September 07

  ISSUE 12

After the busy last few months it has been a month of relaxing and planning, well it was supposed to have been, if you call decorating 2 bedroom relaxing yet the planning has gone well, holidays and parties are covered below and we are planning some handrails in strategic points to help the more less able.

GOODBYE LITTLE ONE

Early in the month we received the sad news that Scamp the homes little doggy friend has gone to chew the big bone in the sky and scratch around in god's garden. For years he has been calling in and rubbing his wet nose against people, the residents loved his visits and he will be missed not only by us but friend to the home Carole from down the lane.

HOLIDAY TIME

Well after much deliberation and taking in to account peoples ideas of fun, lights, action and enjoyment 4 of the younger clients will be attending Tinsel and Turkey. Someone did ask where the action is, the reply was "you have to catch the Turkey" so on the 5th November they will heading north towards Blackpool so not only will they get the fireworks as it's bonfire night they will also have the lights of Blackpool. Then on to the entertainment hotel for the festive treats while not forgetting the outings.  Well they should enjoy 2 Christmases in one year. Well Jude and Pip who are escorting might even have time to have a ride on a tram.

CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME

Well last year at this time we were into the planning stage of our pink day in aid of Cancer Research UK and the home enjoys doing these small events but what shall we do this year, pink, white, red ,yellow or green days nope non of these instead it's been named brown day by Jude who has volunteered to jump out of an aeroplane, we have decided to give her a parachute and allow her to be strapped to a man. In other words she will be doing a tandem parachute jump,  Jude is jumping out of the plane at 10,000 ft and freefall at 120mph to 5,000ft where she will float down to earth.

Sounds good but this is where you all come in, to be able to gain the FREE jump we have to raise a minimum amount for our chosen charity so we or rather Jude needs sponsorship so be warned I will at some time be send all you lucky wonderful people a form not only for yourselves to sponsor but the milkman and the people at work. The charity we have nominated is a very good cause and close to all our hearts The Down's Syndrome Association and with all a little bit of help we aim to give them a nice donation.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

The homes Christmas party has been set for either 6th or 7th of December we are waiting for the entertainer to come back to us, as normal it will have a selection of food on the buffet table and also the usual assortment of party games and music. The highlight of last year was the arrival of Mother Christmas and we have been reliable informed that she will be making an appearance this year as well.

NEVER

Well on September the 14th the owners have been at Ashdown for 18 years and has watch the home go from strength to strength ever increasing the good name in the home, they started with 6 people and soon increased to 9 and it was not until 1995 that they converted to 12. The have made lots of new friends and enjoyed there time and look forward to several more years we asked Mr Rogers for a comment on the last 18 years " at times it's been hard work but enjoyable and meeting lots of new people has made it all worth while" we asked if he would do it again "yes with out doubt" we asked them both for a high point and a low in the last 18 years " there have been so many high points new people coming to live here or the birth of our daughter but as for low points any time we have lost someone it's like loosing part of the family".

STILL WITH NO NAME

In last months newsletter we asked if any of you had an idea of what to call it, everyone has said they like to keep up with the going on at the home but what about a name, I was hoping that we would be able to inform you of the name but as we had no replies I can not. Next month is the 1 year anniversary of the newsletter so come on how about a name.

MEET THE STAFF

You have meet them all

THERE'S GNOME PLACE LIKE HOME

We have all heard about gnomes going missing from places and there owners receiving post cards well we have had 5 visitors Stephen, Rob, Vincent, Harry and Austin, they suddenly appeared and have settled into the back garden. Vincent is a bit home sick as it's his first time away so we are not sure how long he will stay but the rest are enjoying themselves beside the seaside beside the sea.

OCTOBER'S BIRTHDAYS

Jackie (staff) 3rd

COURSES PASSED

Jackie = Fire Safety

Dave = Stroke Management and Rehabilitation

Jackie = Stroke Management and Rehabilitation

Well done to you all

POEM CORNER

There is a special lady

And Jan Bray is her name

And since wave been at Ashdown

Such good friend’s wave became,

She does come once a fortnight

To cut the peoples hair

She does it all so nicely

And really shows she cares,

She does charge eight pound fifty

Which is so very cheep,

Compared to other people

That work in the high street 

Sometimes she does a colour

At other times a perm

She is just like a mother

And from her things we learn

Her day to Come is Thursday

From ten o clock till three

She goes into the kitchen

And has a cup of tea

She then goes to the Sun lounge 

And sets up all her things

Her curling tongs and drier

In her White car she brings,

She mostly does the ladies

But every now and then

When she does think they need it

 She does do all the men

Like brain and our Eric

Stuart and Tony to,

Young Johnnie and our Courtney

Threes such a lot to do  

She takes us to the bath room

To get all our hair clean

And when it is all finished

It like the sun does gleam

We then go to the Sun lounge

To have it   dried and styled

And when   it is all over

It really makes us smile,

Some go under the drier

But other folk do not

Because they do not like it

It really is to hot

She also does some highlights 

For George one of the staff

Our Beth does also have them

And this raises a laugh,

And when   we went to Yorkshire

We had a special day

Of getting all our hair cuts

Before we went away

She is doing this again

The week before the 5th

Of the month of November

We gave a special trip

Were going up to Black pool

To photograph the lights

And do tinsel and Turkey

It will be for five nights

So thank you Jan my darling

For everything you do

I wrote this little poem

Especially for you

My rhyme it is now ended

That’s all I have to say

I will write out another

Poem for you one day,

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 November 1st 2007, check out www.relaxinthesun.eu for further information.

Our ever longer list of decorating keeps growing and its a bit like the seven bridge start at one end finish and start all over again, but 2 rooms were in need so Silvia and Cathy got down and busy, the rooms look great.