Following the theme of the month ‘Spring Fever’ on Wednesday 3rd May some residents and relatives enjoyed Hill House’s second trip to see the beautiful bluebells in Farleigh Woods, Ellisfield. The sun shone and the flowers were as blue as blue, a wonderful spectacle for the residents to see after a journey in the taxi through the pretty villages and lanes of the nearby area. That was a lovely start to another busy month at Hill House with birthday parties, seasonal activities and exciting trips out and about.
On the morning of Friday 5th May residents and some relatives travelled to Badshot Lea Garden Centre, near Farnham. The group enjoyed walking amongst the many bright and colourful plant and flower displays at the garden centre, as well as looking at the small mammals and aquaria in the pets area. Afterwards they met with residents from our two other homes for tea, coffee and biscuits in the restaurant before returning home in good time for lunch.
Our monthly church service and communion with Vicar Tara was on Wednesday 10th May. It was an uplifting service with some hymns the residents enjoyed singing. Afterwards the vicar chatted to the residents over tea and biscuits.
Barbara Raynor entertained us again with the monthly ‘Singing For The Brain’ session on 10th May. All three homes joined together in the main lounge to enjoy the singing and merriment. It was, as usual, a very lively session which soon got everyone singing along as well as clapping to a good mix of songs from yesteryear. Some favourites particularly enjoyed by the residents were ‘Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ and ‘Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree With Anyone Else But Me!!’, including some actions which everyone with gusto joined in with! Afterwards residents enjoyed tea and homemade cakes.
On the morning of Friday 12th May residents travelled to Fleet for coffee. Residents from all three homes met at a new venue, Café Amici in the High Street. There was a large group of 19 residents and staff, that pretty much filled the little café to capacity! Once all safely and comfortably seated, we were soon enjoying a chat and a laugh over coffee, tea and delicious homemade carrot cake and Victoria sponge. Residents gave full approval of our new venue for coffee, remarking on the wonderful coffee aroma as they entered the café and how delicious the cakes were!
On the afternoon of Wednesday 16th May Hill House welcomed Monica Cheeseman and the singers of the Crondall parish group known as ‘Sing For Fun’. Some 25 or so ladies and gentlemen, including a pianist and a cellist delighted the assembled audience with some old favourites an uplifting hymns. It was a great atmosphere, full of cheer and residents also enjoyed the short, but beautifully performed solo interlude by the cellist.
We went to Redfields Garden Centre on Friday 19th May. It was a somewhat chilly day, threatening rain, but once inside, residents forgot the weather and enjoyed the many colourful and interesting displays of plants, including all the wonderful bedding plants now on display. After this they met with residents from our other two homes for coffee, tea and biscuits in the beautiful Theatre Café. They managed to return in time for lunch, luckily, avoiding the heavy rain that fell soon afterwards!
On the afternoon of Thursday 25th May in lovely warm sunshine, Hill House residents across the home welcomed the ponies Sammy and Matilda. It was such a nice afternoon many residents sat outside in the sunshine under blue skies enjoying ice lollies before meeting our four-footed friends. Everyone loved the up close and personal experience with the gentle creatures; and the ponies equally enjoyed the cabbage leaves and carrots offered to them by some of the residents. It was a very special ‘hands on’ experience for our residents who look forward to this annual event every year!
On Friday 26th May we finished the month with a drink at the Wyvern Public House. It was a bright, sunny warm day so residents were able to sit in the pretty beer garden amongst flowering pots and tubs. They enjoyed a chat and a laugh over beer, sherry and wine, as well as coffee, tea and biscuits before returning to the home just in time for lunch with the sun still shining!