I got in at 10 to 11 where I was led to one of the activities room in the dementia ward where other residents were. I met Peggy who loved my floral jumper and owned the budgie in the landing, and her friend (whose name I can't remember) who came from outside of the dementia ward, who was excited to hear me sing (apparently they were told I was going to be their singing instructor.. I guess I didn't mind!)
More residents started to arrive until there were 10. We then put in the CD for "Songs that won the war" and sang along with the lyrics that were kindly printed by Sarah, one of the carers. Although I didn't know most of the songs, it was so nice to be apart of it. We sang "Cliffs of Dover" "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" "Who do you think you're kidding Mr Hitler?"..etc. The songs were either too high or too low for my vocal range, which made me sound a bit like a dying cat, but it was fun none the less!
Once the singing
had stopped, I went around giving coffee and tea t the residents with the other carers, and met Peter the previous singer/actor, Joan the happy and bubbly but unfortunately dementia struck lady (has trouble forming sentences), Jimmy Bun the previous soldier and business management man, his wife Pat, Iris the quiet but sweet dementia lady and her friend Rose.
I sat with Jimmy for the longest while he spoke to me about his past experience in the army that he joined when he was 19, he left school at 14, and after the war rode his bike to Twickenham to work in business management, then later New York. They started to bring in the lunch so I let just after 12, thanking the carers and saying goodbye to each of them, saying I'd see them next week.
I'm so excited to continue volunteering there, it's such a lovely care home, it's close, and I've already started to develop relationships with the kind residents. I've been told I'll be running activities with them each week, so I can't wait to see what next week brings!
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