those living at Woodland View, all working together to knit 8 inch squares. These squares will all be joined together to create the first Woodland View community blanket which will be donated to a local charity.

Mentor to the team is resident, Anne Harvey, who is always on hand to guide any novices, such as Activities Coordinator, Kevin Riley, and to pick up any dropped stitches. Everyone seems to have the bug, including a 15 year old grandson of a former resident at Woodland View. 

At least two of the ladies on the knitting team haven't picked up knitting needles for decades. Jenny Matthew is also pictured knitting for the first time in 30 years. She had thought she couldn't knit anymore due to badly arthritic hands. You can only imagine her delight after only ever intending to watch others and offer moral support to find she was suddenly on the production line herself!

There is already enthusiasm for further blankets and knitted teddy bears!

To mark World Food Day, residents at Woodland View got to sample a number of dishes from around the world.

Staff prepared favourite dishes either from their native home country or from places they've visited on previous holidays. The resulting range of dishes kept residents coming back for more. Irish stew, Chinese curry, guacamole, chilli cheese quesadilla, black forest gateau, chicken tikka, and poffertjes were just a few of the dishes we tried.

Local newspaper, the Colchester Gazette, were present and were so impressed that they covered the event in the following week's issue as a centre spread featuring a number of pictures taken on the day.

Diet? What diet?!

Residents and staff at Woodland View applauded General Assistant, Vimla Parmessa, as she was named ‘Employee of the Month’ for being very helpful in all areas within the community.

Vimlar was nominated by residents, staff, colleagues and family members who felt she really deserved extra recognition for the amazing work she does every day. Relatives of our residents nominated her because she is always so kind, caring, polite and efficient.

Vimlar said: "It is an honor that my colleagues and residents put my name forward; it is a wonderful achievement for me. I love my job, it was a dream for me to work in a care home to help people and make them feel at home with us at Woodland View.

Well done, Vimlar!

National Poetry Day and its theme of messages was marked at Woodland View Care Home with a selection of poems being read to residents and visitors in the coffee lounge.

Both Activities Coordinator, Kevin Riley and David Mills, nephew of resident Frank Mills, read out the poems. Woodland View was very proud to be able to read a poem written earlier this year by Memory Lane resident, Sylvia, seen here in the picture, which tied in nicely with the theme of this year’s Poetry Day. Sylvia's poem titled, 'Spring is Full of Promise', delivers a message of renewed hope and awakenings.

Spring if Full of Promise

Spring is full of promise,
The promise of new growth.
New warmth, more light and raindrops,
To nourish the new spring life.
Shoots appear, attracted by the light,
Warmth and rain strengthens them.
Blossom bursts clinging to branches,
Gentle spring winds blow, petals afloat,
Giving the illusion of snowfall.

This special time of spring, when birds start to sing,
Cheerily, as they make their nests tiny twitters can be heard.
From the hedgerow as fledglings compete,
For nourishment to gain strength.
Soon they will be ready for flight,
Having practiced fluttering their wings.
They bravely leap forward into their new adventure,
It is the beginning of new life.

Woodland View are following up today's activity with a visit next Thursday from a couple of local poets, who will deliver performances of their own works to residents.