Choice from Top to Toe
Residents in Corton House now have a choice of two visiting hairdressers and three visiting chiropodists - details of which can be found in our new Hair & Foot Care leaflet (pictured below) which has been distributed to all residents
Collaborative Artwork
Recently, some residents visited Town Close School for a wonderful afternoon of fun and collaborative crafting with the children. The result was this beautiful artwork which, once finished, was brought into Corton House so that Mary and Norma could see the fruits of their labour! A big thank you to Joanna for bringing it in.
From the Activities & Wellbeing Coordinator
We have certainly had some challenges at Corton House as the second phase of the refurbishment started. As always both staff and residents took it in their stride, and we carried on making the best of things!
We were delighted on St. David’s Day to see Gareth – one of our Board of Trustees; the Deputy Lord Major of Norwich, Cllr Caroline Ackroyd; and the President of the Norwich Welsh Society David Charles, who all came along with delicious Welsh cakes and gave an interesting talk on Wales and St. David. The Myers Lounge was awash with daffodils – such a happy flower and occasion!
There have been lots of young people usual
coming into Corton House - our volunteers from the Norwich and Notre Dame School, and also students from City College. They have been making planters and bird boxes which they are donating to our garden They came along to ask what we wanted in the planters and then they are hoping to work with some of our green-fingered residents to plant later in the month.
The residents were thrilled to chat to some young primary school children from Town Close School who popped in to chat about school life – within minutes of them arriving there was much chatter and laughter – joyful
Several residents have received letters
from students at Framlingham High School and have written back.
These youngsters are often wise beyond their years; one sent a card with wonderful words “Start each day with a grateful heart” which we shared with a very busy seated exercise group this Saturday morning It was a glorious morning and we certainly all felt grateful as we stretched, sang and laughed!
Mel - who always thinks of new games - introduced Donkey Drive and some old favourites like Dominoes and Scrabble. She also managed to squeeze the knitting group in, and residents are continuing with various items for the upcoming fete and Norfolk & Norwich Hospital’s Neonatal Unit
Rhonwen and the Flower Arranging group produced some lovely displays ready for Mothering Sunday Thank you to Mel, Rhonwen and all the staff who support all the activities and events at Corton House.
- MARIA
From the Scheme Manager
Our Monday afternoons here in Brakendon Close are becoming so popular that more and more of our tenants are reporting feeling healthier and steadier on their feet This improvement in gait and wellbeing is thanks to EPIC Norfolk’s Steven and Tom. We also thank Age UK Norwich for their nutritional and hydration advice. We are so fortunate to be able to continue until the end of June, thanks to further funding from Age UK!
We have so much more to look forward to in the coming weeks Another mouthwatering taste test, this time it’s...
Dates for your DiaryBrakendon Close
MARCH:
Thursday 21st - Singalong with Les & Barbara, 1:45pm for 2pm start. (£3) *
Tuesday 26th - Bangers & Scrumpy Taste Test, 1pm (£4) *
Friday 29th - Good Friday Devotional Service with Holy Communion and Hot Cross Buns, 11am.
Saturday 30th - Coffee & Cake with Sue, from 2pm. (£1)
Sunday 31st - Easter Sunday Songs of Praise, 2:30pm.
APRIL:
Friday 12th - Fish and Chip Lunch, 12:30pm
Please place your order and pay in advance with Lorraine
Saturday 13th - Coffee & Cake with Sue, from 2pm, (£1)
Tuesday 16th - Quiz with Les & Barbara, 1:45pm. (£3) *
Thursday 25th - Prize Bingo, 2pm. (£4) *
* Please sign up for these events outside the Blake Lounge
Bangers and Scrumpy! We aim to find the best bangers out there, as rated by our tenants A singalong and quiz are in the offing, organised and hosted by our tenants, Les and Barbara, a fish and chip lunch and prize bingo are also coming soon. Plenty of dates for your diaries, as you can see below!
As Easter approaches, we have noticed more sunshine, a rise in temperatures and colourful flowers popping up! Is there a snow bomb coming as some weather reports suggest? We certainly hope not! Have a lovely Easter and enjoy cracking open those eggs!
Dates for your DiaryCorton House
MARCH:
Wednesday 20th - Bingo, 10:30am
Friday 22nd - Peter & Susan Piper, 3pm,
Saturday 23rd - Football: England v Brazil, 7pm
Monday 25th - Nick Stephenson, 11:15am
Tuesday 26th - Football: England vs Belgium, 7:45pm
Thursday 28th - Maundy Service with Rev. Rhonwen, starting with coffee at 10:30am
Sunday 31st - Easter Sunday Service followed by Communion, starting with coffee at 10:30am
APRIL:
Monday 1st April - Football: Norwich City v Leicester City, 12:30pm
Saturday 13th - Gary Bland, West End Singer, 11am
Tuesday 23rd - Singer Kyle, 3pm
Wednesday 24th - Ukulele Band 3pm
Please note, all events to be held in the Myers Lounge unless otherwise stated
- LORRAINE
Just a Thought...
Buttons. What springs to mind when you see this word?
“Buttons”, the cheeky page-boy in the pantomime “Cinderella”? Or, for a certain senior generation of ladies, the fiddly rubber buttons on “Liberty Bodices” – a sort of fleecy extra vest layer for winter months. Or, for even more senior folk, the tricky row of buttons down the outer side of your winter gaiters (right) – needing a button hook and involving a lot of bending over.
Recently, I came across a magazine item about “Dorset hand-made buttons” - absolutely fascinating. Before the mid 1800’s all buttons were hand made from bone, wood, shells, stones and yarn. This latter industry starting in 1622 –the notion coming from France and Belgium.
Dorset, being a farming county, had plenty of wool from the local flocks of sheep, being wound round the solid base Various patterns emerged with fanciful names – the Dorset “Crosswheel” (pictured above) being a favourite.
Nowadays, hooks and eyes, zips, dear old elastic, and Velcro – an offshoot from the development of Space Travel, have taken over. But, many of us remember with pleasure, the fun of sifting through our Mother or Grandmothers’ “Button Box” – recalling party dresses or the rigidity of school uniform. - ANON
Did You Know?
The connection between Space Travel and sewing goes beyond Velcro! People whose talents are normally sewing and crafting are in demand for making thermal blankets for satellites in a UK space lab.
Multi-layer insulation (MLI) is thermal insulation used to protect satellites and space instruments – including the International Space Station and Hubble Space Telescopeagainst extremes of temperature.
Making the insulation requires practical skills, nimble fingers and the ability to think threedimensionally The lab had tried recruiting engineers for the role, however soon realised they needed people with the transferable skills and experience found in many crafts! Now, many of their workers have backgrounds in the likes of card making, crochet and baking… Does anyone from Knit and Natter fancy a new challenge?!
Review: Norwich Works
Those who may have worked, (or known people who worked) at Edwards and Holmes’ Esdelle Works; Boulton & Paul’s Riverside Works; or Mackintosh-Caley’s Chapelfield Works between 1948 and 1961 will find Norwich Castle Museum’s outgoing “Norwich Works” exhibition of husband and wife Walter and Rita Nurnberg’s industrial photography of particular interest But, there is plenty for keen photographers or even the casual viewer to enjoy!
The photographs – which owe as much to Rita’s skillful processing techniques as they do to Walter’s composition and dramatic lighting – are strikingly beautiful, Bauhaus-eque images of people, factories and equipment. The exhibition closes on 14th April so if you’d like to visit – be quick!
Community Events
Keep in touch with the local Community by attending one of these events in March and April:
Until Sunday 14th April - Norwich Works: The Industrial Photography of Walter and Rita Nurnberg – at Norwich Castle Museum See review
Tuesday 2nd April - Corton House Community Café, The Jubilee Centre, Lakenham Our monthly Community Café, 1-3pm. Free hot meal, beverages and snacks plus a chance to meet new people No booking required Free transport available with Norwich Door to Door, call 01603 776735 to book
Saturday 13th - Sunday 21st April
Norfolk Makers Festival, The Forum, Norwich. Norfolk's celebration of creativity is back. Each day is different, with free tasters and exhibitions from 10am to 4pm, plus workshops and talks
Wednesday 17th April – u3a
Norwich Monthly Talk: The Maritime History of the Glaven Ports (Blakeney, Cley, Wiveton) 1:30 for 2pm, The Assembly House Free to attend, request a u3a card from Maria or Lorraine.
Thursday 18th April - Julian’s Medieval Norwich – Walking Tour. 10am-12pm Exploring late 14th and early 15th century Norwich including a visit to St Julian’s Church and refreshments. £12pp, call Paul Dickson on 07801103737 to book.
