The residents and staff of Ron Smith Care Centre took a short flight to the recreation centre to enjoy some of the wonderful traditions and culture of Scotland on Friday, March 14.
The centre was decorated with tartan bunting, purple Scottish thistles on the tables and pictures of Scotland on the walls. Lively Scottish dance music played in the background.
The festivities started with four lucky residents who won chocolates by drawing from a selection of Scottish-inspired pictures.
Staff and residents enjoyed learning about Scotland and being taken back in time to their previous trips to Scotland. Debbie Christen, the recreational and training facilitator, chatted about the capital city, Edinburgh, as well as some famous Scottish symbols, including the flag with the St Andrews Cross, Scottish thistle, Scottie dogs, Famous Grouse Whisky and various examples of Scottish tartans and kilts.
Residents enjoyed the sounds of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums marching to the sound of Scotland the Brave on video. They were also transported to the Highlands of Scotland by a video of a lone piper playing his bagpipes in the Highlands of Scotland.
Residents experienced a small part of what the Highland Games would be like, including the caber toss event and Highland dancing. The traditional Burns Night celebrations included a menu of traditional Scottish foods and drinks and a video of Scottish country dancing, which is usually part of a Burns evening programme. Residents Charles Power and Irvine Sinnet did a reading of the poem: A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns.
The travels ended with some movement to the music of Scotland the Brave led by Debbie Christen. The residents and staff then enjoyed a cup of tea and Scottish shortbread, baked by the recreation team.
Irvine took an opportunity to thank the team for their efforts and the enjoyable morning.
Beauty Buthelezi and Berenice Jawitz.
Marie Roberts and Sanele Ndlovu.
Margaret, swathed in tartan, and Neil Garden.
Poem readers Irvine Sinnet and Charles Power.
