Activities at Crabwall Hall Care Home

To mark World Photography Day, staff and residents at Crabwall Hall were treated to a live streaming photography masterclass courtesy of top professional photographer, Damian Bailey.

A professional photographer since 2003, Damian has won Wedding Photographer of the Year and is listed as one of London’s top wedding photographers, having photographed over 700 weddings.  Damian travels all over the country shooting weddings, events and families and loves to help people create memories by capturing wonderful images that will be passed on from generation to generation.

Damian’s talk explained how he goes about capturing special moments and what makes a great photo in terms of technique and composition.  From landscapes to portrait photos, Damian shared his hints and tips for getting the best shots whatever the subject matter.

A small group of residents from Crabwall Hall care home jumped aboard the homes mini bus to make the short trip to the Costa Coffee Shop at Cheshire Oaks recently. Our Activity Department try to get residents out twice a week as we are now luckily enough to have our own mini bus. Respite resident Peter joined permanent residents Jean, Trevor and Brian to enjoy hot chocolate, cappuccinos and lattes with delicious cakes too. Everybody had a lovely time, and were glad for the change of scenery and the short journey through the country lanes.

A local group of female singers called A Handbag of Harmonies rang Crabwall Hall recently saying they were doing various performances free of charge for Care home residents around the Chester area. Our activity department jumped at the opportunity and the ladies were welcomed into our secure garden one Saturday afternoon.

Many of our residents were wrapped up warm to sit on the terrace for the after lunch performance, and some chose to stay indoors. The singers sang various favourite tunes and the residents thoroughly enjoyed it.

We had a lovely time joining V&A Dundee curator, Kirsty Hassard, as she introduced us virtually to the history and design of night clubs and the club culture from the 1960s to present day.

We explored the evolution and development of night clubs around the world, from Italy to America, and closer to home, looked at their importance as cultural venues and designed spaces.

This current exhibition celebrates night clubs at a very important moment, as we all look to a brighter future where everyone can come back together, to dance and to enjoy nights out once again.

We all enjoyed the virtual talk.

Our residents here at Crabwall Hall love Parkgate, with the beautiful views across the Dee Estuary, the various wildlife that can be seen, delicious fish and chips and the vast choice of the wonderful ice creams on offer from Nicolls’ Ice Cream Parlour.

This month we have made the short journey along the A540 numerous times with many of our residents. Almost all of them have been out at least once. Pat Bradly particularly loves the fish and chips, Trevor, Brian and Howard were delighted to cool down with ice creams and Trevor and Pat enjoyed a pub lunch at The Little Owl, another short journey in the opposite direction!

It’s so wonderful to be out and about with residents again, and the twice weekly trips are always a popular event.

It is of paramount importance that we encourage, help and monitor our residents to keep cool and hydrated at Crabwall Hall during these extreme weather periods. We are lucky here to have beautiful gardens and terraces (with parasols) for enjoying the sun, but also cool shaded driveways to shelter from it on short garden walks. Most residents are advised to stay indoors at the hottest times of the day and encouraged to venture outside early morning or late evening when it is much cooler.

Residents Pat, Monica and Audrey all enjoyed garden walks recently to see the beautiful flowers in bloom, but were relieved to get back inside to the cool lounge areas.