Some of the pictures of the Rio Carnival, getting ready for the afternoon. Cocktails were served, Strawberry Daiquiri and Pimms, lemonade and fruit juices. Our carnival table preparations in the dining room and the conservatory ready for the fabulous buffet. Sandwiches, porkpies, sausage rolls, chips, quiche, taco's and Doritos etc. We also had a lovely fruit cocktail and fairy cakes for dessert. Followed also by the brilliant cake from Jo. 

Today we made salt dough and had great fun making shapes and kneading the dough. This is great for circulation and exercising the hands and fingers and can also be a cause for much laughter. 

At Hope Green we've really started to get creative and this week has been no exception. One of our residents has a particular flair for painting and even has her own work displayed in her room. As you can imagine, she doesn't need very much encouragement to pick up a brush and paint and this week chose to paint a gnome for our garden project. Other residents chose to make teapot crafts as we chatted about the benefits of chatting over a cup of tea with friends. A great time together. 

Smiles smiles smiles at Hope Green as our hairdresser has returned after many months! What a difference a day makes, and what a difference a hair cut makes too! Our hairdressing salon was extremely busy as many residents chose to visit and get themselves treated to a long awaited hair treatment. There was many smiles, conversations and compliments which was wonderful to be amongst. 

We love to keep active at Hope Green and Balloon Tennis is one of our favourite games to enjoy together. With music on in the background too we find ourselves singing whilst playing. Always with lots of laughter and smiles, it's a great way of keeping ourselves moving and building friendships. Fun and friendship is a great combination and very important to us. 

Residents have been busy making colourful shakers and masquerade masks for our Mardi Gras themed party scheduled for the 26th of May. The carnival shakers were made from loo roll, paper towel and Pringle tubes. These were then filled with dried rice, decorated with free wallpaper samples and embellished with feathers, flowers, coloured tape and gems. We had a donation of black masquerade masks which we painted with coloured glitter glue and decorated with bright feathers and coloured gems. 

Parkview House promoted World Hand Hygiene Day recently with the people who live and work at the home. The "Save Lives: Clean Your Hands global campaign", launched in 2009 and is celebrated annually on 5th May (World Hand Hygiene Day), aims to maintain global promotion, visibility and sustainability of hand hygiene in health care and to 'bring people together' in support of hand hygiene. 

Everyone who lives and works at Princess Lodge celebrated International Nurses Day with style with gifts and pizza. It was a day to thank all of the amazing nurses, not just at Princess Lodge but across the world for their continued support, dedication and kindness. 

There has to be a special mention to the fabulous Head Chef Shushma Gurung for making this stunning cake. 

Outdoors or indoors, there is always time to enjoy a spot of gardening. We plant and grow everything from bright flowers to green ferns. 

We have another great artist among our residents - Hilda (also known as Babs) often draws in her room and recently her friend delivered some of her paintings to her that she has done over the years. I think you will agree she is amazing! We will proudly display her paintings around the home.