Everyone at the Manor enjoys our regular visits from local Volunteer Marmalade who kindly gives up much of her time each week to spend with the residents. Marmalade has recently introduced a new project to the Manor and explains it here;"Myself and the Residents of Valerie Manor are undertaking to create a modern piece of art on Canvas using acrylic paints. I got my ideas for this piece of art from the famous artist Jackson Pollock.
The idea is that this will be a layered painting. Each week that I spend time with the residents I will take the painting and we will drop paint and create splashes and movement of paint on the canvas. I then take the canvas home and let it dry flat in readiness for the next layer.
So far the picture we have developed seems to have a flower
theme. I anticipate this painting will
take about 2 months to complete and I am confident that it will be an
attractive and very unique piece of artwork.
I have a plan that we create a number of unique pieces of art on canvas
and these will be displayed around the rooms and corridors of Valerie Manor for all to enjoy.
Regards,
Marmalade"
We all think this is a fantastic project and can't wait to see the finished artworks around the Manor. We'll keep you updated with the progess of the canvases on the blog. Thank you Marmalade!
Pictured below: Jackson Pollock in action
Another new face at the Manor! A huge welcome to Shirley who
has come to join us from Scotland and will be working mainly night shifts at
Valerie Manor. Shirley has several years of experience of working in care homes
and is already settling in well and getting to know the residents.
So, we now have a full team again as you can see from the
new staff picture on the right, and also a waiting list of people wanting to come and work at Valerie
Manor! Welcome again to Jean, Sheri, Maria and Shirley, we hope you will be
happy here with us all!
As you may be aware from previous blog entries I was undertaking a course in 
You may be aware from a previous blog entry that Valerie Manor was recently awarded a ‘Healthy
Workplace Award’ from Horsham Council. Three
newspapers have now featured the story which the staff and residents are extremely proud of! (The 
Things continue to progress in the right direction with Zoe and Emma attending
the gym – I must say there is a bit of healthy competition happening as Emma is
determined to attend more times than Zoe! Steve is still not smoking and his
potatoes will be ready to harvest towards the end of the month and he is looking
forward to expanding the garden to include wild flowers in the gardens. We will
keep you updated with progress and welcome any other suggestions for the
vegetable patch that the residents could also get involved in. The articles will
soon be available to view in the press section of the website.
I would like to say a huge welcome back to Robin (mum). Everyone was so pleased
to see her back on Monday to undertake exercises from their chairs in the lounge
whilst singing along to old time tunes! Those who went along to her 'Lets Dance' Show in May would like to say thank
you to Robin for putting on a fantastic show which they all enjoyed at
the Martlets Hall in Burgess Hill where over £2,500 was raised for charity. 
Some
of the residents were unfortunately unable to make the show but Robin brought
the colourful photos to the Manor and after going through them all with the
residents in the lounge left them at Valerie Manor for a week to be displayed
for all to enjoy. Thank you Robin, it’s great
to have you back!