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News and Views from Bridgemead for November 2014
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare
your praise”
Many people will recognise these words as part of Church liturgy, perhaps without knowing that they
were written by David in Psalm 51 verse 15. We were made by God to praise him and as his people it
is a joy to be able to do that. It should be our daily experience and certainly when we come together in
a service we would to praise him, and yet we do not always find it easy. This is probably why David
wrote these words; but what is behind the words “Open my lips”? I think that it means that before we
praise God with our lips we have to open our whole selves to him. Open our eyes to see the beauty
around us – God’s creation in all its glory, and variety and colour – sky, trees, flowers, kingfisher,
whatever, should make us want to praise God. Open our eyes to see the image of God in each other – I
am sure that many people’s hearts have been turned towards God for the first time at the birth of a
child. Open our ears to the beauty of birdsongs or music or even the melody of other people’s voices.
Open our arms to the joy of receiving or giving a hug or a present. Open our minds and our hearts to
trying to understand and receive God’s love for us in all its varied ways, but especially in his sending
Jesus to die for us upon the cross, and in giving us His Spirit to live in our hearts. As we open our lives
in these or many other ways our reaction ought to be for our lips to burst open spontaneously with
praise to a God who is so good and who loves us so much!
Alan Ashworth
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES
Hullo Bridgemedians,
By the time you read this the clocks will have changed heralding the onset of winter. It’s goodbye to
‘Daylight Saving Time’ and welcome back to ‘Greenwich Mean Time’.
Things are changing all the time. Some of us welcome change whilst, for others, change is a threat
because it means we are expected to do things differently. However we live in a world where change is
inevitable and necessary. We are not immune from this at Bridgemead.
Once again we are required to accommodate ourselves to a major change to the CQC inspection
regime. This is not a bad thing because CQC only expects us to do what we are already endeavouring
to do – which is provide a high standard of care which puts our residents first. However there is a big
emphasis on good governance and staff trained to a high level. We are expected to strive for continual
improvement (this is another word for change!).
This is where you come in - Whether you are a resident, a family member, a friend, a member of staff,
a volunteer or a visitor to the home in any context – we would like to hear from you. If you are a
regular reader of Bridgemedia – THANK YOU VERY MUCH! This shows that you care about the
home and the people who live here. We want to hear from you also.
For us to deliver improvements requires more than just the Trustees and management coming up
with ‘good’ ideas about what we should do. Your views are important to us and we want to hear from
you. What we want to know is what we can do to improve the care and well-being of our residents and
enable them to flourish as individuals at Bridgemead - which is their home. We have a set of core
values (that are available – please ask us for a copy) which places emphasis on residents having
CHOICE, a VOICE and CONTROL over their lives. What can we do to improve in these areas?
As you visit the home it will occur to you from time to time that we could try different things or
improve in some areas. We would prefer that you talk to us about these things – unless you do so it
may not occur to us – we are sometimes too close and need a wider perspective.
Bridgemead is a Home from Home and we want our residents to feel at home. So – I hope you
benefitted from the extra hour in bed recently and are coping well with the darker evenings. Don’t
worry in six months’ time it will all change - and we’ll be back to where we started!
Blessings, Geoff Weekes
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Residents
Marjorie Bryant
November 8th
Anthony Chandor
November 9th
Eileen Surridge
November 21st
Day Care
Joan Roberts
November 27th
Happy Birthday to you all on your special day
WELCOME TO…….
We give a very warm welcome to our new Residents, Philip Newton, Edward Horesh and Bob Collins.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
If any of our readers have anything suitable to add to shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, could
they please drop the items into Bridgemead by Friday November 7th – thank you.
NOVEMBER ACTIVITES
Monday 3rd
Wednesday 5
David Kniveton plays the Flute
th
Thursday 6th
Art with Ann
Talk “The Role of the Royal Mail Guard”
by Martin Horler
Monday 10
th
Pam Ayres Poetry with Guilda Ludwell
Wednesday 12th
Art with Ann
Thursday 13th
Monkton Farleigh Singers entertain
Friday 14
th
Tuesday 18
Ivan Buxton entertains
th
Entertainment by “Forget me Not”
Wednesday 19th
Art with Ann
Friday 21st
Chris Griffiths sings / plays the Piano
Monday 24th
Scottish Country Dancing demonstration
Wednesday 26th
Phil Smith sings and plays the Guitar
Thursday 27th
Kris Freeman and his tropical animals
Friday 28
th
Bing Lyle entertains
FRIENDS OF BRIDGEMEAD
Hello Bridgemedians,
Not much to say this month you'll be pleased to know!
I have just returned from the wedding of two of the 'Friends', Harry Millican and Sandy Fale - I had a
wonderful day with them both, and their family and friends. I'm sure that we would all wish them
every happiness for a long and happy life together. It is so good to be able to announce some joyful
news.
As the Autumn Fayre is on the 1 November this year I shall do the report in the December edition. I
do hope many of you were able to attend.
Something to look forward to next month - the 'Friends' have asked Pam to buy some new Christmas
trimmings for Bridgemead, so we hope that you will all enjoy spotting the latest acquisitions!
More next month
Una
A REQUEST
If any of our readers have the following items that they no longer require, then they will be well
received here in Bridgemead:Shove ha’penny board and ha’pennies, Othello Game, Bar Skittles and Jigsaws with 500 pieces or less.
Thank you
BIBLE STUDIES
Our Chaplains, Alan Ashworth and Alan Butler will be leading a Saturday monthly Bible Study
starting on 8th November at 10.45am in the Dining Room. Residents, Friends and Family and readers
of Bridgemedia are all invited to attend.
Other dates are: - December 13th, January 10th, February 14th, March 14th and April 11th.
VOLUNTEERS
If you are able to give up some of your time to come into Bridgemead and make coffees / teas and talk
to the residents, could you please give Jane a ring on 01225 484904. Thank you
AND FINALLY………..
In last month’s Bridgemedia, we reported that the Wednesday Art Class had been successful in the
Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) art competition for the over 60’s. The award ceremony took
place at the beginning of October in the House of Lords, and Ann Trevanion (Art Teacher) and Pam
Bourton (Head of Care) were in attendance to accept the award. The picture below shows Pam and
Ann with Lady Marr who presented the awards.
Please note that Bridgemedia can now be found on our website. Go to www.bridgecare.org.uk, click
on Bridgemedia and you will find the latest issue. We also now have a page for Staff Vacancies on the
website.
If you would prefer to receive your copy of Bridgemedia by e-mail, can you please let Sue Clark
(Activities Organiser) know on sue@bridgecare.org.uk
All contributions to this newsletter are welcome from residents, relatives, staff and volunteers. If you
have something you think would be of interest, anecdotes, personal recollections, news events, short
poems or anything relevant would be welcome. Published by Bridge Care Ltd, Bridgemead, 81 St
John’s Road, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6PZ Tel 01225 484904. Bridge Care is a company limited by
guarantee and registered as a charity under number 299400. Limited Company registration number
2001246 (England)