Activities at Tennyson Wharf Care Home

Tennyson Wharf held a fabulous party to celebrate 10 years of serving the local community.   Staff, residents and guests commemorated this special occasion with entertainment from the amazing Abbamia, a delicious buffet and cake provided by our chefs, Dawn and Deepu, and visits from Sir Edward Lee MP for Gainsborough, Mayor Allan Briggs and High Sheriff Philip Dymoke.

Tennyson Wharf has built up an excellent reputation within its local communities. The home regularly holds events and activities for its residents and surrounding neighbours.  Tennyson Wharf is a modern purpose-built facility set in a stunning location overlooking the Burton Waters marina.
 

Competitive spirit kicked in with our team coordination challenges! We did not know our residents were so competitive until we brought out forks, some plastic cups and newspaper! Our residents formed into two teams that then had to complete a series of challenges.

First they had a set of plastic cups that had to be transferred from one person to the next by scooping it off a fork. The winners were the team that sent all of the cups down the line to the end and then back again. Great for hand-eye coordination and communication.

Our second challenge was the TikTok viral newspaper shuffle. Newspaper pages are taped together and then lined in front of a person sitting in a chair. They have to step or peddle their feet as fast as they can to shuffle the newspaper to them. It's harder than it looks and certainly works the core muscles and legs.  The third challenge saw our residents back with plastic cups trying to place all the cups in their bowl into the opponent's bowl. Sounds easy? Not so much when you have to use a long pole and not your hands. Another great manual dexterity challenge. 

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of music from The Allan Johnson Folk Duo.  Allan had previously played with his band The Ploughman for many years, creating a mixture of folk, blue grass and country music. 

This visit was important not just for the entertainment but because one of our residents organised this meeting. Lyndon has been a member of The Rotary Club for many years and has a wide range of friends and contacts. Allan met Lyndon through the Rotary Club, and he continues to visit him here at Tennyson Wharf. Lyndon was keen to introduce us to his talents and expand our list of entertainers and Allan was only too happy to oblige. 

It proved to be a very educational afternoon too, as Allan guided us through all the instruments that he plays. Lyndon enquired after an instrument that no one had seen before. It was a Mandola which is part of the lute family. Allan played them all very well, and we look forward to his return in the summer. 

Jasmit Phull is the first Sikh Mayor of Lincoln, and we were fortunate enough for her to come and visit and share her life story and experiences as the Mayor.  

She is a fascinating woman with many stories, including her visits to Buckingham Palace, meeting the Queen on several occasions, throwing garden parties, raising sons who are prolific in the medical field and using her biomedical degree to work in Lincoln Hospital. She is a wonderful woman who engaged and enthralled our residents, sharing photos of her time in the office and her family. 

Jasmit will be visiting us again next month to talk about her arranged marriage. This is a talk that has been captured by the BBC for a Podcast. Our residents are really looking forward to this talk as many have preconceived ideas about arranged marriage. 

Jasmit has kindly said she will also bring saris for the residents to try on. Lesley said, ‘I can’t wait for this, as who can imagine an arranged marriage? It will be fascinating.’  Peter, our resident representative, thanked Jasmit and said ‘I speak for all of us when I say that it was a wonderful experience. Thank you for taking the time to show us what a sheriff’s role involves.’

It was a real treat to watch Sorrel perform for us. Sorrel and her dance partner are only 15 and about to take part in National Championships, so we were so grateful that they could squeeze in a performance for us. 

Residents loved the costumes and the various styles of dancing with tap shoes and the soft form shoes. Patrick, one of our residents from Ireland, said it was ‘just grand!’ 

It was a long-awaited visit and very well worth the wait! Our residents were amazed and touched by the talent of Gabriella. 

Her vocal range was stunning, and her repertoire ensured there was something for everyone. Our residents loved that she took the time to talk about the songs and then chatted with everyone individually after the performance. 

Joan said her voice was incredible and couldn’t believe the high notes she was able to hit!