This month’s theme was ‘Back to School’ reflecting the return of children to school for the Autumn term. We saw the annual garden party taking place on Saturday 16th September at Woodlands Residential Home, the theme being ‘Wild West’ whilst we were also reminiscing about our own school days with a school days themed tea party and sing-song at the end of the month.
Thursday 8th September – ‘Blackberry Picking’ 
In the afternoon a group of residents walked in the late summer sunshine whilst picking blackberries in the proprietor’s garden. With aprons and pails to collect the blackberries in, they enjoyed a nostalgic activity and look forward to tasting the fruits of their labour in the form of a delicious crumble in the days to come.
Friday 9th September – Seaside Trip to Southsea 
A group of residents, some accompanied by their own relatives, travelled to Southsea for a day at the seaside. Residents enjoyed the sea air with a short stroll before going to ‘Rocksbys’ the sea front restaurant for a fine fish and chip lunch with all the trimmings!
Tuesday 13th September – ‘Roald Dahl’ Day
Residents across the home celebrated the 100th anniversary of the well-known children’s author ‘Roald Dahl’. They learnt about his life and very much enjoyed listening to extracts from ‘Rhyme Stew’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ They were amused that some of his words have now entered the English dictionary such as ‘Scrumdiddlyumptious’ and ‘Golden Ticket!’
Saturday 17th September – Garden Party at Woodlands
This afternoon a group of residents (some accompanied by their relatives) attended the annual garden party being hosted at our Woodlands Residential Home. The sun wasn’t exactly shining, but the welcome and atmosphere was truly warm when we arrived.
The residents loved the musical entertainment in the form of a trio of ladies singing nostalgic songs, known as ‘The Champagne Blitz, followed by some country and western music. They also enjoyed the homemade cakes, tombola, ‘Win a Teddy’ stall as well as the delicious buffet that was served. They laughed seeing people in the stocks getting sponges or even whole buckets of water thrown at them and enjoyed mixing with many of the children and other people that attended that afternoon.
Friday 23rd September – Tweseldown Pub Trip
In the morning a group of residents enjoyed a trip to the local pub ‘The Tweseldown.’ There they met with residents from both Woodlands and Hill Brow and enjoyed a beer, glass of wine, or tea and coffee over a chat in the cosy bar. Afterwards they enjoyed the late summer sunshine in the beer garden before returning just in time for lunch.
Sunday 25th September – ‘Harvest Songs of Praise’
This afternoon residents enjoyed a very uplifting Harvest ‘Songs of Praise’ celebration with priest Gerard Crispin and other members of the Guildford Park Church. Residents were reminded of the significance of harvest in the religious calendar and sang 3 lovely harvest hymns accompanied by a lovely pianist and flutist. Afterwards residents enjoyed tea and homemade cakes and chatted to the priest.
Friday 30th September – Redfields Garden Centre Trip
‘School Reminiscence’ Sing-A-Long Tea Party
This morning a group of residents visited Redfields Garden Centre. It was a sunny, bright autumnal morning and the residents enjoyed looking around both in and outside the garden centre at all the plants. This included a very colourful display of cyclamen and winter flowering pansies, as well as the bulbs and yes some early Christmas decorations just being put on display!
Following this the residents met up with another group from Woodlands and enjoyed a chat and a laugh over tea, coffee and cookies in the delightful restaurant, before returning back in time for lunch.
During the afternoon residents came together for a lively trip down memory lane, ‘Back to School.’
They were reminded of school days gone by and discussed how things have changed from discipline, to school dinners, uniforms to the leaving age and everything else in between. Each discussion was followed by some group singing; a selection of favourite songs they would have learnt back at school, everything from ‘Daisy, Daisy!’ to ‘Green grow the Rushes Oh!’ Residents contributed to the afternoon with their own personal memories of school (some even revealing how they got the dreaded cane!!!) and in some cases were delighted to see pictures of their very own old schools, following one-to-one research prior to the event with some of the residents. The afternoon concluded with tea and delicious cake.