What a jam-packed week we have had at Hill House this week, we extended our annual cultural day over the 5 days giving all staff and residents the opportunity to share their culture with one and other. The week was spent discovering 5 different content, their beliefs, history and different life styles. We took a trip down under and inspired by the ‘I’m a celebrity get me out of here’ TV show took on bush tucker trails to win prizes, we danced and sung as part of Asia day and made Danish Pastries as part of the European Celebrations to name but a few.
On Monday we explored the continent of Oceania. Oceania is a geographic region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Spanning the eastern and western hemispheres, Oceania has a land area of 8,525,989 square kilometres and a population of over 41 million. We started the morning with armchair exercises followed by a game of skittles, inspired the by the trend that is sweeping through the continent as it makes its way over from America. We also completed a giant jigsaw puzzle in the garden view lounge and took on a New Zealand themed quiz.
On Monday afternoon, we gathered together in the lounge and were greeted by Kiosk Keith and Kevin with their carts over flowing with bush tucker trail challenges. We took it in turns to complete the trials, we started with the eating challenge; worms (string cheese), Bird Brains (popcorn), Monkey Snot ( Mushy peas), Crocodile eyes (Olives) and flies (Black beans) we tried not to let the names trick our minds into not wanting to eat them. We then moved on to try and win stars for our fellow campers here at Hill House, digging around in mystery boxes trying to find the allusive stars, it was a fantastic sensory afternoon and the room was filled with laughter, staff joined in the fun too. We were rewarded with certificate for outstanding effort and we even crowned our very own king and queen of the jungle.
Tuesday morning a new day a new continent to explore and today we travelled to the America’s, inspired by New York’s famous water colour artist from the 1900’s, Charles E. Burchfield we let our creativity flow in a therapeutic arts and crafts session using water colours. In the lounge we took on the 50-state challenge to name all 50 American states. Sparking debate as to why there are not 52 states this would include, DC and Puerto Rico but after some research we found out that they are jurisdictions not states, leaving us 50 like the stars on their flag, this was followed by an energetic exercise programme and ball games.
Tuesday afternoon we celebrated the classical American Diner – Milkshake. Milkshakes started as an adult drink containing eggs and whiskey. But by the early 1900s, a milkshake had come to mean a drink made with ice cream and chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla syrup. Our fantastic activities team dressed as diner girls and offered us a wide selection of flavoured shakes from their mobile trolley. They went room to room offering ice-cream milkshakes and treats with 1950’s music the home was filled with song and happiness.
We celebrated in style for a special lady’s birthday with her favourite chocolate cake with friends and a pot of tea and coffee in the quiet snug. Staff came together to sing her happy birthday.
Wednesday saw us back on home soil as we revealed the many countries in Europe, Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It comprises the westernmost part of Eurasia and is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east. In the lounge we enjoyed hot drinks and biscuits while tackling a European famous landmark picture quiz trying to guess what country each land mark was from before hearing facts about them. On garden view lounge we completed a world map jigsaw puzzle and reminisced about the countries we had visited the holidays we had taken and shared wonderful stories with one and other in a group.
Our amazing chef Jade and her team pulled out all the stops as we were invited to a very special lunch on Wednesday afternoon, a German inspired menu intrigued us. The dining room tables adorned German flags and bunting hung all around. On the menu for our special European lunch was chicken schnitzel, with cabbage, potatoes and a side salad followed by German Rote Grütze a Red Berry Dessert with Fresh Cream topped with a pretzel.
The afternoon continued with the European theme, this weeks cooking club we made Danish pastry’s with a mix of yummy fillings, rolling out the pastry and filling them before getting creative with the folds and patterns. Cooking and baking activates the senses. Touch, smell, sight, and taste. It is great to smell freshly baked pastries fill the home.
The colourful continent of Asia was Thursday’s destination, we spent the morning playing board games and card games in the lounge others made stunning paisley patterned bunting using paints and colour pencils. In the garden view lounge, we tended the house plants and arranged the floral displays for the home.
The afternoon was filled with colour, music and love as we celebrated Asian cultures. Our amazing staff volunteered their time and performed cultural dances and songs for a sing along session. We loved seeing all the staff get involved dressing up in tradition outfits and sharing their culture and clothes with us, it was amazing to see the textures and bead work that go into the outfits. The dancing got us up dancing with them and singing and clapping along.
After all the excitement of the dancing and singing, we were treated to a taste of Asia with a food cart decorated in bunting and flags and bursting at the seems with foods from around the continent; Spring rolls, Bombay potatoes, chicken Gyoza, Fire cracker noodles, Katsu curry, Garlic Naan bread and lots more.
Friday morning our knitter natters met first thing and continue to build up squares for our blankets to be donated. The lounge loved an African Quiz and learnt that Africa is the world’s second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. Alliteratively we participated in a therapeutic arts and crafts session with tribal dot painting. Garden view lounge enjoyed reading the land mark quiz facts and sharing stories of holidays to Africa and even living tehri for a period of time.
Saturday morning was jam-packed with fun activities a group jigsaw puzzle, reading the daily papers and books, skype calls with families and garden visits. On garden view lounge we took part in ball game exercises, this is a great way to start the day a keep fit.
Saturday afternoon we all joined in the main lounge for one of the biggest audiences for a giant cross word we’ve seen, their wasn’t an empty seat as we all worked together completing the clues and filling the board there was lots of joking and laughing as we figured out the answers.
The afternoon finished with a game of hangman on the white board and a special birthday celebration.
Sunday, we played a new board game called ‘Absolutely Balderdash’ the classic bluffing game, has gone beyond hilarious. With real but outrageous facts that include the category Laughable Laws, it had us roaring with laughter as we muddled our way to complete the game. Others enjoyed ball games and a musical sing along session.
Sunday afternoons film club watched ‘My girl Friday’ on the big screen, enjoying sweets and treats. We also enjoyed painting as part of arts and crafts and getting us ready for the week ahead. Others turned their hand to floral arranging and picked flowers from the artificial display to arrange and have in their room.
