Blog

  • Greek Cypriot Britannia Centre – 27th January 2020

    It was a lovely surprise today when I arrived as the tables and chairs were already set. Thank you to the carers. Lisa gave a warm welcome to everyone and a few programme updates.

    Members were then busy with a quiz and some word searches whilst they were enjoying their teas/coffees and cakes. Lisa then had another quiz that Mark had prepared. The questions were challenging but they enjoyed it

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    Eon then arrived and as usual prepared the chairs ready for members to exercise. The exercises are always great fun and members always feel after that they have worked their body.

    This nicely prepares everyone for the music entertainment after. Wayne and Charlie provide a great performance and members have a happy time.

    As Lisa had no volunteers today the carers always step in – thank you.

  • Finchley Memorial Hostpital – 22nd January 2020

    Finchley Memorial Hostpital – 22nd January 2020

    It was a very busy session today and we also had two new members join the group. Lisa introduced the session and gave some great advice to everyone on how best to avoid the Chinese flu called Coronavirus which is spreading at the moment.

    Lisa had to leave early for a meeting in London so Muz and Faz from Ping is King ran the rest of the session. As the 75th Anniversary after the Second World War is approaching, James kicked off the session with a fascinating reading about the V2 missile bombings in the war. He gave a recollection of a horrifying incident on the 27th January 1945 when he was at the Savoy Cinema with his younger cousin. They were aged 10 and 8 at the time. There was a huge explosion which brought down the cinema and James and his cousin remember the devastation it caused and the number of people who died. They were lucky but this is a memory they will not forget. A full transcript of James story is below.

    Brian also brought in some incredible old pictures of his time in the RAF and shared them around. There were helicopters and planes that had crash landed and it was amazing to hear the stories and see these gripping events captured in real life photos.

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    Muz and Faz then handed out some colouring and word searches for members. The theme for these activities was the Chinese New Year. This theme continued with a fun packed quiz on China. The quiz was really well received with just the right mix of easy and hard questions, with lots of clues to make sure everyone had a chance. It was lovely to see Krishma getting actively involved. She loved shouting out the correct answers to several questions.

    After the quiz, it was Aaron’s turn to entertain everyone and he hosted a lovely afternoon of music entertainment. Everyone had a really enjoyable afternoon with lots of singing and dancing to old classics. There was a technical glitch at one point but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it gave Ernie the chance to take the microphone and sing a lovely Irish song. I later found out that Ernie used to follow his dad around when his dad was performing in pubs which is why he had such a great voice.

    Thank you to all our volunteers today, Melvyn, Annette, Marina, Arzu, Angela, Risom and of course Lisa and Mark.

  • Carlton Court Care Home – 21rd January 2020

    Today we welcomed again Dementia Club UK! We had a few extra visitors – Dr Rebecca Hatjiosif who is a doctor and volunteers at the dementia club offering if people would like their blood pressures checked. We also had another visitor who brought their little dog – Lottie. She is adorable and members enjoyed having her at the session.

    Lisa welcomed everybody whilst residents and the visitors tried our wonderful cakes produced by the catering team. Everybody enjoyed Lisa’s quiz which then followed with music entertainment by Aaron. Aaron played some song favourites which got some residents and visitors up dancing. Aaron then followed with a music quiz involving the big red dice and the challenge for members to take a six each throw.

    After the music, visitors and the residents had the opportunity to try our fabulous interactive game table. “A good laugh and a cuppa are the two best cures for anything”

    Next Dementia Club session at Carlton Court will be on the 18th February, feel free to pop in for a cuppa! Thank you to all the staff for helping throughout the session.

  • Kentish Town Leisure Centre – 16th January 2020

    We kick-started the year at Kentish Town Sports Centre in great spirits on the 16th January. Teas, coffees, biscuits and fresh fruit were served as usual and Lisa also brought a big cake.

    We had a few visitors today from local organisations including Julia Baker from Association for Jewish Refugees and Ian from BAT Therapy Foundation. Lisa and Adriana welcomed everyone and also welcomed 2 new members.{gallery}KT20200116{/gallery}

    We were joined by Ping is King Ltd who provided a variety of games, including table tennis which proved to be very popular as we saw a few quite intense rallies! Our new attendees to the session also enjoyed themselves very much.

    Thank you to Adriana, Lisa and Mark and Muz and Faz from Ping is King Ltd for a fantastic session.

  • Finchley Memorial Hostpital – 15th January 2020

    A very busy session as usual today. Everyone was very excited today as they were looking forward to seeing James Bernard – his last performance before he leaves and emigrates to Los Angeles where his career in music will be taking off.

    Lisa welcomed everyone and gave an update with regards to future events on the programme. There was a birthday to celebrate today. It was Parthenis 84th Birthday. His wife brought the cake and as usual it was celebrated the Dementia Club UK style with a firework candle. Everyone sang Happy Birthday and Parthenis was very happy.

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    Another carer also brought a cake today and this was shared out too. James Bernard then made a grand entrance and everyone was so pleased to see him. Whilst he was getting ready to set up he had to pop out the room and Lisa had a surprise big cake for him with a firework candle on. As soon as he walked back everyone started singing –‘Congratulations and Celebrations’ .

    James had no idea that it was for him and when he realised he was very touched. Everyone had a really enjoyable afternoon with lots of dancing and then wished James all the best for the future. Thank you to our volunteers today , Angela Chen, Radha, Melvyn and Annette and of course Mark.

  • St John’s United Reformed Church, New Barnet – 14th January 2020

    We had a good number of members today. Muz and Faz from Ping Is King Ltd set up the games on the other tables and also had prepared some colouring for members to do whilst they were having their teas/coffees and biscuits

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    Muz asked members to either write or talk about their new Year’s Resolutions. Everyone preferred to talk and therefore each person around the table took turns. It was interesting to hear all the different resolutions and some quite funny.

    The session then continued with Yoga with Richard which is always great fun and a good workout.

    Members then sat around the other game tables which were ready and set up by Muz and Faz and enjoyed passing the small table tennis balls across the table to their partner opposite through the colourful cups as a challenge. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

    Thank you to Muz and Faz and Mark and also James one of the carers for helping set up the tables.

  • Finchley Cricket Club – 13th January 2020

    This was our first session of the year at the Finchley Cricket Club and was a very busy session. This new venue has become a real favourite and members really look forward to attending as it is so warm and welcoming.

    Lisa welcomed members wishing them a Happy New year and introduced the new hosts Julian and Jacqueline who have taken over from Ami and Sarah. Lisa wished Ami and Sarah all the best and introduced Julian the Chairman of the Finchley Cricket Club. Julian and Jacqueline prepared a beautiful buffet spread of cheese sandwiches and Ham sandwiches and delicious looking cup-cakes and other biscuits.

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    When members were sat at their tables, Lisa gave members some Word Searches and also some magic water colour painting to do which they all enjoyed doing whilst happily chatting to each other. Julian and Jacqueline then started to serve with the help of the volunteers and a few of the carers also helped – Marina and Rosetta.

    Members really appreciated all the fuss and enjoyed eating the lovely sandwiches and cakes. Lisa provided members with an update including details of the next outing and also thanked the volunteers today – Risom, Rotarians – Valerie (also our Trustee), Michael and Sheila. Radha and Melissa and her husband Bob. My thanks to everyone that helped today including Mark who is one of the Trustees.

    Lisa then called Valerie who gave members some House Keeping information with regards to where the toilets are and fire exit and also then informed members about the next dementia club sessions this week. Valerie tried to do a short quiz but this was soon aborted as members were enjoying chatting.

    Eon our exercise instructor then arrived and as usual Eon made sure members exercised from top to toe. Eon always makes exercise enjoyable. The session then followed with Ian our music entertainer who got everyone up and dancing. The room was filled with joy and excitement and laughter. It was a perfect afternoon and everyone left saying how the venue was so perfect and they really enjoyed the afternoon.

  • Finchley Memorial Hostpital – 8th January 2020

    Today was our first session of the year at the Finchley Memorial Hospital and it was buzzing with so many members. Everyone said how they really missed the sessions over the festive period.

    Lisa welcomed everyone and then asked Mark to read out the quiz questions which today were about fire safety especially as we were expecting the Fire Brigade to be visiting today to give members a brief talk about fire safety. Members did really well with the questions.

    We then followed with some birthday celebrations. As Peter and Dawn’s birthday is on the 11th and 12th January, they didn’t mind celebrating their birthdays and therefore Lisa prepared a large Panettone cake with the usual firework candle which members always enjoy seeing. As there was another birthday a little later on in the month for another member, everyone also sang Happy Birthday to Enzo too.

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    We then had some time for a couple of our members who wanted to share some of their Christmas experiences.

    James talked to us about some of the medals he was given by a family member recently. In the photo;

    The item on the left is a Para Regiment Medal (Northern Ireland, Falklands, Argentina clasps) Top middle – Royal Regiment of Fusiliers C1854 Cap Badge (Crimean War) Middle bottom – Parachute Regiment cap badge To the right – SAS cap badge

    Thank you James for sharing this with us Laurie then wanted to say how he did not enjoy being bossed! around over Christmas by the family but was very proud to become a Great Great Grandfather. Thank you Laurie.

    It was then time for our Firemen who arrived and received a warm welcome. We had Matthew, Adam and Karl from the North Finchley fire station. They gave members a short talk about fire safety and members also asked questions. We are very grateful for them attending. It was lucky they stayed for 3o minutes and then they had an emergency call and they had to run.

    The session then continued – Lisa did some exercises with everyone and then there was the Tovertafel followed with some music and dancing. A busy and very enjoyable first session of the year.

  • Baden Powell, John Keble Church Edgware – 7th January 2020

    Great first session of the year. Members were greeted with the usual warm welcome which also included tea and cakes prepared by Rotarians Mollie and Helen.

    There was still a festive atmosphere especially as Lisa decorated the tables with some left over Christmas crackers which members were happy to see. The room was buzzing with chat whilst members enjoyed their teas and cakes and doing some colouring in which is always a favourite.

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    I welcomed everyone and then Lisa filled us in about forthcoming events. I then ran a general knowledge quiz which members found enjoyable and created conversations.

    Richard then arrived and got us all moving with chair Yoga, warming us up ready for our new music entertainer, Aaron.

    Members really enjoyed Aaron’s music and were happy to have the usual music quiz which as usual also has a bit of cheating with the feet as the big dice is thrown. The score was amazingly high with 144 points and this now sets a tough challenge for the other dementia clubs to beat.

    Lovely to see members Irene, Mabel and Ruth rocking to the music, along with Simone, Rita, Joy and Kevin. Thanks to Mark for his usual sociable banter. It was a fun session all round!

  • Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue – 6th January 2020

    Our monthly Dementia Club UK session was held on the 6th January at Sha’arei Tsedek Synagogue in Whetstone. Our members were served tea, coffee, delicious biscuits and cake at the start of our session and were happy chatting to each other.

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    Our members then took part in an exercise session lead by Jane which everyone enjoyed. David K entertained our members with a variety of popular songs, including Elvis! to which many of the members and helpers danced.

    27 members and carers attended the session with the assistance of seven helpers who were:- Justine, Gilda, Stephen, Keith, Dot, Judy & Radha.