DECEMBER 07

  ISSUE 3

READY WILLING AND ABLE

Well only a few days to go before Jude does her parachute which has been set for the weekend of the 12 and 13th January, the sponsorship is very slow, yes it's Christmas and presents have been brought but if Jude is willing to do the jump then how about a bit of support. Some people have understood the cause wrong, last year we did pink day in aid of Cancer Research UK and raised well over £460 and this year we are doing it in aid of.

THE DOWNS SYNDROME ASSOCIATION

It is not for the home as some people have thought but for the organisation above and they could do with all the help they can, they will have a representative at the aerodrome looking after Jude throughout the day, we shall arrive with Dena, Beth, Tony and a few others in time for the jump. We have had one of person e-mail with a donation  of £20 from a home in Bedfordshire but we could do with a bit more, well a lot more. There is still time send your cheques to the home made out to the Downs Syndrome Association and tell us if you wish to do gift aid.

We have sponsorship around the £200 already but could do with a lot more, remember Jude is willing to jump even though she does not particularly like heights so carry on the Christmas cheer and sponsor her.

E-mail me on manager@ashdowncarehome.co.uk and I will see your name is added on to the form.

CONGRATULATIONS

Our congratulations to Katarina for passing her NVQ level 2 she work long and hard on cold winter nights yet all the hard work paid off.

So in just over a month both Silvia and Katarina have passed there NVQ level 2 and both have said that it was enjoyable so much so both of them want to undertake the level 3.

Jackie has also said she would like to clear the gray matter from her brain and undertake the next level which in her case will be the level 4, so in January we hope to see all of them starting new training.

PARTY TIME

The party was in full swing on the 7th with people from far and wide talking, dancing and having fun, Cathy and George as usual put on a fine spread of festive foods and not forgetting the traditional curry and rice that once again Cathy made to a traditional Malaysian recipe. Just as Stuart finished playing on the accordion a very high pitched Ho Ho Ho was heard and every one welcomed Mother Christmas who had just been dropped off for a short visit while Santa serviced the sleigh ready for his big day. Mother Christmas came well prepared with gifts for everyone who had done well during the year, so everyone got a present, to some it was the first time they had met Mother Christmas while for others it was re-making old friendships, she promised to return again on the 25th to see everyone again.

And then there was Midge who had come down from Defford to see us, he was the star of the show, going from person to person making sure that they were ok and the laying down for his tummy to be rubbed.

JUST WHEN THE JOY COMES YOU REMEMBER

The time comes around once a year when the lights and decorations are taken out and tested and the festive spirit begins you remember that all the places the lights were hung have been covered over with cladding. Everyone is asking where will Santa be this year, on a bike, in a wheelchair, climbing up a ladder or abseiling down a rope he had a hard year so he sat in a chair watching the world go by, there was a queue started to form with there Christmas wish list.

They did try and bribe him with their new NVQ certificates but he was having none of it and he stayed quite perhaps a Lotus and a BMW were just a bit to much.

MEAL AT THE QUEENSBURY INN

Well at this time of year everyone is full of festive spirit and non more than the staff who decide that the annual festive residents Christmas dinner this year should be at the Queensbury Inn, in Northumberland Street, Teignmouth but who should be left behind to look after the home, any volunteers, no so it was down to Dave the manager to nominate someone to stay, well the first rule of management is delegation so he delegated himself.

The staff at the Queensbury laid on a truly smashing spread of Turkey with all the trimmings, trifle or Christmas pudding, the staff were very helpful leaving the homes staff to enjoy the meal.

STAFF MEAL

Every year as tradition has it the staff at the home like a lot of people have a works do, when Dave and Cathy first took the home over the works do consisted of the 2 of them yet now a few years later there were 14 people, yet where to go, Indian, English, a take-a-way or something different like a hot dog at the burger van at B and Q so after a discussion it was decided that they would leave it down to Dave to decided and after a discussion they went of to Bianco's Italian restaurant in Torwood Street Torquay, he did warn the owner that some of his group could be noisy while other would not say boo to a goose. the menu was out standing but Dave did ask if as an aperitif they could arrange Chickens feet Chinese style and snails in garlic sauce as the staff had been hearing about him eating them for years, well they laid them on and some tried them.

There was the usual secret Santa and lucky dip that had a twist this year in which you could do a swap with the gift left over, some swapped while some liked the feel of the large bar of chocolate, the hilarious laughter erupted on opening of the gifts as one person had broken the corkscrew and they got one, another got a ladies luggage tabs, were they trying to tell him something but the most laughter was when John got the union jack thong as at first he thought it was a bandana for wearing in the garden.

YOUR REQUEST

At a recent gathering someone mentioned that a family member enjoys reading the news but likes it printed, so your wish is our command and hey presto where you see the MS Word sign at the bottom of the page you are able to download the newsletter.

TRIED TO GET AWAY

Just when she thought she had got away with not wearing the ceremonial hat as she took leave on her birthday, but turning 16 is a big event in anyone life so on the next working day Rehanna our kitchen helper had to wear it.

THE BIRTHDAY GIRLS

Birthdays come and birthdays go while at times you want to stop counting, both Katarina and Silvia who celebrate their birthdays one day apart have stopped counting and are remaining at 21 for the next few years.

MOTHER CHRISTMAS KEEPS HER WORD

At the Christmas party earlier in the month Mother Christmas said she would be happy to call in and give out the Christmas presents, well it is a busy time of year but she kept her word and as soon as we heard the sleigh bells jangling and the high pitched Ho Ho Ho she was there among everyone, talking and laughing then giving them there presents but also spending time to have a picture taken so everyone can show there loved ones.

JANUARY

 BIRTHDAYS

7th Stany (staff)

22nd Stuart

THE WORKING GIRLS

Here we see Silvia, Katarina and Pip who worked on Christmas day, after Mrs Santa's visit they tuck in to a hearty healthy traditional fry up.

THE DAY BEFORE

Some people look forward to their birthdays, while some wish to forget yet Brian's birthday falls on Christmas Day so fesivities always roll in together, so at the home we always celebrate Brian's birthday on the 24th.

GOODBYE

Goodbye to Pip who for the past 18 months has worked at the home learning about the care industry, well she travels 45 minutes a day from Moretenhampstead and that's through wind, rain, sun or whatever comes down on her little motor cycle sometimes so wet she has to change before she comes into the house.

She has fallen of a couple of times on black ice or had to chase the pigs back to the farm where she lives but always arrives back at work, well she has decided that it would be more advantages for her to find a place near to her home and on the 28th December she left us and we thank her for all the hard work over the last 18 months

TIME OF YEAR

Everyone at Ashdown wishes you all a happy new year and a wonderful 2008

From

Dave, Cathy, Jude, Georgina, Jacquie, Silvia, Katarina, Pip, Stany, Rehanana.

THE GREAT BRITISH GETAWAY

and with British weather who would blame them

Get away from the poor English weather and relax on the Costa del Sol, bookings taken for April 2008, check out www.relaxinthesun.eu for further information.

If this newsletter has been posted to you and you do have internet access then by dropping a line to manager@ashdowncarehome.co.uk we will add you to the e-mail mailing list.

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