Don't you just love Sharnbrook?

Last Friday, the 11th of December, saw a visit from the massed throngs of Sharnbrook Gospel Choir, and 32 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts!

The Dining room was full to bursting with an enthusiastic array of voices. We are very lucky to have such strong links with the community: we have staff, staff members' children, and residents' family members in the choir.

 Residents welcomed our visitors by singing 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' to them, and then sat back to be entertained by a selection of traditional Christmas music.  The Cubs had brought mince pies and home-made cookies; so we all had a drink and a chat afterwards, with squash and juice for the cubs and mulled wine for the grown-ups.

It is at times like this when you realise what a special place Sharnbrook is. It was a truly joyful evening.

Merry Christmas Everybody.

Sharnbrook Christmas Fair - December 4th.

We opened the garden room for teas on the occasion of the Sharnbrook Christmas Fair. Julie our chef produced some spectacular cupcakes, and we had boxes available for take-away too.

 The weather was not very kind to us, remaining damp and drizzly, which didn't really encourage customers to wander far from the main marquee in the High Street. Nevertheless, the generosity of our visitors made a valuable contribution to funds, Special thanks are due to our lovely volunteers; Wendy, Chris and Teresa, who helped by serving the tea and shifting furniture.

Poppies for Remembrance

In our art sessions last week we completed another flower painting - poppies for remembrance.

The Inevitable Elvis

On November 2nd, we had a return visit from 'Elvis', who performed a lively set. Staff and residents took to the floor to strut their stuff, and it all contributed to a great party atmosphere.

Elvis dazzles in yet another star-spangled suit

                        

                                     Are you lonesome tonight?                                                      Strictly ballroom

More painting

After our sunflower painting, we had a look at a more abstract approach, inspired by a magazine article about the recent Richard Diebenkorn exhibition at the Royal Academy. The colours in these paintings are particularly beautiful, and the paintings range from stylised landscapes to almost complete abstraction. Below is an interpretation of one of these works, painted by a group of residents at Sharnbrook House.  The surface texture is very different compared to the original, but most of the colours are a pretty good match.

One of our residents wanted to try painting a more recognisable landscape, and he decided on Monument Valley as his subject matter. We found a photo on the internet, and started work. Because of his background in the printing trade, our artist had definite ideas about how to approach this, and we spent a long time discussing colour and appropriate techniques. We laid down large areas of colour, using masking to define the edges, and then in subsequent sessions we built up the texture in layers, scraping grooves into the paint, and mixing in sand to achieve a realistic desert effect.

The finished painting is a mixed media work, incorporating charcoal, acrylics, pastel, p.v.a., and sand, strongly evoking the desert in its colour palette.

Fundraising

At the end of September our activities co-ordinator took part in a triathlon to raise funds for Sharnbook House, Well, she finished with a time that would not have worried the Brownlee brothers, but  it was a lovely day at Eton Dorney nonetheless..  Below is a picture from the finishing line.  You will note there are not many other runners in the background,..... so you can decide whether she was too fast for the other competitors or just enjoying the scenery.

Oh good grief, not another camera, better start running again!

In all she raised £405 for the residents' fund. 

60s Fashion Show and Macmillan Coffee Morning

On Friday 25th September, we had a coffee morning for Macmillan.  We have recently been doing a craft based project about 1960s fashion, so we took the opportunity to show off our creations.

We took to the catwalk to the strains of 'Dedicated Follower of Fashion'

 There were two themes to the fashion project, the first was the early sixties theme, typified by the pop art style daisy....

And the late sixties hippie inspired tie dye collection......

You're totally rocking it girls!

With many thanks to all our models.