Winter 2024
Welcome to the Winter issue of The Sydmar Sun, a look back at all the news from Sydmar Lodge. Residents have had a busy and fun few months, and in this issue you will read reports and see photos of the residents engaging in a variety of activities. Sit back, put your feet up, have your cup of tea at hand and enjoy this issue of The Sydmar Sun.
Residents enjoyed a packed festive period for Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Succos (Tabernacles), Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah and Shemini Atzeres with all the residents participating in the religious and symbolic festivities and observances as well as Synagogue services on all the High Holy Days.
Apples were dipped in honey, Kapparos charity was symbolically circled above the heads, lulav and esrog (the four species) was shaken, the Sukkah was dwelled in and many of the men donned a tallis (prayer shawl).
Sydmar Residents participated in baking sweet honey cakes for Rosh Hashanah. The cakes were served throughout Yom Tov, and also included in the Honey Cake Taste-Off. Baking takes place every Wednesday afternoon, with relatives encouraged to join in with loved ones in this fun activity.
Sixteen Sydmar Residents celebrated National Tequila Day with the classic salt-tequila-lime shots, earlier this year using el Jimador Tequila Reposado. There are some surprising health benefits of tequila:
1 Tequila can help your metabolism
Tequila has a particular kind of sugar in it called agavins, which possess some weight-loss properties. The special molecular structure of agavins doesn’t raise the blood sugar, meaning that many of the calories pass through the system unused, unlike other alcohol sugars, helping dissolve fats and stimulate the metabolism.
2 Helps with Digestion
Tequila helps stimulate your metabolism and it also helps with your digestion. Many communities have a shot of tequila before or after a meal to soothe and assist digestion.
3 Tequila is a Probiotic
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that are naturally occurring in the intestines. Responsible for our immune system and keeping a healthy balance in our bodies. Fructans, from which tequila is derived from, can help these good bacteria flourish.
4 Tequila may help fight osteoporosis
Agavins in tequila have been linked in several studies that help aid the body absorb calcium, which can be an option for preventing fragile or brittle bones.
5 Tequila may lower the chances of Dementia
In a BBC report, studies show a link between moderate alcohol drinkers and lower incidence of dementia later in life. The study also showed a correlation between people drinking too much alcohol and having a higher chance of dementia onset.
6 It doesn’t give you a hangover
The decent, 100% agave tequila won’t give you a hangover, whereas the cheaper brands will be full of other sugars that will most likely give you a hangover.
A massive thank you to Caroline Field (Judy and Stuart Bromley’s daughter) who volunteers as Sydmar’s resident bingo caller. Along with regular helpers Emel (Nesrin’s daughter), Hazel (Phyllis’ daughter), popular Bingo sessions happen every Monday afternoon with a packed house trying to get a full house, with the winners being rewarded with tasty chocolate treats.
Thanks also to carer Saroj who steps in whenever Caroline cannot attend.
Sydmar Residents enjoyed a grand Honey Cake Tasting on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, comparing seven different honey cakes and voting on their favourite based on smell, appearance and taste. The honey cakes tasted included Sharons Bakery - Edgware, Just Baked - Borehamwood, Indigs Bakery, Stamford Hill, Parkway Patisserie - Finchley, La Brioche - Stanmore, Achva - Tel Aviv, Israel and the winner… the Sydmar Lodge residents' bakery.
Two different ukulele groups have entertained the residents with a varied repertoire of songs. The groups come from u3a, the University of the Third Age, a UK-wide movement of locally-run groups of mainly retired members of the community providing a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun, exploring new ideas, skills and activities together. The two u3a ensembles were from Harrow Ukulele Group and the Fun Strummers ukulele group from Northwood and created so much fun and laughter with their music, engaging with all the residents who attended.
Sreminiscence about the world’s most famous chocolate producer Cadbury’s before sampling a range of chocolate, some of which were repackaged in authentic wrapping from yesteryear, along with historical and tasting notes.
Sydmar Residents celebrated Don't Step on a Bee Day with interesting facts about the importance of bees and the bee population in UK, before trying a range of food produce made with honey, including honey cake, Ricola Swiss Alpine Herb Sweets, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey, honeycomb and… honey (English Blossom and Edgware local honey). It must be noted that this special day must not bee (sic) confused with Don't Step on a Bidet.
Honey is a natural sweetener that's made from plant nectar by honeybees. Honey has many potential health benefits These include being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, wound healing, cough relieving, sleep-assisting and diabetes management.
Sydmar Residents celebrated The Real Bread Campaign’s Sourdough September by finding out all about sourdough. They tried three different sourdough from Grodz Edgware: wholemeal, olive and raisin and walnut. Sourdough is a bread that's leavened by a fermented starter instead of commercial yeast. The starter is a mixture of flour and water that contains wild yeast and bacteria, which break down starches in the dough during fermentation. This process produces carbon dioxide and acids that cause the dough to rise, and give sourdough its distinctive tangy flavor and chewy texture.
Here are some more things to know about sourdough:
Health - Sourdough is considered healthier than supermarket breads because the long fermentation and naturally occurring acids break down gluten, making it easier to digest.
History - Sourdough is the oldest known method of making bread and is practiced in almost every country.
Starter - You can make your own sourdough starter with flour and water, and it should be ready for baking after 3–5 days.
Bacteria - The bacteria in sourdough are considered "good" bacteria, similar to those used in cheese, yogurt and sauerkraut.
Each month, a Sydmar Lodge member of staff is selected as Employee of the Month. Their photo is displayed on the board in the Reception area and the individual receives a certificate and a £25.00 cash reward. Employees are rewarded for their work ethic, their attendance record and how they have shown to go above and beyond in their job role.
Remember, you can nominate a staff member for Employee of the Month.
Whilst we have had many good relationships with local schools, more recently we have added Menorah Foundation School to this list. The school is just down the road in Burnt Oak and we now receive regular visits from the children, especially around the times of Jewish festivals, and also have visited the school, most recently for their end of year Music Concert which was thoroughly enjoyed by all the residents who attended.
Residents went on an outing to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to see the highly acclaimed production of Fiddler on the Roof. Every theatre performance is unique, but this is especially the case at the Open Air Theatre where the stage, lawn and entire auditorium are uncovered. On average, 94% of performances are completed each season. However, very sadly, the torrential rain meant that the show had to be abandoned. But the residents still had a fun and memorable time, and even got a private rendition of “If I Were a Rich Man” from actor Ralph Bogard who was playing the lead role of Tevye, whilst they enjoyed a warming cup of tea and coffee accompanied by a selection of cakes. As they say “Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as... a fiddler on the roof.”
Sydmar Residents celebrated Mexico's Independence Day finding out about the momentous day when priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called on Mexicans to rise up against the colonial government of Spain on 16th September 1810. Father Hidalgo gave his famous ‘grito’ battle cry in the town of Dolores, and his powerful speech rallied the people behind the movement. But this was only the beginning of the struggle for freedom, as Mexico wouldn’t gain full independence from Spain until 1821. Residents enjoyed nachos, salsa, guacamole, jalapeños and Mexican mojito cocktails. Residents also tasted Padrón peppers. These small, finger-sized peppers were brought to Spain from Mexico by returning conquistadores and first cultivated in a Galician monastery, where they became known as Pimientos de Padrón. It was lovely seeing the residents engaging with the activity and tasting food that they had never tried before, whilst listening to Mariachi music and learning facts about Mexican culture and Mexican food.
Sydmar Residents participated in a commemoration on the 7th October anniversary remembering those killed in the terror attack and those still held hostage for over a year with prayers, readings, poetry and music. Ruby read a special prayer for the hostages and Lilian Z, who until recently resided in Israel, lit the memorial candle. The ceremony culminated in the communal singing of Hatikvah "The Hope", the Israeli National Anthem.
All the Sydmar Residents had their flu and COVID vaccinations to cover the winter months. The rollout of COVID and flu vaccines for care home residents started on 3rd October 2024, with Sydmar Residents receiving their jabs on 14th October, as the NHS drive to protect against a ‘tripledemic’ of viruses this winter continued. Flu season usually peak in December and Januar arting adult vaccina during the colder
Sydmar Residents were enthralled as Sydmar Lodge staff celebrated the Hindu festival of Navratri which symbolises the triumph of good over evil. The staff, in their beautiful traditional dresses, performed Garba, a form of Gujarati dance which originates from the state of Gujarat, India. Garba is a ritualistic and devotional dance that honours and celebrates the feminine form of divinity. Garba is a joyful style of dance, layered with symbolism of the feminine divine and cyclical nature of life, and is based on a circular pattern, characterized by a sweeping action from side to side. Thank you to Hemal, Krishna, Saroj, Brijal, Archna and Priyanka.
Sydmar Lodge has a wishlist for residents to choose anything extraordinary that they would like to do, whether something new or something they used to do.
Man
Ver
1. Drive a Ferrari/Lamborghini/ sports car
2. Hot air ballooning.
3. Go quad biking.
4. Water-skiing.
5. Attend the horse-racing
6. Roller coaster ride
7. Drive faster than 100 mph with the windows down
8. Safari tour
9. Walk a mile/ take part in charity run
10. Swimming
11. Bungee jumping
12. Parachuting
13. Learn to surf
14. Skiing
15. See a classical music concert
16. Ice-skating
17. Ride a horse/ donkey
18. Standing on the summit of Mount Everest
19. Drive a car
20. Skipping
21. Make a life video
22. Fly a kite
23. Fly a plane
24. Swim with dolphins
25. Take part in an arm wrestle
26. Go camping.
27. Visit an art gallery (please specify if you have a preference)
28. Go to… Scotland/ Wales/ Ireland
29. Visit these Attractions: Golden Gate Bridge, the Coliseum in Rome, Statue of Liberty, The Cheops pyramids, Stonehenge, Grand Canyon, Iguazu Falls, Milford Sound, Cliffs of Moher, Great Wall, Angel Falls, Ayers Rock, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, London landmark (Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, The Riz, The Shard, The London Eye etc.)
30. See these animals: tiger, eagle, gorilla, elephant, lion, crocodile, rhino, grizzly bear, panda, leopard (please circle your choice/s)
31. Watch Northern Lights
32. Say I love you from the bottom of your heart
33. Sleep with a partner under the stars
34. Be the best you can be
35. Lying on the beach with 2 cocktails, watching the sunset
36. Dancing in the rain
37. Play air guitar
38. Go clubbing
39. Kiss a foreigner
40. Get a piercing
41. Drink so much that you can’t remember anything the next day
42. Sing your favourite song in pubic
43. Get a makeover
44. See the 10 best movies of all time
45. Try exotic cuisine (Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, African, South American, French etc.) - please state your choice/s
46. Go to shul
47. Go fishing
48. Surprise yourself and others
49. Go to the Jewish Museum
50. Visit The Ritz Hotel
51. Watch a game of your favourite sporting team live
52. Skinny dipping
53. Participate in a flash mob
54. Get a Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram account
55. Make a person laugh so much that they have to howl with laughter
56. Learn to play the piano
57. Cut the lawn
58. Shoot with a gun
59. Roller-skating
60. Play a sport… tennis/ football/ golf etc. (please state which sport?)
61. Visit the property where you lived (perhaps when you were born?)
62. Visit the shul that you were married in
63. Put in a taxi and tell the taxi driver: “Follow that car!”
64. Find out something interesting about ancestors
65. Write a book
66. Give a talk to 100 people
67. Learn another language
68. Plant a tree
69. Meditation
70. Find your mission / passion in life
71. Send a message in a bottle
72. Send a message on a balloon
73. Forgive someone
74. Find fulfilment
75. Get a job
76. Be yourself
77. Gamble £10 - £100 in the casino
78. Have enough money to do all the things on this list
79. Go to the beach
80. Go to the place you love
81. Play blackjack
82. Put £10 on black in roulette
83. Put £10 on red in roulette
84. Have a webcam chat
85. Learn CPR (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation)
86. Invite a poor person to a warm meal
87. Build a well in Africa
88. Help build a school in a developing country
89. Combat racism through a separate project / club
90. Attend Question Time.
91. Visit Parliament
92. Visit The House of Lords
93. See the sunrise over London
94. See the sunset over London
95. Have a glass of quality champagne
96. Eat at London’s top kosher restaurant (please state your choice/s?)
97. Eat at a Michelin starred restaurant
98. Zorbing
99. See a football match at Wembley/ cricket at Lords/ tennis at Wimbledon/ rugby at Twickenham
100. Your own choice…
1st - 31st January 2025 - Veganuary
3rd January - Festival of Sleep Day
6th January - National Shortbread Da
12th January - Kiss a Ginger Day
19th January - National Popcorn Day
21st January - National Hug Day
25th January - Burns Night
27th January - Holocaust Memorial Day
28th January - National Kazoo Day
29th January - Chinese New Year
5th February - World Nutella Day
14th February - Valentine’s Day
15th - 23rd February - Real Bread Week
1st March - St David’s Day
3rd - 9th March - British Pie Week
6th March - World Book Day
8th March - International Women’s Day
10th - 16th March - Nutrition and Hydration Week 14th March - World Sleep Day
17th March - St Patrick’s Day
20th March - International Day of Happiness
Tu B’Shvat
- 12th - 13th February
Purim
- 13th - 14th March
Pesach (Passover)
- evening of 12th to nightfall on 20th April
Shavuos (Pentecost) Pesach 2024
- evening of 1st to nightfall 3rd June
Every year, we are required to carry out a Quality Assurance Survey involving all Stakeholders. Many of you will have received the Friends, Relatives and Advocates Survey. It allows us to evaluate and address any areas you think we may be going wrong, and celebrate and share areas you feel that we are getting right (hopefully more the latter!).
One thing always comes up with regards to plans for the future, and relatives being kept informed about things going on at Sydmar Lodge. We regularly post on Facebook with photos and videos of activities and events taking place so that you can hopefully see your loved ones engaging in the wide-ranging activities. We also use Facebook for some other announcements, as well as this being communicated via email. And of course this publication gives a summary of things that have happened in the previous few months as well as providing some information of anything planned in the future. Saying that, there are no major plans apart from the general upkeep and improvements of the building, so often we are just carrying on as we always do, caring for and supporting your loved ones so that they feel happy and safe, at home at Sydmar Lodge.
If you haven’t already, be sure to join our Private Facebook Group where you can see all the latest news, photos and videos.
Also add ‘Sydmar Residents’ as a friend on Facebook. Let me know if you need any issue.
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We now look for annual relatives get-tog eek, bringing light to Sydmar ts. I wish the residents, relativ 2025.