Monday 14th November was a very special day for both residents of Woodland View Care Home and the pupils of Queen Boudica Primary School, Colchester.

Following Remembrance Sunday, the school and the home came together for a special questions and answers session. Pupils asked residents a number of questions about their lives as children during World War 2, and residents asked pupils questions to explore and imagine how different life would be for them in comparison to how they live today. In all, no less than 60 very attentive and inquisitive pupils (in 2 groups of 30!) spent just over an hour learning about life from personal accounts given by residents who had lived through those dark days. Pupils heard the stories of evacuees being taken away from their families, what it was like during the Blitz, all the dangers, taking refuge in shelters and underground stations, and about rationing.

For that one hour, residents and pupils were all children together, exchanging stories and views as if there were no years separating them, showing such respect for one another, yet with a recognition of the such different worlds they exist in as children. It was also a very special event for staff from the school and the care home to witness and experience.

Woodland View Care Home held a special memorial service last Friday to remember those residents who sadly passed away during the course of the home's first year.

The special occasion was marked by the dedication of a Magnolia Memorial Tree, newly planted in the homes Forget-me-not garden. Relatives and friends of those no longer with us were present for the service and invited to hang commemorative ornaments on the tree as their loved ones names were read out. Reverend Ray Gibbs of St. Michael's Church, Myland, conducted the very moving service.

The service was very much appreciated by the relatives and friends, with Woodland View providing a finger buffet with lots of warm memories shared among everyone attending.

"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?!