Elsies 100th Birthday at Mellish House
At Mellish House Care Home in Sudbury we love celebrating birthdays. Elsie’s 100th was extra special! Her big day started off with a morning full of visits from friends and loved ones, chatting, catching up and opening gifts and cards.
After lunch Elsie was taken to the garden where she had a few more little gifts to open including a '100' tiara and sash and a small celebratory bottle of wine. Once Elsie had finished opening these we had arranged for an extra special private performance from a bagpiper. This truly was a very magical and touching moment where Elsie didn’t stop smiling from ear to ear, even bringing a tear to her eye. Elsie enjoyed remembering about her Scottish history and talking about where she was from.
Finally, in the afternoon lots of residents gathered in the lounge downstairs for Elsie’s big surprise party. The lounge was decorated with lots of helium balloons, banners, a flowery photo backdrop, photo props, door tassels and a handmade birthday welcome canvas.
We were very lucky to have the lovely Michal and Jacob dress as butlers for the party handing out non-alcoholic bucks fizz drinks to all the residents as they arrived for the party. As Elsie entered, everyone sang happy birthday and set off party poppers. Elsie took her pride of place seat in front of the photo backdrop looking like the queen of the party, Elsie exclaimed, "did you stay up all night setting this up?"
The party began and we all danced and sung for two hours whilst having lots of laughs and smiles trying on fun party hats, taking silly photos with props, and bouncing the balloons about. When we were all danced out in came Elsie’s beautiful birthday cake, she said "Oh wow it's very big!". Singing happy birthday once again Elsie’s face was a picture of surprise as she watched her sparkler candles sparkling away.
Resting our tired feet everyone sat for a party buffet style supper and of course a slice of cake.
To finish of the birthday evening Elsie sat and opened the rest of her gifts and cards. She read every word of every single card she received and admired them all.
Happy Birthday Elsie!
