JANUARY 08

  ISSUE 4

NOT 10 BUT 15

The start of January was wet and wind and was a hectic time with preparation work of collecting sponsorship for the jump but a problem arose, was it the weather, NO it was where was our jumper, ok we had all the jokes of no jumper so use a cardigan or sweat shirt but seriously without a jumper there would be no tandem parachute jump, no sponsorship raised and more to the point nothing going to the Down’s Syndrome Association. What would they do, it was going to cost £50 to postpone the jump to a later date so at the 18^th hour Silvia said she would do it, Dave said he would so they got on the scales and Dave was still a couple of pounds over the limit so it was all down to Silvia, after a sleepless night she arrived at the airfield and was given her instructions how to sit in the plane, how to shuffle forward, how to sit in the doorway and then how to fall out. There was also instructions of how to hold your arms and legs while in freefall and how to hold your arm and legs while floating back to earth. Then the shock, Dunkerswell airfield is 1 of a very few fields in the UK that can offer a high jump, its published as 10000ft as it’s a charity jump and that’s how they have to promote it, but if Silvia wanted then she could jump from 15000ft, her thoughts were  “well I am up there why not”. So we waited and waited and watched the aeroplanes fly past, the residents who we took with us were watching the going on as people came and went.

It was then out to the waiting aircraft and up into the beautiful clear blue skies with not a drop of rain in sight and a very gentle breeze then while everyone was looking in to the skies several parachutes appeared, first to appear and land was the parachute sky diving team who joined up in a formation star jump, then it was another  tandem jumper doing it for the Great Ormond Street Hospital then we looked skyward looking for the green yellow and red chute that we were told to look out for, and there it was coming out of the blue ski, what a picture it made and everyone started to cheer.

We all waited for Silvia to arrive back in the parachute centre, how was she feeling, we did not need to worry she walked back in and Dena, Beth, Cathy and Tony made a straight line for her and gave her a big smile and hug for all the effort she had put in.

Did she enjoy it YES

Would she do it again YES

Would she do anything different next time YES keep her eyes open for the first couple of thousand feet.

We have started to collect all the sponsorship money in and would like to thank everyone for their support among them Mr and Mrs Cherry of Northampton, Silvia Kaurthasami of Luton, Peter and Toni King of Teignmouth, Ray and Val Illingworth of Teignmouth, Paula and Don Johanns of Newton Abbot, David and Margaret Griffiths of Dawlish, Dr and Mrs Budd of Reading, Val and Judy from Scotland, Bishop Fleming Accounts from Plymouth, Briarcroft Residential Home of Teignmouth, Dairy Crest Dairies, Mr and Mrs Tomlin from Luton and Dr and Mrs Choudhury from Harpenden, M P Warren & Associates.

As we are still collecting our sponsorship money in I am unable to give a total at this time but so far the total is about £750 yet we shall publish the total in next month issue.

GOODBYE

Mid way through the month we said our goodbye’s to Jude our care supervisor who decided that travelling to and from Torquay everyday was becoming a problem, although the recent traffic problems of road works she battle her way through, mist and fog on the coast road and we will not mention the torrential rain. So wish her will in her new post near to her home.

        WELCOME

One goes and one comes, so we welcome Joanne who likes to be called Jo to the home, Jo has been in the care industry looking after the elderly for the last 4+ years and brings with her a wealth of knowledge. Look out for a longer introduction to Jo in meet the staff in a later issue.

HOLIDAY PROBLEMS

As a great many of our readers are aware we have employed some staff from Slovakia and from time to time they go home to see there family and recently it was Katarina’s turn. She was looking forward to the visit not so much the journey, as she was going the same time as her sister who lives in Poland she decided to go there first then on to Slovakia, everything was fine until the journey back when she had delay after delay as well as cancelled flights but she told us she would be on duty on the 24^th and so she purchased a new ticket on an airline that was easy and orange and landed at Luton Airport and so true to her word she was on duty on the 24^th a little bit tired but with a great new hair do and ready for action.

     PROMOTIONS

With the departure of our care supervisor who would lead the team of carers, we needed someone who could control and organise, who had a flair for caring, who was flexible and who only has the best interest of the clients at heart. We also looked at going forward into a new era of care. Should we advertise or did we have the current staff who were able to undertake the job, we looked and weighed up everyone’s appraisals and to names were there that stood out. After a discussion with them about where we should be and where they think we are, where would they like us to be and also what they would like to do to improve our already efficient service we decided that as they mostly worked opposite each other Jackie and Silvia would make excellent Senior Support Workers, well done to you both and the home looks forward to some interesting and valued work from you both.

 BIRTHDAY DURING THE MONTH

During the month both Stany and Stuart enjoyed birthdays yet while Stuart was looking forward to wearing the ceremonial hat Stany tried to get out of it by swapping her days off, but we don’t allow the staff to get away with that so she had to wear it the day before, she did though manage to evade all attempts of taking the picture. Stuart how ever enjoyed himself what with presents, cards and the birthday tea.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Linda 27th  (and its a special one)

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 May 1st 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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