Celebrating life at Barchester

The whisks were out and the stakes were high at Rose Water Place this week as we celebrated a truly "batter-tastic" Pancake Day! Our home was transformed into a bustling crêperie, filled with the irresistible aroma of golden batter and the sound of non-stop laughter. From seasoned pros to first-time flippers, our residents got stuck into the action, proving that you’re never too old to master the perfect mid-air toss!
Whether it was the zesty zing of classic lemon and sugar or some seriously decadent chocolatey creations, every pancake was served with a side of pure joy. It’s these sweet moments of togetherness the shared smiles, the sticky fingers, and the friendly "flip-off" competitions that make our community so wonderfully unique. 

A huge round of applause goes to our fantastic team for making the magic happen, and an even bigger thank you to our residents for bringing so much zest and charm to the table. Here’s to a year filled with many more delicious memories and sweet celebrations! 

Residents and staff celebrated Pancake Day in a true competitive fun filled afternoon.

The residents enjoyed the traditional sweet treat with toppings of their choice, lemon and sugar being a firm favourite, as well as spending an afternoon perfecting the art of flipping pancakes. The chefs prepared a stack of pancakes for the fun filled activity, and everyone was involved as a whole home approach, it certainly was an all-inclusive event, from the residents to staff.

Activities Co-ordinator, Tina said: “It was such a fun afternoon for our residents and staff, everyone had so much fun, it really allowed for our residents and staff to get competitive and what a work out they had.”

General Manager, Larisa Bledea, said: “It was a fantastic fun filled afternoon for all, as well as delicious pancakes to eat, there was a lot of fun to be had. It was a lovely activity that allowed for everyone to get involved”

We spent a wonderful morning with Michelle's Animal Therapy & Petting Party where we got to spend some time with the most adorable cats, dogs, rabbits, gerbils and even a tortoise.

Our residents were absolutely transfixed with the animals and all took turns in carefully holding the animals.

There is something so therapeutic about animals and it is always very well received when we receive these visits.

This week, Lotus Manor was filled with colour, culture, and celebration as we marked Chinese New Year together. The home came alive with the wonderful sights, sounds, and flavours of this special occasion, creating a joyful atmosphere enjoyed by residents and team members alike.

Everyone was treated to a selection of delicious traditional foods, which brought a real taste of celebration to the day. The sound of traditional Chinese music added to the festive spirit, creating a lively backdrop that had many of our residents smiling, tapping along, and reminiscing.

A highlight of the day was an engaging and informative talk from our very own General Manager, Candy. She shared personal insights and stories about Chinese New Year traditions, offering a deeper understanding of the customs and meanings behind the celebration. Her warmth and enthusiasm made the experience even more memorable for everyone who joined.

Our home was filled with flowers, cards and sweets in celebration of St Valentine’s Day.    Staff and residents celebrated the day of love by showing love and kindness to their carers with handmade chocolate truffles and heart decorations. They held a practical ‘Heart Healthy’ presentation giving residents handy hints for better sleep, reducing stress and gentle exercises. Residents were excited to play a special edition of Valentine’s bingo, raised £70 in a raffle and finally enjoyed a medley of love songs performed by Clearer Productions.

June, a resident said: “It has been a lovely day. It was wonderful to see everyone go to so much effort to get involved with the day’s festivities. I really enjoyed the raffle and bingo, I won two prizes! 

The staff and residents have been mixing up batter and flipping pancakes all morning in preparation for their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day celebrations.   We marked this year’s Pancake Day with a pancake tossing competition and of course, lots of pancakes! The home chef, flipped more than 50 pancakes, serving them up with sweet and savoury fillings for all the eager staff and residents.

He said: “My secret to the best pancakes is all in the whipping. Give it some elbow grease when mixing the batter and you’ll get perfect pancakes every time. I like experimenting with the fillings – the residents’ favourites are honey, chocolate spread and banana and of course, good old-fashioned lemon and sugar!”

Resident, Norman had always wanted to return to St John’s University where he taught in the early 1950s Norman wanted to go back and see a photo of himself from that time which is displayed proudly in the entrance to the original part of the university and is also the place where he met his wife Anne at one of the many dances held there they have been married to for over seventy years! so staff at the home made his wish a reality proving the old adage, it’s never too late.

Norman has lived at Mulberry Court for nearly two years with his wife Anne and is beloved by staff and residents alike. Staff at the home were delighted to be a part of making his dream come true, as they knew how much it meant to him, and they all wanted to be there to see the smile on Norman’s face when his dream was realised.

Our latest community dog café welcomed an impressive TWELVE dogs to Farley Gardens to meet our residents for an afternoon of fun!

Resident, Gill, was on hand to masterfully make the puppycinos while we enjoyed a tricky quiz for dog lovers! We had an impressive tie breaker where 4 dogs competed with their best trick, resulting in Jack taking home his winning dog toy! Well done Jack and thank you to all those who joined us, as we build this wonderful community of dog lovers!