Daily festivities in care home’s activity advent calendar

AN ADVENT calendar of festive activities is seeing Blyth care home residents enjoying a new Christmas-themed event every day of December.

Pantomimes, choir singing, mince pie baking, Christmas movies, festive entertainers and more are lined up for residents at The Oaks Care Home, on Durban Street.

The month of festivities started a day early, when the home celebrated St Andrew’s Day for Scottish resident Elsie Scattergood, at the end of November.

The Donna Kimberley School of Highland Dance performed at the home, while residents enjoyed a dram of scotch whisky and a taste of deep-fried mars bar.

Elsie said: “It was so lovely to celebrate St Andrew’s day. The dancers were wonderful.

“You can’t beat a single malt when the dark nights come in. I’ve never had a deep-fried mars bar before, so a little taste was just enough.”

The following day, the Northeast Producers Travelling Theatre Company performed classic musical Oliver! at the home for residents, visitors and staff.

The Bede Academy Choir will be visiting the care home twice throughout December to sing carols and there will be various entertainers performing classic Christmas songs.

On Monday, 9^th and 23^rd December, the home will be hosting afternoon tea, coffee and Christmas cake events from 3:30pm – with all welcome to attend.

On Friday, 20^th December, the home is also opening its doors to visitors for a Christmas cocktail party, which starts at 3pm.

Ann Mielnik, home manager at The Oaks Care Home, said: “We were more than happy to kick off the festive celebrations early, by marking St Andrew’s Day, as it’s important to enable residents to celebrate their heritage.

“We always try to make the month of December extra-special at The Oaks, by organising something new every day.

“Christmas is also a time to bring the local community together and we’d like to see as many as possible come along to our Christmas events.”