River Lodge 3 residents ‘tour’ the Netherlands

The last trip to the Netherlands in the Ron Smith Care Centre’s Armchair Travel series took place on River Lodge 3 on 12 March.

Residents and staff enjoyed a video which featured the various highlights of Amsterdam and then staff performed the traditional Dutch folk dance, the Hakketoon. Participants had great fun with the Koekhappen (eating a donut hanging from a stick without using your hands), which is a traditional competition often featured at Dutch festivals around the world.

Residents Beth Roberts, Dave Scott, Helen Barlow-Jones and Heather Zipp all had a go at trying to get at least a few bites of their donut and staff members Prudence Mokoena, Pascaline Kamela, Mosima Mojela, Thembi Ndebele and Monica Mcube had everyone in stitches with their body contortions as they tried to come to grips with their donut at the best angle.

Beth, Dave, Helen, Prudence and Mosima all emerged prize winners for their various efforts! 

In another competition, called ‘Chuck the Cheese’, two teams were pitted against each other in a relay race against time, to get all their ‘cheese’ (bean bags) into a pail.

After all the excitement, it was time for a delicious tea which included Dutch specialities stroopwafels, speculaas and Dutch raisin bread, all of which came from De Backery in Edenvale.

It was a most enjoyable morning for all and so good to see the smiles and hear the laughter reverberating throughout River Lodge 3.

Inez Lucas.

Alfred Tromp.

Beth Roberts enjoying her stroopwafel with tea.

A spot of dancing is always a favourite at Ron Smith Care Centre events.

Dave Scott.

Farewell to the Netherlands. We’ve had a wonderful time!

Florence Duncan.

Gordon Ross.

Grace Verster.

Heather Zipp.

Helen Barlow-Jones.

Irene Droste.

Kingsley Fuller.

Marie Diesel.

Noel Tilney.

Norman Cox.

Shirley Abrams.

 ABOVE and BELOW: Staff performing traditional Dutch folk dance, the Hakketoon.

River Lodge 2 residents whisked away to the Netherlands

 Ron Smith Care Centre’s River Lodge 2 wing residents and staff delighted in their Armchair Travel trip to the Netherlands on March 5.

This fun travel series has been held on each of the wings of the Rand Aid care centre. In line with COVID-19 social distancing protocols, the decision was taken to split the initiative into smaller groups, rather than hold one central event.

The enthusiastic group of ‘travellers’ from the River Lodge 2 wing enjoyed a wonderful morning experiencing all things Dutch. Several of the residents had visited Amsterdam before, and so thoroughly enjoyed the Armchair Travel programme devoted to the Netherlands.

Residents Ethle Cohen, Sarah Richards, Eddie Lazer and Victor van Eck were the Quiz Champions. Their extensive knowledge and memory of Dutch facts, art, culture, food, history and geography was impressive. Ria van der Westhuizen won a special prize for being the only resident out of five residential wings to give the correct answer to a particular quiz question!

Trudy Thijs, who was born in Holland, helped out with some of the Dutch language pronunciation.

Residents Malcolm Barlow-Jones, Paul Roediger and Bela Nadori and staff Odette Matamba, Lerato Pebane and Nandipha Ngesi provided hilarious entertainment by taking part in the traditional Dutch Koekhappen challenge – eating a donut hanging from a stick as quickly as possible, without using their hands!

People viewing this blog in their email: To view a video of the staff dance, click on the headline River Lodge 2 residents whisked away to the Netherlands.

Paul Roediger has a go at the elusive donut during the Koekhappen challenge!

The residents have a good laugh at the competitors’ attempts to eat a donut without using their hands!

Staff doing the traditional Dutch folk dance, the Hakketoon. 

Happy times… Eddie Lazer. 

Maria Dal Lago. 

Ria van der Westhuizen. 

Victor van Eck. 

Delyse Burgess. 

Johanna Jennings.

 Linden Millard. 

Gail Spinks. 

Bela Nadori.

 Stella Thomas.

 Trudy Thijs was born in Holland and remarked that she is ‘a real Dutch Lady’! 

Malcolm Barlow-Jones. 

Denise Anstey.

 Getty Lee.

Gail Harmer. 

Sarah Richards. 

Ethle Cohen.

 Take-off. Staff prepare for take-off! Left to right: Debbie Christen, Hilda Mabaso, Dineo Tshukutsware, Carol Legodi, Kedibone Mlavu, Lerato Pebane, Nandipha Ngesi, Charlotte Tema and Alice Molepo. Front: Alice Molepo and Odette Matamba.

Enjoying the gigantic clog are (back) Hilda Mabaso and Odette Matamba; and (front) Trudy Thijs and Bela Nadori.

The happy travel group that ‘visited’ The Netherlands on March 5. 

Gisela Meinck looks like a real Dutch lady in authentic traditional Dutch attire!

Letter of thanks from family to Ron Smith Care Centre

 

Woodlands delights in all things Dutch

Ron Smith Care Centre residents and staff who live and work on the Woodlands wing had a wonderful time ‘visiting’ The Netherlands recently.

Ten of the residents from this wing had actually been to Amsterdam in the past, and this Armchair Travel session brought back very fond memories for them all.

Residents Ron Adcock and Argentina Smith, along with several staff members, had great fun participating in the traditional Koekhoppen Competition (Donut Chomping Challenge) and this provided much hilarious entertainment for all. 

Ethelwynne van Eck emerged as the Quiz Champion on all things Dutch and Xolani Zondi, James Mokoena and Zuko Ndamse, the three male special carers who participated in the Koekhoppen and Dutch Folk Dance, provided a bit of excitement! 

At teatime, the stroopwafels (from De Backery in Edenvale) were a firm favourite, with Jill Jones saying that in the past, she could happily devour a whole packet herself! A most enjoyable morning was had by all!

 

VIDEO: Woodlands staff members do a traditional Dutch dance.

Vaarwel! 

Argentina Smith. 

Folk dancing.

 Sarah Goldberg. 

Woodlands wing staff perform Dutch Folk Dance: Hakketoon. 

Jessie Pickard.

 Jill Jones.

 Joan Abbott. 

Pearl Porter.

 Elaine Cohen.

 Pamela Mintz. 

Ethelwynne van Eck.

Henriette Oosthuizen.

Yvonne Yardley was delighted to wear this traditional Dutch costume. 

A display of knick-knacks that represent Dutch culture.