August 2019 Extra

As ever, a good number of friends joined us for our mid-August café.  Everyone settled in for a chat, and there was a chance to have a look at the latest edition of our Bowgie-sponsored ‘Sparkle’ magazine and perhaps tackle the associated quiz or a word-search, which is always popular.

Richard then introduced Michaela Smith, a new face at the Crantock cafe, who had brought along her guitar to entertain us.  She soon struck a chord with our guests and with her clear and tuneful voice, a selection of percussion instruments and some familiar songs we soon found ourselves singing along, tapping rhythms and doing the actions when required.  We also discovered some previously unknown talents amongst our guests – some great whistlers came to the fore, as did those who could do an excellent imitation of a flock of clucking hens!  Some lively renditions of songs from the musicals and spirituals were much enjoyed and Michaela’s beautiful performance of ‘Over the Rainbow’ brought her delightful programme to a close.

As refreshment time approached everyone looked forward to tea and cakes and, as ever, we weren’t disappointed.  We’re always grateful to our supporters in the village who regularly supply us with delicious home-made cakes and biscuits, and to our kitchen helpers who make the tea and coffee and wash the dishes -  always with smiles on their faces!

After tea, things became a bit fishy as it was ‘eyes down’ for a game of ‘Ocean Bingo’.  This was a new version of the ever-popular game and proved a great success – we also learnt a lot about creatures to be found under the sea, as well as accumulating a selection of chocolates won by completing ‘a line’!

Everyone enjoyed a varied and entertaining afternoon and after Richard enlightened us with the answers to the quiz it was then time to bring the afternoon to a close.

Our next meeting takes place on Monday 2nd September from 2pm – 4pm at Crantock Village Hall. New members, with their carers, are always welcome, and should you require further information please contact Di on 01637 830544, Joan on 01637 831347 or visit our website at crantockmemorycafe.org.uk.

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August 2019

In August 1939 – 80 years ago at the time of writing – Britain was on the brink of war and families all over the country were preparing themselves for the second time in a century to say goodbye to their young men as they got ready for the forthcoming battle.  Preparations on the ‘home front’ were equally important – for the country as a whole, and for communities and individuals whose ways of life were to change forever, and it is this aspect of war-time Britain which we chose to explore in our first August cafe.

David and Margaret opened the afternoon by reading a poem recalling wartime experiences and this really set the scene. Many of our members have vivid memories of these times, or could recall stories from their parents’ generation, and there was great interest in the display which greeted them at the cafe.  Photographs, books and artefacts related to the many aspects of life at the time – evacuation, rationing, civil defence and the many roles taken up by women sparked memories of personal experiences for our older visitors, whilst the ‘youngsters’ amongst us were reminded that it affected us too, with a look at the post-war Britain, and a reminder that rationing continued until 1954!

Our guests also had the chance to tackle a word-search themed around ‘The War Years and Beyond’ as well as a word grid based on the letters of ‘Home Guard’.

Stimulated by the displays, over the next three quarters of an hour many memories were exchanged between our guests: we heard about the number of evacuees who were sent to local villages such as St Dennis and Tresillian, American servicemen based at St Eval, the girl who was evacuated twice because she didn’t like her first billet, and another of our friends who, as an eight year old, was holidaying in a converted bus at Porth when war was declared.  The recollections were so clear it was hard to believe they harked back eighty years! Some were keen to try on the wartime police helmet and there were some telling comments on how much healthier the restrictions of a rationed diet were than our sugar-laden foods of today.

It was soon time for tea and our refreshments kept us in touch with our war-time theme with the inclusion of some items reminiscent of those times – spam sandwiches, economy bacon and egg tart bulked out with breadcrumbs, cheese biscuits and rock buns were all sampled, along with the more ‘luxurious’ cakes and biscuits we’ve all come to expect!  One thing hadn’t changed since the war – a good old cup of tea!

For the last part of the afternoon everyone enjoyed a good ‘sing-song’ of familiar numbers from the past and we shared a laugh as David went through the possible answers to the word grid.  There was a last chance to look at the displays before it was time to ‘clear the decks’ once again.

We look forward to our next meeting on 19^th August at Crantock Village Hall. New members are always welcome, and should you require further information please contact Di on 01637 830544, Joan on 01637 831347 or visit our website at crantockmemorycafe.org.uk.