December 2018 Extra

Our final café for the year was on December 17^th and with Christmas Day so close, there was, of course, a festive theme!

Our guests arrived to find the tables seasonally decorated, a ‘Sparkle’ magazine to peruse and a Christmas-themed puzzle ready for them to tackle. We were then entertained by our friends ‘Cameo’ from St Columb Minor, who had toes tapping and smiles on faces with their selection of Christmas songs and readings, before a festive feast was served with sandwiches, delicious cakes and meringues, homemade mince pies and, of course, Christmas crackers!

After tea, Richard and Joan introduced family members who were visiting from Australia. First son-in-law Dougie demonstrated his creative skills with balloons before giving everyone the opportunity to make a ‘balloon dog’. This was quite challenging but after a few pops and bangs, a lot of laughter and much support from our tutor most of us succeeded, although there were some very strange creatures to show for our efforts!

Next we met the family’s two delightful granddaughters and their friend who entertained us with a song and dance to music from ‘Mama Mia’. It was lovely to have some young visitors and the talented trio followed up with a beautifully performed song which had us all mesmerised.

To round the afternoon off there was a chance to join in with some favourite carols before it was time to give everyone a small gift and card from the café as they set off for home.

It was a most enjoyable end to an action-packed year for the Memory Café and we look forward to meeting up again for our first café of 2019 on Monday 7th January at Crantock Village Hall from 2pm – 4pm. New guests 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

December 2018

December 3^rd saw the Memory Café beginning to ‘warm up’ for the festive season.

The tables were dressed with pots of red berries and ivy, whilst the displays took everyone back to Christmases long past, with toys and games from the early twentieth century through to the 1950s and up to the 1980s.

The theme continued in our word-search and an ‘A-Z’ of games and toys, and most of our guests were soon puzzling over these, whilst others brought in their own contributions to share on the display. We were thrilled to see some early tin toys and a 1920s Hornby train set, a collection of well-loved games, a lovely wooden Noah’s Ark and much more!

Many memories were stirred by the selection of dolls, a 1950s dolls’ house, toy cars and garage, farm animals and a farm, building bricks and there was even a rocking horse!

There was plenty of time for our guests to have a good look and reminisce about toys they had in their childhood, before David distributed a light-hearted quiz based around our theme. Background music of favourite children’s song from the past added to the atmosphere and there was plenty of chatter and laughter all round as almost everyone was on their feet having a closer look.

It seemed no time at all before a lovely afternoon tea was served, and David ran through the answers to the quiz before introducing our visiting entertainers the ‘Perran Rebells’. The two ladies brought along a selection of handbells which were distributed around the tables. With the minimum of instruction they had everyone playing and singing a selection of Christmas carols, with considerable success!  It was great fun and a good way to begin our celebrations for the festive season, which will continue when we meet up again in two weeks time.

Thanks were given to our visitors as well as to all our guests who took the trouble to venture into their attics and cupboards to rediscover their wonderful old playthings.

We are looking forward to meeting up again for our next café on Monday 17^th December at Crantock Village Hall from 2–4pm. Anyone who has a degree of memory loss, 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

November 2018 Extra

At our memory café we always try to combine familiar activities which we know our guests enjoy with something new and interesting to capture the imagination or think about!

For our mid-November café, our visitors had time to settle in and chat, and to have a look at the latest ‘Sparkle’ magazine and accompanying quiz sponsored by the Bowgie Inn, or to puzzle out an ever-popular word-search based around ‘Local Birds’ (of the feathered variety!)

Our guest speaker for the afternoon was well-known wildlife photographer David Chapman and we were delighted to learn that he was to give an illustrated talk entitled ‘Wild About Cornwall.’ David looked resplendent in his hand-knitted ‘pheasant’ tank-top which had us all smiling from the start.

In less than an hour, and with the aid of his superb photographs he took us on a journey around the Cornish coast and moors and through the changing seasons, exploring birds, animals, insects, flowers and glorious scenery. David’s illustrated talk was both enjoyable and informative and gave everyone the chance to look at wildlife through the eyes of an expert and to appreciate the beautiful part of the country we are lucky to live in.

The time passed quickly, and everyone was soon looking forward to the second very familiar part of the afternoon – tea and cakes! As usual there was a delicious selection of refreshments and everyone tucked in. There was just time to have a closer look at some of David Chapman’s wonderful books and cards before we settled down to a game of ‘Bird Bingo,’ which seemed most appropriate as part of our wildlife-themed café.

Richard gave us the answers to the ‘Sparkle’ quiz and then the session drew to a close.

We look forward to meeting up again for our next café on Monday 3^rd December at Crantock Village Hall from 2pm – 4pm. New guests 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