Celebrating life at Barchester

We had an amazing day on Saturday when we held our first ever Christmas Fayre at Bayleaf.

There were all kinds of stalls on offer manned by volunteers, friends and family and lots of local stall holders came along to sell their wares too.  There was also live music, reindeer and a special visit from Father Christmas himself!

From all of us at Bayleaf Care Home we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who either manned a stall, donated a raffle prize or who came along to support the home.  There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the home and everybody left afterwards knowing that they had had a great time.

Residents enjoyed a relaxing nail-painting session, with lots of beautiful pink shades to choose from. 

Soft blush tones and brighter pinks were the favourites of the day, and everyone loved seeing their hands look a little brighter. A simple activity that brought plenty of smiles and lovely moments together.  

Christmas has officially arrived at Bayleaf!!

The residents and staff have been busy putting the final touches to the Christmas Tree and making sure that all of the decorations are put up throughout the home.

There have been lots of smiles and laughter as we have gone the extra mile to make our first Christmas at Bayleaf a very special one for everybody.

We just need to make sure that we all stay on Santa's good list now!!!

The visit was part of the Professionals Business Lunch that the home hosts bi-monthly to provide networking opportunities within the community. Of course, residents were also surprised and delighted to see the alpacas.

General Manager Sarah Noutch said: “Our residents have really enjoyed their unusual visitors today. We knew that having the farm here would be a bit of fun for all our residents, especially as some find it difficult to go on many outings in our minibus.  We are always looking for new activities for the residents, and today we have seen the enjoyment and the therapeutic influence animals can have on people. It was also a fun way to launch our inaugural Professionals Business Lunch. Tennyson Wharf has fabulous facilities in a wonderful location overlooking the Marina. Networking could not be made easier!”
 

At Claremont Parkway our residents love to help and this week was no exception when Santa's Helpers joined in and helped get the home ready for Christmas.

With Carols playing in the background several of our residents helped decorate trees in our lovely communal areas, reminiscing about times they put decorations up at home with their own families over the years and the different traditions that they had.

The residents enjoyed a celebration of Scottish culture and fare to mark St Andrew’s Day. In honour of Jesus’ first disciple, who promoted kindness and is laid to rest in Edinburgh, head chef Sarah baked traditional Scottish foods including haggis, neeps and tatties, shortbread.

In the afternoon, some of the residents enjoyed a highland dancer who performed The Fling, Sword Dance, Dhean Truibhas and The Highland Laddie. The young dancer, Katie, encouraged all the residents to give it a go. 

At Waterside Court, our Knitting and Natter Club has become a cherished space where creativity flourishes and friendships grow. Guided with passion and patience by Shirley, our residents have dedicated countless hours to crafting something truly meaningful.

We’re delighted to unveil our first completed blanket—a beautifully woven piece that captures the warmth, care, and shared moments of everyone involved. This milestone marks the beginning of an ongoing journey, with many more blankets already being created, each destined to bring comfort and reassurance to children in hospital settings.

Shirley’s talents also brighten our wider community. Her recently knitted Christmas decoration for our post office has added a festive touch that brings joy to residents, visitors, and staff alike.

From the hands of our Waterside Court community to children in hospitals and beyond, our kindness continues to reach those who need it most—carried gently in every stitch.

Our residents and staff were delighted to welcome members of Pickled Pink Production company to our home for a festive Christmas performance. Their latest show brought a lot of fun and giggles creating a fantastic atmosphere which our residents absolutely loved. The performers engaged our residents through lively singing, humorous panto-style interaction that had everyone singing and clapping.

The members of the group took the time to interact with residents, encouraging them to sing-along and adding their own lines- we didn't even know we had so many talents in our home.

We look forward to welcoming Tickled Pink Production company again in the future and continuing to bring memorable experiences to our residents.

Today we had the pleasure of delivering a beautifully prepared hamper to Ripon Community House, a gesture made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our staff, residents, relatives, and friends. Each item in the hamper was kindly donated, reflecting the kindness and thoughtfulness of our home community.

This act of giving is more than just a collection of goods — it represents the compassion, teamwork, and shared values that bring us together. By contributing, everyone has played a part in supporting those who may need a little extra help, especially at this time of year.