Category: Friends Group

Week two of our Friendship Group online

Janet introduced the new Zoom team members to the group and got things going.  Pearl helped us along with some of her jokes.

This weeks theme was Easter and Easter bonnets. We had a good mix of volunteers, including a new one, Danny, who single handedly drastically reduced the group’s average age. Sharon, from the Carers Centre, came along to offer advice and information. We were also joined by Deb, one of Reflections trustees, for part of the session.

This time we experimented with allocating the group into five Zoom “rooms” to have a chat. Each “room” had a volunteer (or two) to facilitate the experience. People said they enjoyed the chance to talk in smaller groups. This was particularly true for a brother and sister who hadn’t had the chance to see each other for some time. I popped into each room to see how things were going and was very pleased to see, and hear, one member singing to the others in her “room”. A late arrival was a member currently unable to return to the UK from his home in Spain.

In the second half we had more jokes from Pearl, Gyda hosted an Easter quiz and Janet hosted the second half of the nursery rhyme quiz led the singing.

I hope you can get a flavour of the meeting from this screen-shot. Sorry about the picture quality and the need to blur members faces! We were very pleased to welcome two group members who live alone with dementia who, on their own, managed to download the app and join us. The carers also succeeded in engaging with the internet again. What a wonderful and resourceful group of people.

We are back again next week, when Judith from BLG Mind will be joining us. Keep well.

We were very pleased to run our first Friendship Group online – using Zoom video conferencing.

There was a record turn-out for this first session, with 10 members of the group taking part. We were especially pleased that one member of our group who has dementia and lives alone was able to join us.

Janet led the way, with support from Pearl, Gyda and me. Janet included a quiz based on nursery rhymes and led the sing-a-long. Pearl gave us some of her usual top notch jokes, and a poem.

It also provided an opportunity for David, our resident artist, to show-off his recent painting of the other David, who was also at the Friendship Group meeting. We look forward to seeing the actual painting when we are all back together in the future.

We enjoyed 80 minutes of fun, banter and joining in – and we had the chance to use our IT skills to download Zoom and get online.

The group decided it would be a good idea to reconvene next week at the same time. One of the group members suggested next time we wear funny hats.

Group members said how lovely it was to be able to see and chat to each other.

 

 

 

A packed session. The second highest turn-out of the last 12 months. We had Rachel and Lucy visiting from Oxleas. Sharon, as usual, from the Carers Centre. The Stir cafe provided an urn and the necessities for teas and coffees, our team provided the service.

We were very pleased to welcome Judith from BLG Mind [BLG stands for Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich]. Mind will be providing the dementia advisory service in Greenwich from 1st April. Judith hopes to return on the 14th April to tell us more about their new service. We look forward to working with their team in the future.

Emma warmed-up the group with both physical and breathing exercises, before launching into her popular repertoire. Janet’s favourite sing-a-long tune “Tony Chestnut” was a high point (it starts: Toe, Knee, Chest, Nut – Nose, Eye, Love, You. The actions match the lyrics. It’s a bit like “YMCA”, but more complicated).

Julian certainly hit the right note(s) with our group. The dance floor was full and the singing exceptional.

There were lots of highlights – “I’m a believer” had Julian leave much of the chorus to the singers – and, when I realised Rick Astley’s greatest hit was on the playlist, I was back in the room.

We had a long list of birthdays – and a lot of birthday cards to give out.

There were moments of calm and chatting.

David, our artist in residence produced some delightful Lino prints of the group.

It was a wonderfully busy afternoon. And, we were very pleased to welcome back Jen, one of our longest serving and very popular volunteers.

 

 

 

Viki was popular, as usual, with her excellent singing and interaction with the group.

Her version of Cilla Black’s “You’re my World” was outstanding.

We welcomed visitors from the Rotary Club of Greenwich who joined in with the pre-entertainment discussions and activities. Two visitors from Healthwatch Greenwich came along to gather the views of some of our group on health services in Greenwich. One of these visitors had attended a recent Dementia Friends session I had run at the request of Greenwich council, and I was pleased she was complementary about my interactive presentation. The Carers Centre were again in attendance (we wish Sharon a quick recovery from her bad back). We also had a new mum and daughter join us, swelling the ranks of the ballroom dance enthusiasts. To our surprise, the mum had been at ballroom dance classes Janet and I attended about 15 years ago!

We had an excuse (did we need one?) to join in the dancing and wonderful singing.

We were concerned to hear of the fire at Shrewsbury House, but impressed with the quick action of Richard (the member of staff) who called the fire brigade. Thankfully, we are therefore able to continue enjoying the delights of this lovely community centre.

 

 

Rather a lot going on at the group today. Visitors from Oxleas and the Azheimer’s Society. Sharon from the Carers Centre came to give advice, as usual. Two of our trustees popped in.  We had a new volunteer, Mary (not to be confused with the other Mary), start with us. David presented us with a new painting. And we had to call for an ambulance – we are pleased to report the patient was later discharged by the QE – and told not to exercise.

Emma grabbed our attention, warmed us up (it was a cold day) and ran through some rousing tunes.

The crowd (including a famous mouse) packed into our main room.

Tony certainly rocked the room. He turned it up to 11, played until 3, and had a migraine by 4. We all wish him well and a swift return to top form.

The packed room still managed to cope with a packed dance floor.

 

 

A jolly January jamboree. We welcomed some new people to the group and they were treated to an afternoon of entertainment.

The very popular Andrew came for his second visit to the Reflections Friendship group.

Chatting was popular. As were the quizzes.

We had lots of sports, including darts and dominoes.

The dancing was a bit more energetic than usual too. Fortunately, it calmed down by the time all 51 group members, plus volunteers and visitors, made the move into the main room.

 

7th January 2020. A new year and quite a few of our group were unable to come along due to illness, hospital appointments, holidays etc,

Those that did come were treated to another singing session with the wonderful Emma.

Jamie provided the entertainment in the second half. A dazzling series of consume changes and memorable songs.

We danced and sang for the rest of the session.

We look forward to welcoming back everyone on 21st of January.

 

 

 

 

 

The 10th of December and Christmas returned! Some of us dressed for the event (you can’t buy style).

Janet and I wished everyone all the best for the festive season.

The Mayor (Mick Hayes) and Mayoress (Gillian) joined us – left their walking sticks and joined in the dancing.

Tony was in top form, as usual.

The dancing continued until it was time for home.

 

Best wishes for the New Year from all Reflections volunteers and trustees.

 

 

 

 

 

26th November – Christmas is approaching rapidly.

Emma started us off with some group singing-in-the-round. Popular as ever and a very seasonal sound.

There was an elf in every room to ensure elf and safety.

Viki raised the temperature, encouraging us to dance and interacting with members. A full-on delightful performance.

We all joined-in with the fun.

Tina came along to present us with a very generous donation – our second from the Kent Spiritual Teaching Group (the KSTG Facebook site is here) – thank you so much!

Next time… The Reflections Christmas Party.

 

 

 

 

On 12th of November Jamie returned to entertain us with some favourite tunes from the USA.

There was Carmen Miranda…

and someone else from the South Seas! Jamie’s ladies always seem to raise the most laughter. He had 13 costume changes (mostly men!) and sang a great variety of splendid songs.

We were packed, as usual. Thanks to everyone who came and joined in the fun.