the finished article...

starting the decorations

our christmas decoration scheme this year will be based on natural elements, foliage, berries and twigs from the garden. Today Julie our art and craft tutor showed us how to make a garland - which we will put above the main fireplace at meh.

shown here, madge, patty, phyll and ursula, making the little bunches of foliage that eventually were wired onto the main body of the garland. Phyll brought along a tin of 'roses' for company!!

start of another week

still snowy, bleak and cold, but the roads a lot better and most of us managed to get to work today. Sue came this afternoon to entertain the residents in the lounge for 'variety hour' - a mixture of music, quizzes and anecodotes.

Hello

SPECIAL THANKYOU MESSAGE FROM KAREN COOPER, MANAGER, MEH

"I would like to extend a big thank you to the staff who have kept Mount Ephraim going in this bad weather.  Special thanks to Pat, Sharon, Daisy, Sarah, Richard, Nicholas, Paul, Di, Rita, Mary, Michelle, Annie & Angie, Tim, Diana & Sheila.

Also to those relatives who offered help.

I am so grateful that I have committed staff "

tuesday - keeping fit

keep fit with Sue was well received today; must be the cold weather!!

monday 29th nov

"Chapter 1
James Herriot reminisces about the cold winter days in Yorkshire. He treats a horse with a new medicine and supplements it with an older type, just to help. Instead, the horse collapses, and he and the owner both worry that the horse has died. Herriot fears he added one medicine too many, but just then the horse regains his footing, and the spots he was suffering from are nearly gone. Herriot learns a lesson about using too much technology when the new drugs are more effective."

The residents were treated to a morning of James Herriott stories - read to them by volunteers Elizabeth and Joan.  The stories are very funny and it was a very enjoyable morning for all concerned!

jj

assistant gardener JJ, was busy today clearing the garden, which is due to be transformed next summer - Karen is planning a vegetable garden, fruit trees, an art studio and a mini farm!!

Like JJ's hat which he said belonged to his mum!

thursday

Thursday is hairdressing day, when Charity comes to keep the resident's looking good! also on thursday we have our weekly visit from Toby (our PAT) dog, with owner Angela, who takes him around to all the residents who like dogs. Patty, Doreen, hilda, Paul, ursula, margaret and dorothy, all look forward to seeing him. Today, he and one of the resident cats met in the lounge and it was a case of 'who was on who's' territory! Think Toby won today.




Daisy came along to borrow the camera as Paul found this hat (which i think belongs to madge) and decided to wear it for the morning! He looked so pleased with himself that Daisy thought he'd like a photo which i shall print off for him tomorrow!



This afternoon, we held a relatives meeting in the music room, which was well attended (including Kate from H.O) Sheila made some lovely mince pies and we had mulled wine, tea and coffee while Karen updated everyone of what has been happening at MEH and what the future plans are. Anyone not at the meeting will have a copy of the minutes sent to them. we didnt set a date for next meeting but it will probably be next march.

millie pays a visit

millie arrived today, dressed in her new fairy costume!

the residents love to see her, and she enjoyed posing for these photos.

monday 22nd nov

the outreach library books were open today for susan and diana to change their books. hazel just came along to have a look at the choices.



Robert felt in the mood for playing some Chopin on the piano today, encouraged by patty who stayed to listen.

In the afternoon, we had a new activity called 'Variety Hour' which all the residents enjoyed - a mixture of music, singing, quizzes followed by tea and cake!

a quiet friday

a fairly quiet day today - dance class in the morning with Beccy, and bingo this afternoon followed by a reminisence quiz and discussion.

the 3 day first aid course finished at lunch time (think everyone passed) and Tim and Nick went to collect a wurlitzer organ that was donated by Mr Tilly of tunbridge wells. It has taken up residence in the foyer and we are now hoping that one of residents can 'give us a tune'!

Diana had a trip to the garden centre in eridge road and bought two pots of jam and chef Paul was busy in the kitchen making apple strudel!

a game of scrabble...

...while Iris waits her turn to receive some computer tuition, Julia has set up a game of scrabble for Doris and Helen - Julia ended up winning as Helen was left with a Z and a Q..

computer training...

Val is tutoring marie and marion on how to use the internet - marie has got onto a site and is listening to music (she looks like she is working in a call centre!) and marion is getting to grips with using key words to find information.

new hairdo..

Dorothy is showing off her new hairstyle today, and looking good!

marie's sky gazing

as we left the garden centre, Marie noticed how interesting the sky looked - so we took these pictures for posterity.

garden centre outing

tuesday afternoon, Phil the driver arrived to take us out to tea at The Garden Centre in Tunbridge Wells. It was all christmassy, with lots of interesting things to look at and buy. The cafe area has been extended and we found some comfortable seats, had tea and then went off to look around, meeting back for more tea before trip back to MEH.

Monday afternoon....

Joan and Elizabeth hosted a tea party for the residents on monday afternoon; gorgeous homemade cakes, lovely music (which elizabeth had prepared on her laptop) and poetry readings and anecdotes. the lounge was full, and everyone had a lovely afternoon! a big thankyou to our volunteers for going to so much trouble; very much appreciated.

...tea party