A Gift from Mariner Park Australia to Mencap Braintree UK !

Art and Craft Group - Mencap Braintree

As you know from my last post, I have just returned from a trip to Australia - aren't I the lucky one??

Whilst there, I went to Mariner Park Retirement Village in Tura Beach, NSW, with my sister-in-law Anne, who is a volunteer there. 

She is invaluable, as not only helps to run the Sewing Groups, but also provides an "alteration and mending" service for the residents.

I was made so welcome and was invited to tell the ladies, in their Sewing Group, about Mencap in Braintree - back here in the UK, where I volunteer, helping with Pottery and Art & Craft groups.

I was given a wall-hanging with an Australian theme (see above photo) to bring back to Braintree Mencap. 

We will hang this in our hall, so everyone coming to join in with all our activities, will be able to appreciate this lovely gift.

Thank you Mariner Park!

Thank you Australia...!

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Australia, with our family over there and I want to share a few photos with you all...

The first two are about endurance and survival against all the odds...one is a soldier sitting with his head in his hands, in the mud, in the trenches in the First World War, depicted here at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The second is a gum tree (Eucalyptus) which was blow over in a storm at Port Stephens, New South Wales. Again, against the odds of survival, the tree has hung in there and lying on its side, continues to flourish and grow...

Australians tend to have this same resilience - they complain loudly and tell it like it is, but they hang in there - through adverse weather, bush fires and heated politics, but nevertheless get on with life with great energy and are so very proud of their country...

Tura Beach NSW

And here is just one of their fine beaches...

Thank you Australia for having us...

A Quiz - All About the USA

As I have so many visitors to my Blog from America, I decided to put together a quiz - which is All About the USA...

As always, it is fairly easy (probably very easy for our American groups!)  

I am sure much reminiscing will take place, as the quiz runs its course. 

Enjoy the journey and have fun delving into the "facts and figures" of that great country - the USA!

 Click on the link below to get the quiz and also, on a separate page, the answers...

A Quiz - All About the USA

Love to get your comments (and feel free to tell me if I have got anything wrong!!)

Quiz - Anagrams of First Names!

I have put together 20 Anagrams of girl's and boy's first names - try them out with your groups. 

They are great fun and all the names I've chosen will be familiar to you - no "Apple" or "Blue" included!

Just click here for the Anagrams (and answers!)

Hope 2013 will be kind to us all...!  

Two Christmas Placemats - Printable!

 Only TEN more days to go...!

The Excitement is just TOO MUCH for me...!

I am sure you are all totally organised and relaxing this weekend, knowing everything is in place. 

Oh well, maybe not - so while you do what must be done, keep the kids happy and occupied with a couple of new Christmas Placemats - ready to print and be coloured-in to help decorate your Christmas table.

Here are your Christmas Placemats

More Christmas Placemats

And Still More...

Nativity - Christmas Craft at Mencap

You don't need a lot of materials to make a Nativity Scene...

At Mencap, we made this charming little group with just bits of fabric, a few toilet roll cores, buttons and trimmings.

So get going and create your own little figures - a seasonal activity that will appeal to all ages...

Use the Christmas button above to find other Christmas craft ideas on this Blog.

Click here to Make a Paper Plate Angel

A General Knowledge Quiz - Printable!

  

 General Knowledge 

Quiz

 Everyone enjoys a quiz!

Here is a General Knowledge Quiz - 15 questions altogether - some really easy and a few a bit more challenging!

Do have a go at it with your groups and enjoy the reminiscing and chat that it will stimulate...

 Here is a taster .............
 "Who was the actress who played "Pretty Woman" in the movie of the same name?


 
If you want more quizzes - have a look at my  
Quiz eBook (41 Easy Quizzes with Answers) which are printable and will keep you groups stimulated and entertained in the coming Winter months...

 

Fishy Fun! We Made a Fish Mural at Mencap!

This Fish Mural was put together over two afternoons...

Firstly we printed out fish shapes (search in Google Images for "Fish Templates" - lots to choose from there!) and after these were painted and decorated, with stripes and dots (from sponge shapes) we left them to dry and started sticking blue tissue paper right across our surface as "water".

Some pebble-printed decorative paper was used for the "rocks" and strips of green tissue stuck on as "seaweed".

When the fish were dry, we cut them out and glued them into position.

As a finishing touch we added a treasure chest, crab, skeleton, diver and submarine!

Our mural is quite large, but you can make it any size or shape you want. If everyone in your group wants to make their own "fish tank" you can size it right down to an A4 - just reduce the size of the fish accordingly...

Fish are such fun to paint - enjoy creating your patterns and choosing your fishy colours!