The 3 Amigos

Here we have our resident 3 Amigos in Poole for a day out with staff.

As the weather was so nice they all decided to go off to the coast and take in some sites as well as some old faithful seaside chips!!!

A great day was had by all.

Wow! What a wednesday

Well this morning has already been very busy here at The Willows.

Keith, Kurt, Jamie, Ian and John are having a lads day out with two male staff members and have headed of for the day camera in hand to the coast, pictures to follow.

Sue and Christine have headed of for a girls shopping day with a female member of staff.

Sheriff s off to visit family, Grazina is going over to Salisbury to get her hair cut and Colin is off to town to get some shopping for a homemade curry, yummy.

Disney Dream

Last week Kurt fulfilled a dream and went to Disneyland Paris with support from a member of staff.

Kurt flew out of Bristol airport monday morning after an early call from the night staff and arrived in France early afternoon.

Here you can see Kurt as the ruler of the kingdom a great time was had by both Kurt and the member of staff.

National Trust Day

Even though the weather was not so great today the service users still managed to go out for a great day.

Grazina, Keith, Ian, Colin and Jamie went out with 2 staff members for a wander around a national trust site and have a picnic.

A breath of fresh air for all was had.

Sunny sunday

As it was such a lovely sunny sunday afternoon some of the service user went over to the National Trust at Stourhead for a walk.

Colin, Sue and Keith went with two staff members for a few hours to enjoy the autumn sun.

Car cleaning

Sunday is a day that the cars get cleaned at the Willows and this week was the turn of Keith with Grazina.

Grazina gets on with the hoovering and here you can see Keith with hose in hand ready to rinse after giving the outside a good scrub.

Ready for snow....?

Christine went to a boot sale on sunday and found a warm hat ready for the winter and decided that she would model it for Steve this morning.

Here we have a very happy Christine doing her pose for the camera.

Gateway Club

Monday nights are Gateway nights for the service users at the Willows that wish to go. Its a great place to meet some mates outside of work or college.

Last night Kurt and Keith had a great night catching up with some mates and having a dance.

Update from Philip

Philip Norris is a support worker that has taken a year out and is being sponsored by Exalon during his time out there.... this is an update of his time there so far.

This month has been rough for me, I failed my truck driving test. Although I was told that my driving on the other side of the road is good, I was too obliging to other traffic and need to drive more aggressively like the Israelites. So with failing that my emotions nose-dived and I then hit what they call "culture shock" which usually happens about the 3 month mark and then again at 6 and 9 months periods. I have been really low and emotional with even having thoughts of coming back. I have felt very lonely these last few weeks and my roommate and I are on two completely different levels and in fact have nothing in common at all. I have not made any friends here in Karmiel but have a couple of friends near Tel Aviv which i have been traveling to see on the odd weekend but although the travel is reasonably cheap, when you don't have a lot it kind of eats away into it. I have been told that my low emotions are apparently normal in this type of work.

I am amazed at how much I took for granted like my car and regular money and new clothes when I need them, and here I don't have that.

Because I live in the north, in fact 15 miles from the Lebanese border, just before the holidays we were all given an evacuation leaflet and what to do in the event of war. The Lebonese like to bomb Israel when its their Holy time of the year. So a few days before i saw the military everywhere, helicopters, tanks, jeeps all over the place and on top of that everynight I hear the jet fighters fly over my apartment patrolling the skies. In the event of war we are meant to evacuate into our bomb shelter in the basement and pack provisions for at least 2 days but if this happens it is my job to deliver food to the people who can not get out of their homes, so in fact I would have drive into the war zones to help others. Scary thought isn't it?

So I have my 2nd driving test on monday at 8.00am (6am uk time) and hopefully this time I will get it. I have to get it as its the reason I am here, to deliver food.

So we are now delivering 60 tons of food all over Israel to the needy. When I am not delivering with the other driver who is leaving soon due to his visa coming to an end, I am packing wooden pallets read to deliver. I pack a few tons of food a day so by the end of the day I am tired.

Anyway, please say a pray for me for Monday, I have to pass.
Philip Norris

My day out

As promised in yesterdays post we now have pictures of the day out that Kurt had.

Kurt with a support worker went to Bristol to get all his new clothes and a digital camera ready for his holiday. Kurt went out at 10.30 in the morning and didn't get back until 9.30.... and had a fab time.

I wonder if these are some new friends Kurt has made while shopping....

Sunday life

Well what a busy sunday we are having.

Kurt has gone to Bristol for the day to get his new clothes for his upcoming euro disney holiday in a weeks time, camera in hand so pictures to follow tomorrow.

Christine and Sue went to the car boot sale and get a few bits of shopping that was needed for the house.

Keith went out for an afternoon pint which was very much enjoyed.

Jamie has gone into town for a wander around after cleaning his room.

Grazina and John washed and vacuumed the cars.

Ian, Colin and Sheriff are chilling and watching sunday afternoon films while the deputy manager is cooking for all....... well thats a first!!

And some think sundays are boring, well not at The Willows.

New Forest Ponies

Wow what a lovely scene.

On route to Bournemouth in the New forest everyone enjoyed a ramble with the wild life as it was such a lovely day.

Here is Kurt with the wild New Forest ponies.

Raspberry picking

As it was such a nice day saturday Keith, Kurt, Colin, Grazina and Ian went out for the day to the New Forest and Bournemouth and came across a fruit farm where they stopped and picked lots of fresh raspberries. A great fun day had by all.

Forget the X factor!!!!

We have the wow factor!!!
Wow is how the garden has been described by many people that have been to visit the Willows over the last few months.

As you can see here the garden is looking fantastic and is full of early Autumnal bloom.

We are so lucky to have such a magnificent view from the office window and the garden is being enjoyed by all in the house.

On a wednesday Keith and John both go to a carpentry class at Trowbridge college to learn some new skills. John used to attend Aston Street on a wednesday but once the college courses were offered to him he was more than happy to pursue a new adventure to broaden his knowledge and skills.

Keith attended the course last year and enjoyed it so much that he enrolled for the second year and is thoroughly enjoying it again.... Nice one lads.

The kick boxer!

Sheriff has taken up a new sport of kick boxing and he goes over to Trowbridge on a tuesday and thursday to learn his new skills. Sheriff has been very keen to find something that will help maintain his physical health and this is proving to be a very good way to do this. Well done Sheriff.

Kurt on domestic duties

On friday Kurt was very helpful in the kitchen with a mop and bucket at hand. Kurt has been very busy over the last week with his decorating and now being involved with the domestic duties. Well done Kurt!!!

Its my birthday

On saturday afternoon Grazina celebrated her 40th birthday with some family and fellow house mates. A party was held around the corner in the conservative club where a buffet was enjoyed by all.

Finally we captured him!

We have been waiting for such a long to get a picture of Jamie on the blog and finally it was achieved today!

Jamie went into town with a member of staff to get the house shop and seemed to enjoy the time spent with his keyworker.

Jamie said he is a hugh fan of rice pudding and came home with a few bargains that he found while out doing the shopping!

Kick boxer in the making

Sheriff has taken up a new sport with one of our new members of staff that is a qualified kick boxer trainer.

Today Sheriff went into town to get some new clothes ready to attend his training sessions and I must say is looking very smart!

Busy Thursday

Thursday mornings is a flurry of activity at Trowbridge college for some of our service user's. Five have chosen to take part in the pottery class and this week some great moments of Ian were captured on camera of Ian.

Kurt's new colours

Phase two of the decoration process started for Kurt on wednesday evening. He was supported by a member of staff to start adding a touch of colour to his walls.

Maybe this could be a start of a new trade for him?

Well done Kurt!

Kurt has said as part of his PCP that he wanted to redecorate his bedroom ready for new furniture that is on order.

A member of staff, Kurt and Colin went into town on wednesday to get the paint and rollers ready for the job in hand.