Story telling at Hamilton House

Last Thursday, Hamilton House hosted their "Celebration of Story Telling" and I was called upon to act as judge for the paintings and fancy dress costumes which formed the afternoon of entertainment for the residents, several related children and the staff of course. It was delightful and I enjoyed some fabulous cake and squash, whilst chatting with the residents and staff. And below is the story I read out which was composed around all the ideas from the residents. Wonderful!

I also had the great pleasure of visiting former Mayor, Hedley Cadd who now lives in Hamilton House. It was wonderful to catch up with him and hear some of his stories of the time when he was Mayor. 

And here are several photographs taken by Charlotte Fenton, the Recreation & Leisure Co-ordinator which successfully captured the warmth, controlled chaos and colour of the afternoon. Thanks to her, all the staff and all the residents, of course, for their welcome. There is such a friendly, family atmosphere in Hamilton House! 

The three little pigs...

And the big bad wolf

Reading out the story

Awarding one of the prizes (best drawing)

Once upon a time, story (with resident's contributions)

The number 60 bus from Buckingham came round the corner. They were all off to see the Wizard of Oz pantomime. On The bus was an old Greek lady doing her knitting, her grandson carrying a teddy bear and a colouring book, a young man on his own with the dog, and several children from the local primary school, with colouring books and crayons.

The bus was on an excursion, eventually ending up at the performance of the Wizard of Oz, but stops are planned for coffee, lunch, and a visit to spooky woods in the afternoon before getting to the theatre in the evening.

At the coffee stop, the children played with the ball, and had squash and jelly biscuits on the village green, which was provided by the old lady doing her knitting. The sun came out from the clouds and shone brightly on the last few daffodils, and snowdrops. There was a church with the bells ringing out as there was to be a wedding that afternoon there. The church clock struck 11. The old lady, a young man with a dog, and the children got back on the bus.

The lunch top was planned for Woburn Safari Park. The old lady and young man escorted the children into the Safari Park. They were very excited and wanted to see all the animals, particularly a beautiful Jersey cow, several elephants that never forget some bright yellow canaries, a white rabbit, and several dormice, an octopus and a tortoise. Being the autumn there was a lot of gorse in flower. They had a picnic lunch, sandwiches, biscuits, chocolate, and ice cream.

They got back in the bus, and journeyed to the spooky wood. On the way, the Greek lady fell asleep and dreamt of her journey across Europe to Paris. The young man with the dog got out his crossword book and started solving clues. Magic flowers and elves inhabited the wood. There was a brook leading to a lake with fairies, and one fairy with only one wing - she had lost the other one somewhere. There was a ginger cat by the lake sitting watching the plentiful goldfish, ready to pounce. Nearby stalked a peacock with all its feathers up, but this was too much of a challenge for the cat so he remained by the pool. There was a garden by the lake with wild roses, white and pink. The children played a game of football by the lake, before getting out their computer tablets and playing on them.

Finally, it was time to board the bus again to set off at Aylesbury to see the Wizard of Oz. They all sang God Save the Queen as the curtains opened.