On a glorious sunny Sunday morning, we gathered at Staywell Day Centre with 2 hours on the clock and a mission: to give the vegetable patch, flower beds, and driveway a good weeding makeover! Armed with trowels, gloves, and an eagerness to get stuck in, Amy, Alexis, Farzeen, Emily, and Jana wasted no time diving into the task.

As we worked, conversations flowed freely, with stories exchanged about our professions and daily lives. A highlight of the day was hearing about Emily's exciting news: she’s being presented with a prestigious Majors award tomorrow evening! We all shared in her excitement, which certainly helped lift the atmosphere as we tackled some particularly stubborn weeds.

At the halfway mark, we took a well-deserved break to recharge with biscuits and chocolate. Standing back, we admired our progress so far.

With renewed energy, we powered through the rest of the time, determined to make the residents proud of their newly spruced-up outdoor spaces. By the end of the session, the transformation was complete, and we couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment as we surveyed the clean, tidy garden and weed-free driveway.

It was a fantastic day of teamwork, sunshine, and stories for a worthy cause, leaving us all with smiles (and maybe a little mud) on our faces!

What do you get when you mix determination, sticky clay, and a bit of rain? A Staywell garden makeover, of course! Emily, Farzeen, Jana, and Jana’s dad were on a mission: they had two hours to transform the space, no matter the challenges thrown their way.

The first task? Filling a trench that had been dug to lay cables. Sounds simple, right? Not quite. The soil was sticky, heavy, and as close to concrete as dirt can get. It clung to everything—shovels, boots, and even spirits. But Farzeen jumped right in, tackling a significant chunk of the trench before moving on to other tasks, including clearing frostbitten plants from the entrance flower beds, picking up paint-covered debris from a spillage, and weeding the driveway. Talk about multitasking!

Meanwhile, Emily, Jana, and Jana’s dad soldiered on with the trench, battling both the mud and their own endurance. As the work heated up (literally), a few layers of clothing had to come off. Mud-streaked but determined, they powered through until the tea break arrived like a beacon of hope.

Halfway through, chocolates from Staywell and Jana’s homemade banana cake provided the much-needed energy boost. Just as everyone started to feel recharged, the weather decided to spice things up. The heavens opened, and the wind howled, but quitting wasn’t an option. With rain pelting down and mud doubling its clinginess, the team rallied together to finish the job.

Amazingly, every task on the list was completed! The trench was filled, the garden tidied, and the driveway weeded. By the end, everyone was soaked, muddy, and dreaming of hot showers, but the sense of achievement was undeniable.

We hope the visitors of the Staywell Day Centre enjoy the fruits of our muddy labor—and we can’t wait to come back for round two!

"Two Hours of Team Power: Sprucing Up Staywell Day Centre"

In just two hours, our team of Emily, Jill, and Jana made a big impact at the Staywell Day Centre. We focused on tidying up the front entrance, pulling weeds, and tackling the moss build-up on the driveway. Jana’s dad joined the effort with a fantastic job clearing oak leaves from the flowerbeds in the back garden.

A well-earned tea break with mince pies kept spirits high, and we wrapped up feeling pleased with what we’d achieved. We hope the refreshed outdoor areas bring joy to the centre’s residents in the coming week!

On a crisp autumn morning, Jane, Helen, Petra, Jana, and Jana’s dad took on the daunting task of clearing the day centre terrace of its leafy blanket. The mission was made especially tricky as we discovered there wasn’t a broom or rake in sight. Armed only with bare hands, we dove in with determination and a good dose of humour.

Before long, our efforts were rewarded, and we cheered as two wheelie bins and three bin bags overflowed with evidence of our hard work. A well-earned tea break followed, where Petra and Jana’s dad kept us entertained with nostalgic stories of growing up in the Czech Republic. The camaraderie made the chilly task feel warm and lively.

However, just as we toasted our progress, a playful gust of wind arrived, scattering a fresh wave of leaves onto the terrace. Undeterred, the team switched gears and began tackling weeds lurking between the paving stones.

One final sweep (by hand, of course!), and we declared victory over the terrace. Huge thanks to the team for their energy, laughter, and hard work. Great job, everyone—until the next round of leaves falls!