Activities at Seaview House Care Home

Our fabulous fashionista resident Jane turned 90 and she looked truly marvellous. Jane shared her birthday celebrations with our fantastic volunteer Eileen. 

Everyone came together to celebrate their day with Wimbledon-themed canapés and cupcakes and a different sort of birthday cake. As requested by Jane, a vanilla, strawberry & blueberry pavlova with, of course, some Pimm’s! Seaview’s bag piper, Andrew Sinclair Piping, brought smiles with his talented playing. Starting with, of course, Happy Birthday. It is always a delight to have him. 

The next morning, Caz and Chelsea, with Orla and residents Jane, Carol, Jessie and Peter, boarded the bus to Inverness. WOW, was the word most used to describe the two-hour show. Absolutely thrilling, and at points had us all on the edge of our seats. 
Given VIP seating, we were front centre, so we missed nothing. 

From clowns and talented dancers to jugglers, to flying through the air, and even motorbikes, it was a truly spectacular show. Much to our delight and amusement, carer Chelsea was picked from the crowd to participate, but did not bargain being sprayed at by water pistols. After all the excitement, we took to the road again to head back to Bonnie Caithness, but not before stopping for our tea of seriously good fish & chips at the famous La Mirage Restaurant. Yummy.

A truly brilliant day yet again.

The kind sponsorship provided by NorthLink Ferries made this memorable journey possible, allowing us to swap the familiar shores of Caithness for the rich history and stunning landscapes of Orkney.

Bright and early we got ourselves comfy with bacon rolls on the 08:45 crossing departing Scrabster. All smiles with a day ahead, we slowly saw the mainland disappear behind us. 

Arriving in Stromness at 10:15, we didn’t waste any time. Our first stop was the breathtaking ancient settlement of Skara Brae. The Neolithic village left us all in awe of its beauty and the glimpse it offers into life thousands of years ago.

Highlight of the day was seeing Tom and Rita whizzing around on their mobility scooters. Tom, an avid motorbike enthusiast, remarked how wonderful it felt to be ‘back in the driver’s seat, though he did note with a grin that the horsepower was somewhat different! 

Next on the itinerary was the iconic Italian Chapel. Steeped in personal and wartime history. Entering it you feel a sense of complete calm, reading the story of the men that made this haven. Truly beautiful. Of course, no visit to Orkney would be complete without sampling some delicious ice cream.

The day ended just as it began, with good food, good company, and plenty of smiles. Dinner onboard offered plenty of fresh, tasty options, the perfect end to a truly magical day.

This day would not have been possible without the generosity and support of NorthLink Ferries, as well as all the wonderful staff and helpers who made everything run so smoothly.

On Tuesday the 22nd of July, a milestone was marked with kilts, cake, and camaraderie, as Bruce, a much-loved resident and Navy veteran, turned 100 years young. But if you were expecting a quiet afternoon tea and a modest sponge cake, you clearly don’t know Bruce.

Back in the spring, I asked what he might like to do for his centenary. Bruce leaned back in his chair, smiled knowingly, and laid out a plan that could only be described as legendary. “I’ve always wanted to wear a kilt,” he said. “Fish and chips for lunch, good wine, the real stuff, A big cake for everyone to enjoy, a piper or two, some Highland dancing, the man who plays the cutlery, and music for a proper knees-up. Caz, you can be my fairy godmother, so I’ll leave it with you!” And with that, it was time to get the wings on and make some magic.

Thanks to the kindness of Chisholm’s Kiltmakers in Inverness, Bruce’s wish came true. They gifted him the finest Highland attire, complete with the striking Highland Pride tartan, a personal design by Mr Chisholm himself. Declan McPhee and The Chippy Van rolled up to provide delicious fresh, hot fish and chips for everyone. A celebration is not complete without cake, and Caithness’s own sweet Annie, owner of the beloved Annie’s Bakery, outdid herself. Gifting Bruce a showstopper of a cake which took Tricia and I the two of us to carry in. 

The sun shone down like it had received its own invitation as members of the local pipe band paraded in the front car park, delighting residents watching from outside and from their prime spots in the dining room. There were a few tears of emotion. 
Festivities continued with a drinks and canapé reception before Tanya Horne’s Highland Dancers took to the floor. Their elegant renditions of the Highland Fling, sword dance, and more brought Scottish tradition to life. Resident Nancy brought the room to a hush as she performed a heartfelt, bespoke ballad written especially for Bruce. The energy soared once more when Willie Mackay and Connor Buchan had toes tapping with their music and spoon playing. A touching speech from veteran Kevin Stewart reflected on Bruce’s naval service, filled with stories that moved and inspired. 

Then, the room fell joyfully under the spell of accordionist Brandon McPhee, who blissful music that had everyone singing and swaying in delight. The arrival of the long-awaited birthday card from King Charles himself was met with cheers. Guests included Mey Games chairman Henry Gunn, Mackay Hotel owner Murray Lamont, and veteran Samantha Reynolds, a naval sonar operator. But Bruce wasn’t done dreaming. Caz Would it be possible to meet the King?” he asked. “Goodness, Bruce,” “I’ll need a lot of fairy dust for that one.” “Well actually,” Bruce added with a cheeky twinkle, “it’s Camilla I’d like to see

."As the sun began to set and the celebration wound down, Bruce received one final surprise, a personal invitation to attend the royal tent at the Mey Games on August 2nd. Last wish granted. So, Bruce and I will be donning our best again, hopping into a vintage car, and heading out for yet another unforgettable day. And when asked if he had enjoyed himself, Bruce simply smiled and said, “Yes… now I’ve started making a list for next year.” Here’s to Bruce, 100 years of life, love, laughter, and never-ending spirit.

At Seaview, we are no strangers to adventure with residents taking to the open road again for our second visit to the beautiful shores of Loch Ness for a leisurely trip with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises. The weather couldn’t have been planned better, with blue skies, calm waters, and the surrounding scenery showing everyone Scotland in its true splendour. 

On board everyone tucked into their yummy pack lunches with some ladies enjoying a little vino from bar. 
Resident Cathy Anderson commented: “I didn’t think I would like a boat trip, but I love watching the water glisten, and the tour guide has a good patter!"

We glided along, taking in the atmosphere and learning about the rich history of the landscape and the notorious loch. Nessie must have been on her hollibobs this time as she did not make an appearance. Back on dry land and with the extremely warm weather, we had to have a delicious Miele's Gelateria Inverness ice cream to cool us off. 

As we tooted back up the NC500 to Wick, with new stories in our pockets to be told to all at Seaview, resident Ellen Robinson topped it off with “Well we shall sleep well tonight”! Trips like these are vitally important to all our residents. Experiencing new adventures in another chapter of their lives builds confidence, independence and fulfilment.  

Resident Peter and his long-time friends Alan Farquhar and Gerard Macleod, accompanied by activities' coordinator Caz, made a memorable trip down to Dingwall for the Ross County v Hearts match. Greeted warmly by long-time friend and Ross County Chairman, Roy MacGregor.

Peter and his guests were treated to VIP hospitality. Peter, a spirited athlete and professional football player and coach, worked at Ross County football club for 5 years before he was diagnosed in 2019 with Parkinson's disease, aged 58. The afternoon reached a heartfelt high when ‘Steven Ferguson’, Chief Executive of Ross County, honoured Peter with a moving tribute, recognising his years of dedication to football both on and off the pitch. 

His charisma, passion for coaching, and legacy in the sport brought the room to its feet in appreciation and applause. 
At Seaview we offer a variety of activities to suit all ages and abilities. We knew that Peter’s love of football was something that we had to celebrate, and this day brought a new sense of pride and confidence to him. Peter took up swimming again. Started seated music, movement and Pilates with Caz and bowling.

As part of our vibrant weekly activity schedule, we include swimming at our local High Life Highland swimming pool in Wick.

Weekly residents with activity coordinator Caz and care members take to the water for some aqua fun. On this particular day, Rita Tingle, Peter Budge and Bruce Player took to the water together, accompanied by our General Manager Gayle, assistant manager Tricia, Caz and carer, Chelsea.

Resident Bruce Player, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in July, is no stranger to life on, or in the water. A proud Royal Navy veteran, Bruce joined the service in 1943 at the age of 17, serving his country during the Second World War.

As he approached the pool today, he said to a fellow swimmer, “I’ve not been swimming for 60 years. I’ll just jump in!”

Safety never takes a holiday with us, and lifeguards ensure safe and supportive entry into the water. Bruce was asked afterwards ‘Did he enjoy himself’? He replied that he loved it and felt young again and weightless. As a result, since that day Bruce has been swimming once a week and even suggested we start a swim team!

One word sums this up. EPIC! We are reminded of the power of belief and perseverance.

“If you think it, you can believe it. If you believe, you can.”

Across our homes we’ve had the most wonderful time celebrating the festive season with a special screening of 2020’s OLD VIC: IN CAMERA – A Christmas Carol.

This beautifully staged production brought the magic of Dickens’ classic tale right into our homes. A huge thank you to The Old Vic theatre for sharing this incredible performance with us. It was a truly wonderful experience. 

Celebrating International Men's Day 2024, We celebrated our male residents for International men's day! 

Can't have a celebration without some tasty treats. These treats came from Macdonalds Bakery in Wick and it went quickly! We had a chat about positive role models in our life's, the snowy weather and had a laugh over a glass of wine. Lovely to take some time to appreciate our lovely gents here in Seaview!

Our residents and Activities Coordinator Caz have been very busy creating some beautiful artwork for Remembrance Day this week. 

Each resident had a plate to design, expressing their own feelings of Remembrance Day. It took pride of place at our front door for guests to see.

Ladies who lunch, Cathy enjoyed a lovely girls day out with staff member Elaine last Friday. 

They visited Wickers World for a lovely lunch then looked around local shops to get ideas for Christmas gifts. Brilliant afternoon had by both. 

Staff and residents across our homes were treated to an interactive virtual Christmas-inspired table decorating masterclass, courtesy of talented master florist, Kathryn Delve.  

Kathryn is an independent florist based in Somerset, she specialises in creating unique wedding and event flowers.  She takes much of her inspiration for her displays from the beautiful scenery that surrounds her home and the changing seasons and colours.

During the workshop, residents were invited to join Kathryn to make beautiful Christmas-themed table decorations. 
 

We can’t thank Fiona from Play Away Music UK and the families that attended the group this morning at Seaview. 

The pure joy our residents experienced this morning from the visit was undeniable. The smiles, the laugh’s, the interactions. Residents joined in with the music and movements, having a great time watching the wee ones having a blast too. Interactions like these are amazing, it instantly brings so much love and happiness to the home. 

Cathy attending the Taste North event at Wick High School on Sunday the 3rd. It was a large event full of food and drink from everywhere in the Highlands. Cathy was delighted with her cool Doctor Who designed tablet thanks to Vals Scottish tablet. 

First experience of Bubble Tea was had today and what a laugh we had with it. From picking the different flavours to drinking it and not realising the bubbles popped in your mouth. Lots of samples were had from sweet to savoury. Goats cheese and tablet treats, all delicious. We visited every business stall, smelling candles and trying not to be tempted by the whisky samples.
 

Residents across our services had a lovely time joining Emily and Marie-Therese from the Wallace Collection, for a virtual introduction to Reubens' Rainbow Landscape.

Residents truly enjoyed the sensory walk through one of the museum’s most famous landscape paintings.

Everyone who joined had a wonderful experience and can’t wait to put their creative skills to the test by painting some landscapes of our their in the coming days!
 

Steph came in and got started right away. She was lively and fun. The residents got involved right away and enjoyed the Halloween themed songs and following along with the movements. Residents enjoyed the music even if they couldn’t take part with the movements, slowly tapping their feet or singing along to the music that was on. Residents said it was nice to do something different and would like to take part again. This was great exercise and it gave the residents right boost.