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RESIDENTS NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2009
Hi all, and welcome to the Christmas edition of the Heath Lodge Residents Newsletter. We have lots to tell you about and it’s all very exciting
Staff News
The biggest news for Heath Lodge is that Nicky McVeigh, the Deputy Manager was recently promoted to Home Manager. Nicky have many years of experience and we wish her well in her new role. We obviously are sad to see Peter Meredith go but he has taken on bigger projects for the group so no doubt he will still be around from time to time.
We welcome Ali Joolia who joined us in October as Deputy Manager. He has lots of exciting ideas which we will certainly be welcoming to Heath Lodge.
We recently lost Jenny Norris on Primrose Way and her place has been filled by Nilda Layugan as Unit Leader. We wish her well in her new role.
Other News
In November, we trialled our Tuck Shop which sells mars bars, crunchies, crisps, mints etc. One of our residents, Melvyn kindly volunteered to take the trolley round to all floors and sell the items to residents or staff. All proceeds are to be put towards the residents funds.
Residents Outings
We have the use of the new company mini bus beginning Monday 14thDecember. Trips will be to Van Hage Garden Centre in Ware, where the residents can enjoy the animals and the Christmas shop. They will also be having a cup of tea or coffee and a cake if they wish. We will also be driving around various local areas to show the residents the lovely lights and decorations that some people make to their own homes.
Our Plans for Christmas
We have plenty of entertainment over the festive period. We have Mr Hats on Thursday 10th December at 4.30pm and Father Christmas will be visiting beforehand to give presents to all the residents. There will be a buffet with sausage rolls, 3 types of sandwiches, cheese and pineapple on sticks, finer rolls, quiche, scampi, chicken drumsticks, vol au vents, and gateaux. Refreshments will also be provided. All are welcome and hopefully a good time will be had by all.
Xmas Day – we have a lovely menu of traditional roast turkey, roast potatoes, cauliflower, peas, carrots and sprouts. There will be proper Christmas pudding with brandy sauce or artic roll. Mince pies will be available all day and residents can have a glass of Sherry with their Christmas lunch if they so wish. Crackers and party hats a must!!!
Poem for December
At this time of year it is patently clear
That the males are the ones who are blest.
Thoughts like "goodwill to men" we hear time and again
And we find them quite hard to digest.
As we women all know, men think they run the show,
And sometimes we allow them this pause.
But it gets on our nerves, like too many hors d'oeuvres
When we want to get at the main course.
Many times out of mind the same problem we find,
Leaving plans to the menfolk is risky.
Christmas spirit they think is some kind of a drink,
Such as vodka, Baccardi, or whiskey.
Since we carry the load, men keep out of our road,
We are ready and willing and able.
For it's perfectly clear, that the stuffed turkeys here
Are not always confined to the table.
The traditional way is now rather pass,
Let’s give credit, where credit is due.
Then you'll see, man or boy, in return you'll enjoy
The fruits of OUR goodwill to you.
Before we end this newsletter, I was passed a lovely story of an elderly man who was looking after his wife who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and I wanted to share it with you all.
Dancing In the Rain
It was a busy morning about 8.30 when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb at his local surgery. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9.00am. The nurse took his vital signs and told him to take a seat knowing it would be over an hour before someone would see to him. The nurse saw him looking at his watch and decided that as she was not busy with another patient, she would evaluate his wound. On examination it was well healed, so she talked to one of the doctors, got the supplies she needed and removed his sutures.
Whilst taking care of the wound, the nurse asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment that morning as he seemed in a hurry. The gentleman said no but that he needed to get to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. The nurse enquired as to her health. The man told me that she had been at the home for some time and she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease
The nurse asked him if it mattered if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. The nurse was surprised and asked him “and you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?”.
He smiled as he patted the nurse’s hand and said “she doesn’t know who I am but I know who she is!” The nurse had to hold back tears as he left, she had goose bumps on her arm and thought to herself “that’s the kind of love I want in my life”
True love is neither physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be and will not be.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.
I hope you share this with someone you care about, I just did.
Life isn’t about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain!
So, there we have it. Our newsletter for December. We hope you enjoyed reading this and we hope you look forward to the next newsletter, scheduled for March. In the meantime, have a good Christmas and a very merry prosperous new year. Don’t forget your new year’s resolutions!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Take care and enjoy your life...
Goodbye for now...
