The theme ‘Remember November’ reflected both Guy Fawkes night on November 5th but more importantly Armistice Day on 11th of November, this event being followed by Remembrance Sunday on 12th November in commemoration of all our fallen heroes from all wars and conflicts.

On the morning of Friday 3rd November a group of residents travelled by taxi to Fleet town centre for coffee at the Emporium. They met with residents from our two other homes for a chat over coffee, tea and cake. It was a pleasant morning and residents remarked on the large poppies on display then on each and every lamp post in the High Street ahead of the Armistice and Remembrance Sunday commemorations during the month.

On the same day in the evening Hill House enjoyed its annual Firework Display in the central car park. Many relatives and staff attended and seating was set up to ensure everyone had a good view through the windows to the display outside. Some residents even had a unique birds eye view from the day care centre in order to enjoy the firework spectacle! Along with the fireworks residents and their relatives enjoyed hotdogs and burgers. The fireworks were fantastic and colourful, without too many loud bangs!

On Wednesday 8th November residents from all three homes came together for their monthly session of ‘Singing for The Brain’ at Hill House. The afternoon included a welcome return to a lot of old wartime favourites such as ‘The White Cliffs of Dover,’ ‘Run Rabbit Run,’ ‘This is the Army Mister Jones’ and ‘All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor,’ to name but a few. Residents both sang and in some cases danced along to the tunes they know and love. The afternoon was a lively and enjoyable event as always and concluded with tea, coffee and homemade cake.

On the chilly but bright morning of Friday 10th November a group of residents went to Redfields Garden Centre in Church Crookham. There they met with a resident’s relative (which was a nice surprise!) and enjoyed a walk around the many beautiful displays of Christmas decorations, gifts and trees before going to the lovely restaurant. The group returned home in time for fish and chips at lunchtime.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 15th November Hill House welcomed back Jane whose wonderful operatic voice delighted residents from across all three homes with songs from musicals such as ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ as well as other popular songs by Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Soon residents were up and dancing along, at which point Jane changed her repertoire for the afternoon to further encourage the dancing going on!

 

Residents’ visit to the Wyvern Pub was in the morning on Friday 17th. They met up with a resident’s friend as well as residents from our two other homes. The group enjoyed freshly brewed tea and coffee and as well as sherry or beer whilst enjoying a chat and a laugh.

On the afternoon of Monday 20th November residents came together to reminisce about the Queen and Prince Philip who were celebrating their 70th Platinum Wedding Anniversary. Residents enjoyed hearing more about the wedding, the Queen’s dress, the guests and venue, Westminster Abbey, and loved seeing various pictures of the Royal Couple and their family over the intervening years. A toast was made for the Queen and Philip and afterwards residents enjoyed a piece of 70th Anniversary cake specially baked for the occasion by our chef Lorraine. The afternoon concluded with a Royal Quiz.

On Wednesday 22nd November Hill House welcomed the Fleet Rock Choir. The afternoon began with a short community sing-a-long before the real Choir began. Residents enjoyed songs as varied as ‘Don’t Stop Me Now!’ by Queen right up to the classic ‘Hallelujah’. They even enjoyed the choir singing a medley of ‘Noel, Noel’ and ‘Silent Night’ especially composed for Christmas 2017, despite it not quite being December yet! Once they had finished, the choir as always received rapturous applause. Fair to say then – everyone really enjoyed the singing!

On the chilly morning of Friday 24th November, a small group of well wrapped up residents visited Badshot Lea Garden Centre. Once at the garden centre they met up with residents from our two other homes before walking to the restaurant for morning coffee. The residents enjoyed seeing the many Christmas gifts and decorations now on display, as well as the orchids, poinsettias and the seasonal blooms of the cyclamen flower. In the restaurant they enjoyed fresh coffee, tea, cookies, cakes and mince pies.

During the afternoon on that day Hill House warmly welcomed back Ann and Peter from Camberley’s U3A Ballroom Dancing Club to help us celebrate the Platinum Wedding Anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip earlier in the week. Residents from all three homes sat down to an afternoon of fabulous dance and delight as the couple performed a range of well-known dances from the ‘Jive’, to the ‘Rumba’, ‘Quick Step’ and ‘Cha Cha Cha’. In honour of the famous anniversary couple Ann and Peter also danced the ‘Anniversary Waltz’ and then encouraged residents and staff to join them in a ‘Charleston!’ The afternoon concluded with a barn dance many residents joining in and trying out a few dance steps themselves! Following the dancing was of course celebratory afternoon tea and homemade cakes.

We finished the month on the 30th November celebrating St. Andrews Day and all things Scottish. Residents enjoyed Scottish themed sing-song, a quiz and some fascinating unique facts about Scotland and its history. One of our residents read Robbie Burns famous poem ‘My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose’ and the blue and white Scottish ‘Saltire’ flag was paraded. The afternoon concluded with tea and traditional Scottish shortbread, and petticoat tails.