Activities at Overslade House Care Home

Memory lane residents enjoyed a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party as it was on the 4th July 1862 that  Lewis Carroll who wrote Alice In Wonderland ,first told the story of Alice. There’s a white rabbit and Alice holding a flamingo immortalized in stained glass in the Christ Church College at Oxford, where Carroll spent most of his life.

Lewis Carroll had his productivity down to a science: he could write 20 words a minute, a page of 150 words in seven and a half minutes, and 12 pages in two and a half hours.

Our Memory Lane residents found the Activities Team outfits hilarious, they also blew our cover when asked who we were, we hadn’t fooled them !!

Head Chef Corey Leake made Jam tarts and heart shaped scones for our tea party. Residents then watched the Alice in Wonderland Movie starring Johnny Depp.

Our varied life enrichment programme keeps residents active, and provides a daily choice of engaging physical, mental and spiritual activities tailored to residents’ interests and abilities.

We had a blast celebrating Friendship Day. There were smiles all round as residents reminisced with students from Rugby Free Secondary School about their friends and some of the wonderful times they had shared over the years and also talking about history and reading old newspapers about historical events.

Friendship Day falls on the 30th July, however the students wanted to meet our residents before their summer break. Staff and residents made some new friends today with Rugby Free Secondary school who can’t wait to come back and talk to the residents again

Maureen, a resident at the home, commented: "We’ve had such a lovely day. It has been wonderful to make new friends and talk to the students who were so enthusiastic and brightened up everybody’s day."

Today, Friendship Day is celebrated in many countries across the globe and is a special occasion that encourages the local community to celebrate their friendships – old and new – by spending time with their friends and loved ones and making new friends.

Acknowledging World Environmental Day and National Fish and Chip Day, residents took a trip to Stratford upon Avon and enjoyed fish and chips by the river Avon. Resident Dot said she was going on the Big Wheel afterwards.

Upon finishing lunch we visited the lovely butterfly farm which was very tropical in all senses and a hidden gem, with many rare and beautiful butterflies of all colours, set in lovely tropical surroundings. 

Stratford upon Avon is a favourite place to visit for our residents as they take in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and passing boats and swans and just lazing about on the river, as the saying goes.

Well what a fabulous time we had at our Spring Fair on May Bank Holiday Monday.  Thank you so much to  The Alpaca Pals, who stayed for 2 hours and visited all of our residents in their rooms as well as joining us outside for a dance later on, Little Boss Jewellery, Proper Job Crafts (who also gave our residents a little talk on leather crafting), CSJ Embroidery, Zambuko Ra Jehovah Trust selling items made by orphaned African children and author Christine Sepahi selling self-penned books.

Gemma Richen  entertained our residents, getting everybody clapping and singing along. Our Chef Dario Mozzettini  provided delicious hot dogs and cakes.

We also managed to raise money for the Barchester Charitable Foundation. The weather was kind and a fabulous afternoon was had by all.

General Manager Violeta Baesu said "it is so wonderful to see families, friends and the local community together, enjoying themselves in our beautiful gardens, our doors are always open with a warm welcome."

Residents John, Nathan and Pam said "we have had a wonderful time, it was such a lovely afternoon, meeting the Alpacas and being entertained."

Also a lovely compliment from one of our stall holders who also had a little dance "You are talented for making people at ease and be comfortable. It was a lovely experience meeting happy residents singing away beautiful songs. We enjoyed every minute of it. Well planned. Well done

Good team work.

Have more of these family fairs."

Residents paid their respects to those who fought or were lost in the D Day landings 80 years ago today.

The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history.

Residents had a service conducted by Gift of Years and sang some beautiful hymns, after watching D Day services. The room was decorated with memorabilia and also mini parachutists made by our Memory lane residents.

In the afternoon residents were entertained with songs from shows relating to lost soldiers and also war songs on the piano.

This was followed by the Movie, The Great Escaper.

To finish residents enjoyed a beautiful cake made by our chef Dario Mozzettini with pork pies and sausage rolls. Resident Dot said “Everything was perfect it’s been a lovely afternoon, thank you .”

Residents commented on how heavy the uniforms were and couldn’t imagine how heavy they were in the sea. A relative of one of our residents said “yes they were such good quality, my father was in the armed services and I remember how they used to clean their gold buttons.”

Ladies from some of our local WI’s joined residents at Overslade House on World Cocktail day on the 13th May.

Alison Elliott, President of Deerings Regent Daytime WI and Catherine Duffield-Smith, along with Meryl Gregory from Hillmorton Paddox WI visited Overslade House, to donate a beautiful crocheted blanket to the home.

Alison Elliott, President of Deerings Regent Daytime WI and Catherine Duffield-Smith said “we are delighted to be donating this blanket to Overslade House and every ounce of love and hard work has been put into this blanket by many ladies of the WI’s.

Meryl Gregory from Paddox WI and also Rugby Phoenix Ukulele band said “I love this home, you are always made to feel so welcome and everybody is so well looked after, if ever I am needing to be in a home this is the place I will choose!”

Celebrations included a fashion show from Wanda’s Fashions in Dunchurch, Rugby, and also cosmetics from Tropic Skin care were on display. Cocktails, from Mojitos and Daiquiri’s to pink gin were served to all of our ladies and delicious cakes were made by our Hospitality Team.