This month sees the visit by a musical workshop activity ‘Memories Revived’ on 8th July which should provide some practical music-making activities. There will also this month be one of our regular Residents’ meetings on 5th July, where any items of concern to our residents’ may be raised and resolved. We are also continuing with the Minibus trips, giving a group of our residents an opportunity to have a ‘change of scene’ and see something of the local area.

Other regular visits this month include the team from St Marks’s Church to give Holy Communion on the 21st July in the Garden lounge, twice weekly visits from Maria, our hairdresser to the in-house salon. Also Mr Coleman, the chiropodist is scheduled to visit all residents who would like foot are on 16th July.

News

Pam has spotted a second brood of Moorhen chicks (five we believe). We have also said goodbye to Petia Atanazzova this month. Petia has been with us for 6 1/2 years. She is from Bulgaria and on Monday we gave her a farewell party attended by many staff. Her son and grandson attended. She will be sadly missed by all. Petia has retired and wants to spend time with her family.

The themes for this month include the royal family, anniversary of Coronation, also this is the month of the Queens Official Birthday. Reminiscence topics will include D-Day and holding sessions in which residents are welcome to share their experiences of these events. A full weekly program of events will be held including word games and quizzes. We will be also having a sing-a-long sessions with piano accompaniment from one of our own residents, now that the piano has been tuned.

We shall also be continuing with the short minibus trips on a regular basis for residents after the success of the initial run last month. We hope that these can run every fortnight, we shall be exploring local villages and the lovely Sussex countryside.

Other regular events this month include: Visit by Belinda, our beautician, for those residents who like a little ‘pampering’ the date is to be confirmed. Also the regular visit buy our chiropodist, Mr Coleman on Friday 4th June. All who wish are welcome to receive Holy Communion (or if preferred to receive a blessing) on Wednesday 23rd by a team from the local C or E parish Church.

George the gardener has put in thirty Hydrangeas. Most are in the car-park area and some near the patio next to the lake.

We welcome two new members of staff Stella and Shameena.

In early July we will be hosting Strawberry Sunday join us for Strawberries and cream in the garden weather permitting, look out for further information.

This month we are thinking about themes of flowers and growth and where possible incorporating this idea into our regular programme.

Activities will be linked to this including looking at spring flowers and signs of spring in the grounds of Ashridge Court, and also at examples brought in for residents to identify. We shall be doing some seed planting in due course. In our creative activities we will ve looking at observational skills in the 1940s and 1950s. We will be showing the film ‘Dunkirk’ which dramatizes the event.

Other films to be shown over the month include an adaptation of the tale set in the English Lake District, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ and ‘Black Narcissus’ a classic film based on the novel by Rumer Godden staring Deborah Kerr and Jean Simmons, as nuns in an Indian mission, high in the Himalyas. Also appropriately some episodes from the popular TV series, based on the novel by H.E Bates, set in Kent ‘The Darling Buds of May’.

On the morning of May 20th we will have a mystery minibus tour of the local area for those who wish to participate.

Other regular events this month include: Visit by Belinda, our beautician,  for those residents who wish, on Thursday 20th. All are welcome to receive Holy Communion (or if preferred to receive a blessing) on Wednesday 26th by a team from the local C of E parish church. There will be one of our regular residents’ meetings on Monday 24th when residents are able to raise any concerns of comment on any aspect of their stay at Ashridge Court.

Our Moorhens on the lake, this year have produced four chicks. Last year they only had two. Lets hope they can successfully rear them to adulthood.

We are awaiting the delivery of three dozen hydrangea shrubs that we will plant in the garden, coming from Covent Garden flower market. We hope they will add lots of colour to the garden and the rabbits will not make a meal of them!

We also welcome Sarah as a new member of staff in the domestic department, we hope she will be happy with us.

We also welcome Sam into the office team who will be dealing with accounts.

Weds 31st March - 10.45am, Garden Lounge.
Easter Service by Reverend Jonathon Frais with the Choirfrom St Marks C of E Parish Church, Little Common.

Monday 5th April - 4pm, Garden Lounge
AIM Productions presents sing-a-long Easter Show, “Spring Has Sprung”
Bonnets and Bunnies, a celebration of Springtime.

Tues 20th April 11am, TBC
Mrs Chris Cox presents the 1950’s
Share some of the events and a talk with music of the decade.