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Abercorn Nursing Home

Newsletter

Winter 2015 Newsletter

Welcome to the Abercorn Winter Newsletter.

Staff News

There have been a few staff changes since the last the last

Newsletter. George McLaren RMN, RMA has joined us as a

staff nurse and recently has taken up the Deputy Manager’s

post. Heather Hackland RNA has, following a time away with

the NHS, returned to the fold and we are delighted to have

both George and Heather working with our residents and

bringing their experience to bear.

Yassine Houmdi has joined the home as a carer and Ben

Henderson joined on the domestic side. Welcome to you

both we hope you are with us for a long time to come.

Staff Training

As you are aware staff training is at the forefront of our

ethos and we constantly strive to ensure staff are up to date

with best practise.

Staff have been busy recently doing their mandatory training

in COSHH, Food Hygiene, and Challenging Behaviour through

Social-Care TV. They also have been doing training in Dignity

in Care, Adult Support & Protection, Moving and

handling as well as a recent update on fire

training. New Staff are looking to undertake

SVQ and will be enrolled onto the course. We

have five members of staff that require to do so

and another three staff member wishing to go

to the next SVQ level.

Winter

www.abercornnursinghome.co.uk

Winter-Time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed, A frosty, fiery sleepy-head; Blinks but an hour

or two; and then, A blood-red Orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies, At morning in

the dark I rise; And shivering in my

nakedness, By the cold candle, bathe and dress. Close by the jolly fire I sit, To warm my frozen bones a bit; Or with a reindeer-sled, explore. The colder countries

round the door. When to go out, my nurse

doth wrap, Me in my comforter and cap; The cold wind burns my face,

and blows its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are the steps on silver sod; Thick blows my frosty breath abroad; And tree and house, and hill

and lake, Are frosted like a wedding-cake.

Robert Louis Stevenson

1885

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Luminate Project

Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival, is held from 1st-

31st October across Scotland, bringing older people and people

from across the generations together. We come together to

celebrate our creativity as we age, share stories of ageing and

explore what growing older means to us all.

The residents enjoyed this year’s Luminate project by

attending tea dances at The Studio Potterrow. We enjoyed an

afternoon of song and dance by students from Telford College

they transported residents back to the 1940’s with their

costumes and dance. After the show the students chatted with

residents about their wartime experiences. Mrs Lesley

Morisetti also attended an Indian Dance Workshop in

Stockbridge as part of the ongoing events.

50 years and Beyond

We had a trip to Meadowbank Stadium on the 1st October to a tea dance organised by Edinburgh Council. The event was attended by other Care Homes in Edinburgh. There was a band playing 40’s music, hot beverages and cakes were served. Our ladies got up to dance and enjoyed looking around some of the

stalls including Ageing Well and Lothian and Borders Fire

Service

Winter 2015 Newsletter

Appearance on

The

Fountainbridge

Show

As part of the Luminate

month we attended a

tea Dance at The Studio,

Potterrow on 14th of

October and residents

Betty Gill and George

(Joe) McPherson were

interviewed by The

Fountainbridge Shows

roving reporter George.

They were able to say

how much they had

enjoyed the afternoon

especially the cream

tea! It was televised

that night and residents

gathered in the lounge

to watch the repeat

show the following day

with many saying they

would like to attend

next year.

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Harvest Festival and Halloween

Residents enjoyed our Harvest Festival where we reminisced about

our schooldays and the Harvest Festival’s we attended . We sang the

traditional Hymn “We Plough the Fields and Scatter” and enjoyed

an afternoon tea.

Halloween Celebrations

Residents joined me for carving pumpkins in preparation for

Halloween, on the day we enjoyed dooking for apples (with a fork)

the ladies didn’t wish to spoil their hair ,Mrs Dorothy Ross

successfully spiked an apple! We all enjoyed a “spooky” quiz and

watched a DVD of the Wizard of Oz

Winter 2015 Newsletter

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Entertainment in the Home

Our residents have enjoyed a number

of acts coming into the home including

Margo Butterfly Music, Mark Smith on

guitar and an energetic workshop with

Maria Music for Health. Our volunteer

Bill Robertson continues to visit and

entertain our residents with a

selection of tunes and songs on the

keyboard.

Trip to Living Memory Association

We had a trip to the Living Memory Association at Ocean

Terminal. It’s a great place for reminiscing. The volunteers were

chatting to our residents and shared memories with Mr George

McPherson (Joe) about the docks and his time as a skipper on a

fishing ship.

Mr George McPherson and Mr

Ian Millar studying photos of

yesteryear

Residents from both Abercorn

and Viewpark enjoyed the joint

venture to the Ocean Terminal

to visit the Living Memory

Association followed by coffee

and cake .

Winter 2015 Newsletter

Living Memory

Association

Formed in 1984, The Living Memory

Association has worked all around Edinburgh in

residential homes, community centres, lunch clubs, schools,

colleges, church groups and hospitals, talking to people about their lives

and experiences.

From these memories, and from other materials, we have produced books, magazines, displays and

exhibitions. We now have a photographic archive

and have also been

involved in video-making and drama projects.

In February 2008 the LMA received a Big Lottery

Fund grant for our "Memory Bank" project.

This is a city wide project involving local people in a variety of community

history projects. We also receive a grant from City of Edinburgh Council as

well as support from Lloyds TSB Foundation for

Scotland and The Robertson Trust for our

training project.

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Remembrance Day 2015

Residents gathered in the dining room to

make poppies for Remembrance Day, after we

observed the two minute silence we had tea in

the dining room to share memories of the war

and sang along to Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields

Trip to The National Gallery

Mr George McPherson and Mr George

Murray enjoyed a trip to The National

Gallery of Scotland and enjoyed an

afternoon admiring the paintings

followed by afternoon tea.

Fun and Games

Residents Miss Betty Gill, Mrs Lesley

Morisetti , Mr George Murray and

Mrs Gladys Falconer all enjoyed an

afternoon in the dining room playing

Dominoes and Snakes and

Ladders ,all the ladies and gent each

won at least one game of Dominoes

Winter 2015 Newsletter

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During the year we have continued to have visits from Marian

from Cainine Concern Scotland which incorporates

“Therapet” along with Papillion's Cai and Sophie who is

currently in training .Many of our residents love their visit on

a Wednesday as can be seen in our picture’s with Mr Tom

Dalgleish and Mrs Jane Welsh.

Trip to Dobbies

On the 24th November we joined fellow residents from

Viewpark Nursing Home for one of our visits to Dobbies

Garden Centre at Lasswade . Mrs Gladys Falconer said “it had

been lovely” and she shared memories of visits to Dobbies

with husband Andrew. Dobbies was in full swing for Christmas

and one of Santa's elves took time out of her busy day to talk

to Mrs Gladys Falconer much to her amusement . We finished

off the day with a cream tea in the conservatory.

Winter 2015 Newsletter

PAPILLION FACTS

The Papillion is also

called the continental spaniel, it derives it’s

name from it’s characteristic butterfly like ears ,as Papillion is

of course French for “butterfly”. The

Papillion is known to be very

sociable ,affectionate

and great companion dogs.

Dobbies Lasswade

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Winter 2015 Newsletter

Christmas Lunch

Mrs Myra Dalgleish

Spiced Mulled Wine

Ingredients;

1/2 bottle red wine

1 cinnamon stick

2 star anise

2 cloves

1 orange (sliced)

1 lemon (sliced)

50g/13/4oz brown sugar

Preparation Method;

Place all of the ingredients into a

saucepan and simmer gently for 6-8 minutes

without boiling Alternatively place

ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low

until warm (1-2 hours).

Then serve into

heatproof glasses.

Recipe: Ainsley Harriott

Christmas Lunch at Elginhaugh Farm

Residents enjoyed outing’s to Elginhaugh Farm (near

Dobbies) for a Turkey and Tinsel lunch on the 8th and 15th of

December. Residents not only enjoyed Christmas Lunch but a

game of bingo and entertainment including a singsong and

quiz .

Mr Ian Millar and support worker Heather enjoying the Turkey

and Tinsel Lunch and Mrs Lesley Morisetti with a dish of

delicious profiterole’s. Mrs Lesley Morisetti said the day had

been “fantastic and she was stuffed”.

Residents gathered in the Front Lounge to enjoy the visit

from Lakeland Productions who performed this years

Pantomime of “Hansel and Gretel” .Residents were able to

join in the “it’s behind you” much to their amusement and

ripples of laughter.

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Winter 2015 Newsletter

Mrs Mary Hoggan.

Mrs Ann Forbes

Christmas Party

We continued the Festive Fun with our yearly party on the 18th

of December ,we enjoyed a drink to keep out the chill and some

lovely nibbles prepared by our chef John. Residents sang Carols

and we had a special visit from Santa who gave each resident a

gift . Santa joined Mr Joe McPherson

in the garden before heading into the

warm to surprise Mrs Jean McMillan

Mr Walter Taylor and Heather Mr Ian Millar and Santa

Mrs. Lesley Morisetti

getting her present from

Santa with Mrs Thora

S t e p h e n i n t h e

b a c k g r o u n d . T h e

residents said it had

been a lovely afternoon

and Santa returned to

prepare for Christmas

Day

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Winter 2015 Newsletter

Let Every Day Be

Christmas

Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for

loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like

bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do

yourself.

Norman W. Brooks

Mr Walter Taylor and

Miss Mary McLean

Mrs Jean McMillan

Christmas Entertainment

During the month of December Residents were able to enjoy a

variety of entertainers who came to the Home including Margot

Butterfly Music, Mark Smith on guitar and a favourite at

Christmas ,Bruce Davies from Music in Hospitals who visited on the

21st of December.

Bruce performing his

Christmas show to

residents who Mrs

Janet Owen said was a

“marvellous singer”.

Miss Betty Gill said “I

thoroughly enjoyed

that”

Christmas Day

Many Residents gathered in the dining room for the big day and

enjoyed a three course lunch prepared by chef John . After lunch

residents relaxed in the lounges for a well deserved rest and to

watch the Queens speech

We ended December when Residents went to Brunton Theatre on

the 29th to see the Pantomime “Cinderella”

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Winter 2015 Newsletter

The Meadows Edinburgh

The Meadows in Edinburgh is a large public

park to the South of the City. It consists largely of

open grassland crossed by tree lined paths, it also has children’s playgrounds , a

croquet club, tennis courts and sports pitches. To the

south-west it becomes Bruntsfield Links which is home to the famous pitch and putt golf course which

is free to use. It is a well known meeting area where

many enjoy picnics, barbeques and walk their

dog.

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Residents Story

Every newsletter we dedicate a age to a resident who is willing

to tell a story about any aspect of their life. This story is told

by Betty Gill

Story By Betty

I was born in Swine ,Yorkshire in 1935, I was one of four but

sadly my three brothers Jimmy ,Jackie and Harold were killed

during World War Two .

After leaving school I went into catering which I really enjoyed

and worked my way up to doing Silver Service , I also became a

wine connoisseur . I have worked in Hotels in Newcastle before

coming to live in Edinburgh. I was employed for many years in

the Carlton Hotel Edinburgh and the Adelphi in Cockburn

Street . During my working life I met and became a good friend

of Margaret and she and her family took me under their wing.

I had flats in Pipe Street Portobello, Marchmont and finally

Panmure Place near the Meadows. This was a very happy time

for me I had my little Daschund dog Angus and we frequently

went for walks in the Meadows. My family and friends knew I

was a big fan of Marks and Spencer and I was a well known face

in the branch on Princes Street.

I loved Festival time in Edinburgh and would use the time to

stroll about especially in Princess Street gardens to see all the

visitors and entertainers. I also joined a walking group called

‘Ageing Well’ which I loved , I had many friends and we often

took the bus further afield to perhaps North Berwick ending our

walk with some pub grub and as I say a “sherbet” before

returning home.

I am at my happiest when I am out walking as I like to keep fit

and I will walk whatever the weather , I often tell the staff ‘my

skins waterproof’. I enjoy a walk along Portobello Promenade

and having a cup of tea in the church at Bellfield Street I don’t

eat cake but enjoy a kit-kat and a chat with the volunteers

there. I enjoy the Tuesday afternoon walking club in Abercorn

and meeting the ladies from Viewpark and Spring Gardens in the

park. I love the ice cream from Corollas van near the

Promenade- its delicious. As long as I can get out and about

walking then I am happy.

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Winter 2015 Newsletter

Letter From Diane

Dear Relatives,

As we look forward to 2016 our next Focus Group will be to discuss any activities and outings that residents would like to participate in, in the coming year. We are lucky to stay in an area where we have easy access to Portobello Promenade and Abercorn Park and once the weather improves we will recommence our Tuesday Walking Group which very often ends with an ice cream cone , a very

welcome treat. We plan to continue our visits to the Living Memory Centre based in Ocean Terminal, Dobbie’s and I will be taking a group of residents to The Brunton Theatre to see “We’ll Meet Again” in March. I conduct Devotions on a Tuesday morning and this continues to be well received by residents who enjoy the readings and choice of Hymns. I hope to introduce a morning of gentle exercise to compliment

our music with movement sessions .Theme weeks and Afternoon Tea’s will continue and as always I welcome any suggestions

or ideas you may have.

Warm Regards

Diane Henderson

Activities Coordinator

We would like to wish everyone a Happy New

Year and all the best for 2016.

Dates for Diary

25th January Burns Supper in Abercorn

8th –10th February Chinese New Year

17th February Residents meeting chaired by

Independent Advocate Mrs Kate Dewar

2nd March Relatives Meeting

24th March Outing to the Brunton Theatre to see

“We’ll Meet Again”

Susan Hill and Diane Henderson

Care Home Manager & Activities Co-Ordinator