Wardside Gazette No. 10/6 June 2019
June 2019 · Editor: Resident Andrew Hodge · Assisted by: Resident Audrey Insch
New Residents:
Last month we had no new permanent residents but both Mrs Pat Scott from Comrie and Lady Moira Smith from Dunkeld were here again for periods of respite and we hope they both have enjoyed and felt the better for their short stay with us.
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Birthdays: Congratulations and many happy returns of the day were wished to:-
Ruth Manton and Andrew Hodge
Both celebrated their 101st birthdays last month and thank all residents and members of staff for their congratulations and best wishes and also Mr.and Mrs Burt for the excellent birthday cakes.
Deaths:
With much sorrow we report the death of resident Mrs Catherine Macnaughton on 6th May and we offer our sincere condolences to all members of her family who very kindly donated to the Joy Fund in her memory.
Staff News:
All staff had fire awareness training last month.
The following notes are intended for new residents but also reminders for everyone.
1. Cook’s Meetings are held on each Wednesday at 10-30 am in the Large Lounge when residents have the opportunity to express their satisfaction or otherwise with the meals the previous week. The cook then explains the proposed menu for the coming week.
2.Quiz Nights are held each Wednesday evening at 7pm in the Garden Room. Susie, the quizmaster, always has plenty of questions covering a variety of interesting subjects that can test our memories. The questions are not made to individuals – they are made to the class for anyone who knows to answer.
3. Craft Classes are held in the Garden Room at 11am each Monday and Thursday and are not only enjoyable but keep the mind and fingers in good order. It involves mostly cutting, folding, drawing or painting paperwork.
4. Exercise Classes continue to be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the Large Lounge starting at 4pm until 5pm to give all the residents the opportunity to loosen up and keep the muscles in good working order.
Used Postage Stamps. Many thanks to the residents who deposit their used stamps in the box located at the reception desk. Always remember to leave as much envelope paper as possible around the stamp for neat trimming purposes.
Bedding plants have been planted in the patio area and should soon be in full bloom. Thanks to all who donated to the “Joy Fund”. We will all enjoy the display.
Church Services
Rev. Tracy Dowling of the Scottish Episcopal Church
On Tuesday 11th June at 11am. in the large lounge.
Rev. K. Buwert of the Church of Scotland
On Tuesday 25th June at 2.30pm. in the large lounge.
The Four Seasons by a Resident
Autumn. We can remember Autumn. We stayed there a long time. Then we wondered where Autumn had gone: It was swallowed up in a slight flurry of snow – winter? Well not exactly. It was cold, but unless you clambered up the hills, it wasn’t winter. We did enjoy seeing the snow on the tops, watching Mr Burt pushing his salt scattering machine and sympathizing with staff who had to face up to dodgy journeys to work. But, where was winter?
Winter gave us a noisy reminder when our resident rooks started squabbling and crowing. In Scotland, all medium sized black birds are called crows.. This covers rooks, carrion crows, hoodie crows, ravens, choughs with their red legs – (only high up on European mountains do they sport yellow legs and are still called choughs).
Spring. Now we are springing into spring. The land glows with yellow rape bordered with the white lace of May, so we can shed our winter clothes. One of the earliest poems translated from the early Welsh language, once spoken throughout Britain, tells of spring..
Western wind
When wilt thou blow
The small rain down doth rain
Christ, that my love was in my arms
And I in my bed again.
Summer. Now the shades are out. We have summer to look forward to and welcome because —–Summer is a coming in Loud sing cuckoo,
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During a recent Quiz Night, one of the questions brought to mind a particular article which was contained in the Gazette some time ago and is worth repeating. Here it is.
His name was Fleming, and was a poor Scottish farmer. One day he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog and there, mired to the waist in black mud, was a terrified boy. He was screaming and struggling to free himself.
Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage arrived at the farm. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy whom the farmer had saved.
“I want to repay you” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life”.
“No, I cannot accept payment for what I did” the farmer replied waving off the offer.
At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel.
“Is this your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes” the farmer replied proudly.
“Then, l will make you a deal.” said the nobleman “Let me provide him with a level of education that my son will enjoy”.
And he did.
Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best of schools and in time graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming – the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son, who was saved from the bog, was smitten with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? – Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? – Lord Randolf Churchill.
His son’s name? – Sir Winston Churchill.
Wardside House, Muthill, Crieff, Perthshire PH5 2AS.Tele. No: 01764 681 275www.wardsidehouse.com