Harper Fields Care Home724 Kenilworth Road, Balsall Common, CV7 7HDTel: 01676 531 800 • www.barchester.com

Dates for your July September

Summer Fayre andCare Home Open DayThis year’s Care Home Open Day really was something special!

Harper Fields

Entertainment included a stiltwalker and juggler, belly dancersand snake dancers! Residents wereexcited by the carnival-style foodwhich included hot dogs, fries andcurried beans (with vegan optionstoo), drinks stall and a candyflossand popcorn machine.

We raised £180 to help towardsour residents’ fund and couldn’t behappier. We want to thankeveryone who came to join us onthe day and all of the staff whoworked so hard to make it a specialday for our residents and theirfamilies. We look forward to seeingeveryone again for our ChristmasFayre in December.

Tue 4th Chris Cook here with his music workshop, 11–12pmWed 5th Minibus trip – Brueton ParkThu 6th Minibus trip – Jepheson GardensFri 7th David Knowles concert, 3pmMon 10th Simon Watts Wildlife presentation, 3pmTue 11th Minibus trip – Packwood House (National Trust)Wed 12th Minibus trip to Birmingham “Back to backs”Thu 13th Minibus trip – Church of England tea party at St Peter’s ChurchFri 14th Methodist Church Service, 11amMon 17th Adrian Wylde comes to perform on his keyboardTue 18th Minibus trip – Donkey SanctuaryWed 19th Minibus trip – Abbey FieldsThu 20th Minibus trip – Oaks Farm ShopFri 21st Paul Lombard here for an independent shopping experience for the residentsTue 25th Minibus trip – Hatton LocksTue 25th Tony Sparks comes to perform for the residentsWed 26th Minibus trip – Leamington Spa Thu 27th Minibus trip – Church of England Tea party at St Peter’s ChurchFri 28th Church of England service, 11amFri 28th Chris Cook and his music workshop, 3pm

Wed 2nd Minibus trip – Blenheim PalaceThu 3rd Minibus trip – Jepheson GardensFri 4th Wild Bill comes for armchair line dancing with the residentsTue 8th Minibus trip to Solihull Shopping CentreTue 8th Simply Purple ladies choir here to perform, 3pmWed 9th Minibus trip – Abbey Fields ParkThu 10th Tea Party at St Peter’s ChurchFri 11th Methodist Church Service, 11amFri 11th Beccie Marshall concert, 3pmTue 15th Minibus trip – Baddesley ClintonWed 16th Minibus trip – Upton HouseThu 17th Minibus trip – Stratford Garden CentreFri 18th Paulo Pinto comes to perform, 3pmTue 22nd Minibus trip – Lichfield CathedralWed 23rd Minibus trip – St Nicholas Park in WarwickFri 25th Church of England service in Warwick loungeTue 29th Minibus trip – Coventry CathedralWed 30th Minibus trip – Hatton LocksThu 31st Minibus trip – Lapworth

Fri 1st Debbie Miles concert, 3pm

Tue 5th Minibus trip – Black County Living Museum

Wed 6th Minibus trip – to see ‘Miss Saigon’ at the Hippodrome, 2pm

Thu 7th Minibus trip – St Nicholas Park in Warwick

Fri 8th Methodist Church Service, 11am

Fri 8th David McFegan comes to perform on his accordion, 3pm

Tue 12th Minibus trip – Draycote Water

Wed 13th Minibus trip – Abbey Fields

Thu 14th Minibus trip – Church of England tea party at the local church

Fri 15th David Knowles comes to perform, 3pm

Tue 19th Minibus trip – River Avon boat cruise

Wed 20th Draycote Water

Thu 21st Minibus trip – Melbicks Garden Centre

Fri 22nd Church of England Service, 11am

Fri 22nd Linda Williams come in to perform, 3pm

Tue 26th Minibus trip – Mary Arden’s Farm

Wed 27th Butterfly Farm in Stratford-upon-Avon

Thu 28th Tea party at St Peters Church (C of E)

Fri 29th Sue Cox pottery painting with the residents, 2.30pm

August

Weekly activitiesPet therapy Skittles challenge Tai Chi Mindfulness andmeditation groupEarly risers’ exercise groupMovie afternoonsMinibus trips Seasonal arts and craftsSilver surfers’computer club

Quizzes andsensory gamesChurch servicesMassage therapySharingmemorabilia Professionalmanicures Walks around ourbeautiful groundsMusic therapyVarious concerts

Newsletter

Summer

The grounds were covered in beautiful, brightlycoloured props as we set out to have a day atthe ‘Circus’. Our marquees were filled withcarnival-themed games including a photobooth, ring toss, ball in a bucket, tin-canalley, giant garden games and a tombolaand raffle to name a few.

Our residents thoroughlyenjoyed the bread bakingworkshops at Harper Fields,they have been baking a varietyof rolls including sundriedtomato and parmesan, grilledpepper and Italian herb and aseeded loaf. We made enoughfor all of the home to try andeven delivered them fresh andwarm for all of the residents tohave a taste.

The Harper Fields gang loves tobe creative with their food andhave been having cakedecorating workshops by ourvery own nurse, Josie, whoworks on Memory Lane atnight. She brings in all of hercake decorating equipment toshow the residents her specialand creative techniques and theresidents all get to have a try oftheir own.

The residents had a blastwatching Grease which evenstarred Jimmy Osmond as the teen angel.

The show was electrifying,some of the ladies stood up for a “Jive” and sang along to all

their favourite classics. Theladies enjoyed a pre-theatredrink of their favourite tipplewhilst singing happy birthdayto one of our specialvolunteers, Marilyn.

Residents have enjoyedwatching several other showsat the Hippodrome thissummer including ‘Funny girl’,‘The Addams family’ and‘Coppelia’. It is always aspecial treat to see theresidents dressed up andenjoying a glass of wineat the theatre bar.

The famous High School musical featuring all theunforgettable songs such as ‘Grease lightening’ and‘Summer nights’ came to the Hippodrome theatrein Birmingham this month.

At Harper Fields we love to take our residentson special trips, especially those that promoteindependence and keep family traditions alive.

News in and aroundHarper Fields

Baking Bread and Cupcake making

‘Grease’ the musicalat the Hippodrome

The residents enjoyed an afternoon filledwith high tea, a selection of delicious cakesbaked by our head chef and a classicalperformance by King and Rackham Duoat our vintage tea party.

Woodrow Mercer (a recruitment agency specialising in care)donated fondant cake, enough to feed 50 residents in aid ofdementia awareness week.

All staff and volunteers pulled together to make the afternoonan unforgettable one. The food ranged from finger sandwiches,cherry cakes, cupcakes and even a multi-coloured rainbowcake! The residents enjoyed eating these whilst listening to aviolin and piano playing their favourite classical songs.

Vintage Tea Party

Kassie and Joan

Joan, one of our Memory Laneresidents, would regularly goout shopping with hergranddaughter, Kassie. Kassietold us that she hadn’t beenable to do so in the last coupleof years, and upon hearing this,we arranged to take Joan toSolihull Touchwood ShoppingCentre where Kassie met us forlunch in the park beforehand.

After lunch they went offshopping and even enjoyed acup of tea and cake together inthe Marks and Spencer caféalong with their friend and herchild. Being able to make thishappen is vital for ourresident’s well-being.

MelbicksGarden Centre

We love our garden centre visitsespecially as the seasons start tochange! We are lucky to liveclose to some fantastic gardencentres including Stratford-upon-Avon, Blooms, Knowle andSolihull garden centres and, ofcourse, our favourite – Melbicks.We take a wonderful packedlunch and sit on the benchesoutside, there is even a fruit andvegetable cart run by a lovelyItalian man called Corrado, whois always so happy to see us andeven lets us taste the Britishstrawberries for free!