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A full session as usual with 2 new members I met on Dementia Awareness Day at Brent Cross on 25th May.

Lisa and Kevin started with a Family Fortunes quiz which everyone enjoys followed with some singing and dancing. The session then followed with Tovertafel which included are Tovertafel ‘buddies’ Karish and Eva our students. Dr Angela brought her friend Melissa who was a star as usual motivating members to get up and dance.

Thank you to our volunteers Melvyn, Eleanor and Dr Angela and of course our students.

Today was a hot day and we had quite a few members attend as Stephen’s house is a favourite.

Lisa decided today to change the room slightly and move some of the tables to accommodate groups sitting together. Everyone thought it was a good idea. The session started with Mark one of the Trustees who gave out a quiz to members about various alcohol drinks for example ‘Who boasted of eating human liver washed down with Chianti?’ the answer Hannibal Lector. The quiz is always challenging but Mark offers a few clues which really helps.

After the quiz we had a birthday to celebrate. It was Joan’s 90th birthday and Chrissy her daughter baked 2 lovely cakes and brought them. Everyone sang happy birthday to Joan who was very touched and surprised to see her daughter’s cakes.

Lisa then had an announcement to make and asked Risom to come to the front. Lisa congratulated Risom for being the star bucket collector at Brent Cross on Dementia Awareness Day. Members all applauded Risom and Risom responded by saying that he is honoured and touched to be associated with helping Dementia Club UK and will continue to help.

The session then followed with Richard who does Yoga with members. Richard not only makes members exercise but always makes it fun.

The session then continued with Lisa who got members to do some singing and then some dancing to their favourite songs. Everyone was happy.

Thank you to our volunteers – Mark and Dr Angela, our Rotary volunteers Dick, Michael and Valerie who is also one of the Trustees and of course Risom who looks after us all.

It was a lovely warm day today and a very busy session as always at the Finchley Memorial Hospital. Lisa welcomed everyone and then introduced Mehdi who came to visit today. Mehdi ‘CEO & Founder’ of Shift 8 Ltd installed Tovertafel at the hospital and he came today to do a second training session to show members a few other tricks when playing the Tovertafel games. Members were delighted to see Mehdi.

However the training did not begin straight away as Lisa had a surprise for members first. Lisa organised through Lulubelle Animal Rescue to bring 2 small dogs to the session. Lorraine Perkins from Lulubelle came with her assistant Mike. One of the dogs was a French Bulldog called Flamenca who was 8 years old and the other dog was Chi Wawa called Rosie who was 2 years old. Lorraine spoke about the life of the dogs and how they were previously mistreated. In fact Flamenca was so ill-treated before he needs an operation as he has continence problems. He was in fact wearing a nappy which was cute.

Members were very sad to hear about their life stories but were happy to hear that they are now receiving so much love. Members enjoyed holding the dogs and caressing them.

Lorraine and Mike stayed for a long time as members became very attached to the dogs. Members would like the dogs to attend again and Lisa will try and organise this at least once a month.

Mehdi then followed on with the session to show members the various tricks with Tovertafel games. Everyone was excited as usual to play. Mehdi decided that perhaps the Tovertafel should be calibrated on to 2 tables to make the games bigger and more members can then sit around to play. Members enjoyed the games and also learnt a few tricks.

Thank you to our volunteers today Melvyn who is always there right from the start. Dr Angela who came later and is one of our Trustees and Karish the student who wants to study to be a doctor and enjoys attending the sessions. Karish was so interested in the Tovertafel that Mehdi asked him if he wanted to become a Tovertafel ‘Buddy’ This means that Karish will be trained and he will then be able to help people using the games. Karish was very pleased and also suggested a friend to join him.

Today was a very busy session. Lisa introduced a new exercise instructor called Jane. Jane tried various exercises to music with members and they all really enjoyed the exercises and also liked Jane.

The session then followed with a special birthday. It was Gilda’s birthday today. Gilda brought lots of fancy cupcakes for members to enjoy. Lisa however also had a surprise cake for Gilda and her birthday was celebrated in the usual Dementia Club UK way with a cake firework. Gilda and Stephen her husband were so pleased.

It was then time for some dancing. James Le Bec as always gets members excited and up dancing. James usually brings Joy his assistant to help with the music quiz but there was no problem as Dot one of the volunteers stepped in to help James who was very grateful.

The session was a great success and everyone left with a smile.

Thank you to all the volunteers today.

Members enjoyed starting the session today chatting and reminiscing together about holidays they really enjoyed in the past. Lisa then gave members a quiz which was challenging as usual and then the session followed with Tai Chi with Egon.

The session followed with various games which everyone enjoy like table tennis and Putting golf and magnetic darts. Members always like to finish with their favourite songs and leave with a smile.

Lisa had no volunteers today but as usual carers always step in to help