With this year’s World Kindness Day focusing on wellbeing, Elizabeth Anderson, a resident at The Lawn, our Alton-based residential care home, has been sharing her love of her favourite things which keep her happy, content and healthy.
Elizabeth, who has been a resident at The Lawn for nine months, was born in London, but during World War II, moved to Woking in Surrey. “We lived in a lovely cottage with a large back garden,” Elizabeth recalled. “My Mother was always out there; she loved the garden and grew lots of fresh vegetables for us to eat. She definitely had green fingers.”
Elizabeth attended a boarding school which was specifically for children who had sadly lost their Fathers’ in the War. “I really didn’t like school,” Elizabeth continued. “My Sister enjoyed it, but I only enjoyed the French Lessons, as I was rather good at it.”
When Elizabeth left school, she enrolled in nursing school, and made a very good friend, Janet. After qualifying, she worked as a Nurse for four years before becoming a Private Nanny. “I loved being a Nurse and caring for others, and I loved children, so working as a Private Nanny was wonderful,” said Elizabeth. “After being a Private Nanny for many years, I merged my nursing and nannying skills and took on a role as a Matron and Housekeeper at a school. It’s important choose a job that you like and that makes you happy – and that’s what I did.”
It was at this time, Elizabeth met her future Husband, Alan. “I met Alan when I was 41. He came into the School I was working at to fix something or other and I offered him a cup of coffee,” she continued “We got chatting and he asked me out. That was on the 29th January 1979 and we got married in Chobham in Surrey on 2nd August the same year. It was love at first sight.”
Throughout her life, Elizabeth had always enjoyed knitting, it had been one of her favourite pastimes. However, Elizabeth hadn’t actually sat down and knitted for about 15 years. “I used to love knitting, I found it very relaxing,” continued Elizabeth. “When I moved to The Lawn, Emma our Activities Coordinator and I had a good chat about what I liked to do, and knitting came up. With Emma’s help, I have reignited my enjoyment of knitting. You’ll always find me happily knitting away.”
“Elizabeth is a great Knitter,” continued Emma Cranstone, the Activities Coordinator at The Lawn. “Her latest knitted creation was a dolly’s blanket which she kindly gave to Sue Husbands, the Leader of Holybourne Village Pre-School for the children. Elizabeth knows the pre-school children well as they visit The Lawn each week during term time for intergenerational activities with the residents.”
Saturday afternoons are sacrosanct. “Every Saturday afternoon, like clockwork you’ll know where to find me,” said Elizabeth. “After lunch, I always – without fail – head straight back to my comfy room to watch the football on the television. Football is another passion of mine. I don’t mind who is playing, I just love ‘The Beautiful Game’.”
Elizabeth is also an avid reader. “You could say I’m a bit of a Bookworm,” she added. “Knitting, watching football and reading are the ways that I relax, keep my mind and fingers nimble and my mind active, which are extremely important to me. I want to feel good, all day, every day – and so far, I’m doing rather well.”
Find out more about The Lawn care home by calling 03305 550 378 or emailing enquiries@fote.org.uk.