Pukekohe Rest Home & Palms Village Monthly News

PALMS MONTHLY NEWS

The Theme for November is – Reminiscence

(Indulge in pleasurable memories of past events)

And don’t we often reminisce?. About our youth, our parents, our old friends, music, our pets, our first bike, car, pony, school, dances, rugby games, wedding day, the smell of newly mowed grass, the taste of candy floss at the annual A & P show, the birth of our babies and Christmas. So many memories bring a twitch of a smile to our face, a tear of joy to our eyes and a flare to our nostrils of remembered aromas.

Research suggests that reminiscing helps us to define our identity, makes us feel better about the present and more hopeful about the future. Isn’t it great to remember back to those carefree days, when we had endless energy, didn’t feel the cold, the school holidays were endless and we had the freedom to roam in our neighbourhood, explore new places and find our place in our group of friends. Remember the feeling of complete confidence, our fearlessness, our curiosity and our absolute concentration when something new occurred. Of course, not all memories are great but even the ‘disappointing’ ones helped to shape our character, taught us some of life’s great lessons and moulded us into future ‘grown-ups’.

Birthdays - November

Date Residents Daycare Staff Hospital 1 Vivianne Seath Sheila Sivyer 2 Maire Tribble Audrey Hudson 3 Shirley Fletcher 5 Barry Faulkner 8 Terry Whisker 9 Rose Huru 10 Suzanne Mason Noel Schofield 12 Josephine Anania 13 Herman Gomans 15 Vicky Shaw 16 Rosemary Schwed

/12 18 Pat Arthur 22 Daphne Elizabeth Liefting Wellwood 23* Susan Haywood 23* Jess Cotter 26 Violet Bolland 27 Gladys Hira 30 Carl Rush

My name is Walnut (because I’m similar in colour). I live at the Palms and like to keep an eye on ‘the goings on’. Occasionally I might fancy a little bus trip and this is how I reserve my place. First on gets to sit in the back window.

Rest Home News: With the warmer weather Pat is reminding everyone to dress appropriately, drink lots of fluids and watch out for sun burn. She also has a reminder to sign yourself in and out of the Rest Home. This is a really important Health and Safety issue for the residents, their families and staff. Melbourne Cup is coming up on 1st of November so start planning those hats ladies.

Hospital News: Isnt it great to see the gardens around the hospital in full bloom and feel the warmth of the sun through the glass. Donna is reminding residents to take advantage of the big sliding doors which give easy access outside to the sun. Just make sure you have hats and sunscreen.

Day Care News: Only 2 months to Christmas!! Daycare has had a joyful October, Spring appears to be arriving a little late with all the rain but the warmer weather is now definitely making an appearance. Comedy was the theme this month and we definitely have a few comedians in our Daycare! Ha ha (many jokes always shared). Sadly we shared two ‘farewells’. Janice Salmons our much loved Registered Nurse who had been with us for 15 years, and Donna Barnes ‘Activities’ who had also been with us for 9 years. We wish

/12 them both the very best in their future ventures. We now look forward to what November brings? ‘’The Melbourne Cup’ being a good start!!

INTERESTING DAYS IN NOVEMBER

1ST Melbourne Cup Day and World Vegan Day 3rd National Housewives Day 5th Guy Faulks Day and Love your Red Hair Day 9th National Scrabble Day 11th Armistice Day 13th World Kindness Day 14th World Diabetes Day 18th Mickey Mouse’s Birthday 19th International Men’s Day 20th Universal Children’s Day 24th Thanksgiving Day 25th White Ribbon Day –Elimination of Violence Against Women 26th National Cake Day (Yummy) 30th St Andrews Day ______The Smile Page

The ‘mature’ woman had never experienced a sick day in her life, so she didn't take it kindly when a bad case of the flu sent her to the hospital for observation. By the time the doctor got her settled in her room, she had managed to complain about everything: The temperature, the lights, the skimpy gown, the food and the mattress - especially, the mattress. Suddenly, she spotted a small plastic item with a button, attached to a cord. "What's that?" she demanded. "If you need anything in the middle of the night," said the doctor, "just press that button." "What does it do, ring a bell?" she asked. "No, it turns on a light in the hall for the nurse on duty," he replied. "A light in the hall?!" responded the woman. "Look, I'm the sick one around here. If the night nurse needs a light on in the hall, she can get up and switch it on herself."

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The big-time CEO was scheduled to speak at an important convention, so he asked an employee to write him a punchy 20-minute speech. When the CEO returned from the big event, he was furious. "What's the idea of writing me an hour-long speech?" he demanded. "Half the audience walked out before I finished."

/12 The employee was baffled. "I wrote you a 20-minute speech," he replied. "I also gave you the two extra copies you asked for."

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A waiter brings the customer the steak he ordered, with his thumb squarely on top of the meat. "Are you crazy?" yells the customer. "Don't bring my meal with your hand on my steak!" "What," says the waiter, "you want it to fall on the floor again?"

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A police officer arrives at the scene of an accident, in which a car smashed into a tree. The cop rushes over to the vehicle and asks the driver, "Are you seriously hurt?" "How should I know?" the man answers, "I'm not a lawyer!"

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If you can start the day without caffeine, If you are always cheerful, if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it, if you are understanding when your loved ones are too busy for you, if you never treat a rich friend better than a poor friend, If you face the world without lies and deceit, then you are probably the family dog!

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Paddy took 2 stuffed dogs to the 'Antiques Roadshow'. "Ooh!" said the presenter, "This is a very rare set, produced by the celebrated Johns Brothers taxidermists who operated in London at the turn of last century. Do you have any idea what they would fetch if they were in good condition?" "...Sticks?" Paddy replied.

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Library Dates for November 2016

Tuesday 8th Tuesday 22nd

Podiatrist - November 2016

Monday 7th November at the Hospital - Jessice

Monday 21st November at the Rest Home - Jessica

/12 Monday 28th November at the Hospital - Jessica

Monday 28th November at the Rest Home – Tracy

Rest Home Hospital Day Care

Morning tea and Headline Morning tea and Headline Morning tea and 9:30am news discussion news discussion Headline news discussion 10:00am Exercise in dining room Exercise in dining room Exercise followed by followed by an organised followed by an organised an activity program Monday activity program Monday organised activity to Friday to Friday program Lunch 12:00pm Lunch 12:30pm Lunch 12:30pm 2:00pm Afternoon tea followed by Afternoon tea 2:30pm Afternoon tea an organised activity followed by an organised followed by an Monday to Friday activity Monday to Friday organised activity program 3:30pm Happy Hour from 3:30pm Happy Hour 4.00pm 5:00pm Light Tea Light Tea 5:30pm 7:30pm Supper Supper

REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Songs to Sing in the Shower .

Bing Crosby - Let Me Call You Sweetheart Lyrics

I am dreaming Dear of you, Day by day

Dreaming when the skies are blue, When they're gray; When the silv'ry moonlight gleams, Still I wander on in dreams, In a land of love, it seems, Just with you.

Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you. Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.

/12 Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true. Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.

Longing for you all the while, More and more; Longing for the sunny smile, I adore; Birds are singing far and near, Roses blooming ev'rywhere You, alone, my heart can cheer; You, just you.

Bing Crosby – When Irish Eyes are Smiling Lyrics

There's a tear in your eye, And I'm wondering why For it never should be there at all, With such pow'r in your smile Sure a stone you'd beguile, So there's never a teardrop should fall

When your sweet lilting laughter's, Like some fairy song And your eyes twinkle bright as can be, You should laugh all the while And all other times smile, And now, smile a smile for me

When Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing When Irish hearts are happy, All the world seems bright and gay And when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, they steal your heart away

To all residents and staff

Your contributions to the WhatsUp would be very welcome. Interesting stories, memories, poems, titbits, ideas and suggestions. Please let the office know and we will stop by and see you. Look forward to hearing from you.

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All the Difference in the World

Every Sunday an elderly lady could be seen kneeling in the grass by a lake with a small metal cage.. Curiosity got the best of me, so I stopped and walked over to her. As I got closer, I realized that the metal cage was in fact a small trap. There were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around the base of the trap. She had a fourth turtle in her lap that she was carefully scrubbing with a spongy brush.

“Hello,” I said. “I see you here every Sunday morning. If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to know what you’re doing with these turtles.” She smiled. “I’m cleaning off their shells,” she replied. “Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and impedes its ability to swim. It can also corrode and weaken the shell over time.” “Wow! That’s really nice of you!” I exclaimed. She went on: “I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these

/12 little guys out. It’s my own strange way of making a difference.” “But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum hanging from their shells?” I asked. “Yep, sadly, they do,” she replied.

I scratched my head. “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent? I mean, I think your efforts are kind and all, but there are fresh water turtles living in lakes all around the world. And 99% of these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help them clean off their shells. So, no offense… but how exactly are your localized efforts here truly making a difference?” The woman giggled aloud. She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world.”

The moral: You can change the world – maybe not all at once, but one person, one animal, and one good deed at a time. Wake up every morning and pretend like what you do makes a difference. It does.

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PALMS PEOPLE - HAZEL ROSE

Hazel is a resident in our hospital. She was born in Palmerston North where her Dad was a builder. She was the second youngest of three brothers and two sisters, and they lived on a farm. When Hazel was very young they moved to Mangatawhiri, with all six children stuffed into the family van and a mattress on the floor for them to sit in. They had a lovely country upbringing there. She has memories of walking barefoot across frosty fields and through the creek on her way to school with her shoes in her school bag – and having ice throwing fights with her brothers. Out all day playing on the farm when it was fine and when it rained they amused themselves with snakes and ladders and ping pong. Hazel hated every minute of school and puts that down to teachers who were stern disciplinarians. There were times however when a bit discipline wasn’t astray – there was the poor miniature horse the kids clambered all over, until he got fed up and bucked them off and there was the cow’s tail that she swung on because her brother dared her. The cow kicked her, which was a bit of rough justice. The kids swam in a swimming hole behind the Cheese Factory, caught eels and once sneaked into the school to use the pool where Gordon Grant the head master, caught them in the pool, in only their knickers. Mr Grant couldn’t have been a member of the fun police all the time though because he ran programs in the school holidays teaching Square and Line dancing.

Hazel left school at fifteen and worked in Dean’s Apparel sewing uniforms etc. She loved the work and made many friends. When she was eighteen years old she met Frank who was a football coach in Bombay high school boys under bizarre circumstances. There was a competition at the Bombay Foot Club called the ‘Most Popular Girl Contest’ and Hazel was the entry for the Bombay Team. They met up again a bit later in another odd competition at the Bombay Hall which involved Page 7/12 several girls dressed as jockeys and the men placed bets on which girl they though would win. The proceeds of the betting went to support the rugby clubs involved. Hazel who was seventeen at the time won this and her prize was to pick whichever man she wanted to take her on a date (really!!!) She chose Frank and six months later they were married when Hazel turned eighteen. They set up house in Paerata and farmed beef while Hazel continued to do outwork at home for Dean’s Apparel. She loved the farming life although it had its challenges. Especially making silage. Hazel will never forget the smell. They also grew turnips which the cows were particularly fond of during the winter and while all of this was going on Frank and Hazel had four children – Peter, Sharon, Colin and Mark. They moved into Pukekohe when the children were young and Frank went to work at concreting and eventually moved on to Keith Hay Homes while Hazel continued with her outwork. The kids attended Hill School, and Frank went back to coaching rugby. Winter saturdays were spent at the various rugby grounds where Frank’s team played.

The whole family loved camping and Hazel remembers their trips to Port Waikato, Cooks Beach and Kaiaua under canvas with great pleasure. One year they hired a camper van but found they really enjoyed living in a tent more. Eventually Hazel and Frank both retired and sadly Frank - the love of Hazel’s life - passed on in his 71st year. Hazel went to live in a granny flat in her son Mark’s farm until she felt it was unsafe to be living alone. Her children all live in the Auckland area and she is in contact with all of them.

Hats on Ladies.

When is election day in the US?

/12 There are less than two weeks of heated campaigns, political drama and relentless media coverage until the election. Americans will finally go to the polls on the long- awaited election day,Tuesday November 8 2016. The first polls will close at midnight UK time and the election could be called by TV networks as early as 4am GMT. In NZ we should start to hear results in the afternoon of Wednesday 9th Nov.

/12 THEME FOR THE MONTH - REMINISCING

REST HOME HOSPITAL DAY CARE Tuesday 1 08:30am Stroke Club Bus 10:30am Anglican Church Melbourne Cup Draw and Melbourne Cup 2.00pm Music Hour / Melbourne Cup Hat Day Celebrations Wednesday 2 08:30am Bus for Bowls PCC 10:30am Last Card Mini Golf Balloon Tennis 2.00pm 1pm Movie. 230pm Nail Care When I was Young? Trivia Box Thursday 3 10:30am Baking Housie Floor Scrabble 2.00pm Sing a long / Basket Ball Table Games-Your choice Bingo Friday 4 10:30am Your choice Residents Meeting Card Game ‘Last Card’ 2.00pm 130pm Music Hour/Bingo 3 Qs Singing Group Movie – The Judge (2014) Monday 7 10:30am Birdies Choir Card Bingo Daycare Bowls 2.00pm Skittles Hand & Nail Care Word Challenge Tuesday 8 08:30am Stroke Club bus 10:30am Baptist Church Anglican Church Silver Balls 2.00pm Card Bingo Word Quiz Memory Tray Wednesday 9 08:30am Bus for Bowls PCC 10:30am Your Choice Balloon Volley Ball Petanque 2.00pm 1pm Choir Practice / Quoits Herd Instinct Quiz NZ Herald Crossword Thursday 10 10.30am Baking Craft - Pomanders Pipe Golf 2.00pm 1pm Music Hour/Bowls Continued Word Game ‘Boggle’ Friday 11 09:00am Residents Meeting 10.30am Word Challenge Baking Origami Day –paper folding 2.00pm Music Hour/Bingo Complete the craft flowers Movie: The Ultimate Gift Monday 14 10:30pm 11am Word Search Mini Golf Daycare Bowls Page 10/12 2:00pm 1pm Music Hour / Nail Care Today In History Trivia Box Tuesday 15 08:30am Stroke Club Bus 10:30am Methodist Church / Quiz Kiwi Quiz Quoits 2.00pm Graham Scott Music Card Bingo Who wants to-Millionaire? Wednesday 16 08:30am Bus for bowls PCC 10:30am Crossword Word Challenge Skittles 2:00pm 230pm Basketball Music Montage NZ Trivia Thursday 17 10:30am Central Kindergarten/Baking Housie Flag Golf 2.00pm Reminiscing Music / Skittles Movie – My Fair Lady Reminisce – Good old Days Friday 18 10:30am Word Quiz Baking Card Bingo 2.00pm Movie / Bingo The People’s Choice Movie - The Queen (2006) Monday 21 10:30am Make Xmas Decorations Craft Day Care Bowls 2.00pm Music Hour/ Xmas Decorations Christmas Wreath cont. Scrambled Cars quiz Tuesday 22 08:30am Stroke Club Bus 10:30am Methodist Church / Quiz Methodist Church Service Beanbag Twister 2.00pm Your Choice Word Quiz A-Z of Auckland Towns Wednesday 23 08:30am Bus for Bowls PCC 10:30am Basketball Quoits Ten Pin Bowling 2:00pm 130pm Joy Makers Key of the Door Quiz Remember the old Penny Thursday 24 10:3am Baking Line Dancing 20 Ball Toss 2:00pm Bowls Manicures Trivia Box Friday 25 10:30am 930am Kindergarten Baking Card Game ‘ Hoy’ 2:00pm Sing a long / Bingo Movie - Titanic Movie ‘Jean’ Monday 28 10:30am Dutch Tenors Mini Golf Day Care Bowls 2:00pm Sing a long / Card Bingo Table Games Card Game ‘Uno’ Tuesday 29 08:30am Stroke Club Bus 10:30am Mix and Match Housie NZ Holiday Floor Game 2:00pm 230pm Palms Choir Practice In my Garden Grew? 20 Questions?

/12 Wednesday 30 08:30am Bus for Bowls PCC 10:30am Movie Card Bingo Toss & Add – First to 50 2:00pm Making Xmas Streamers Joy Makers Music Spin the Wheel

Enjoy November - from the team at Palms.