News

There's only one thing that can make you happier than a kitten... and it's a bunch of kittens! Last week, the residents of Epsom Village were treated to a visit from Lonely Miaow, a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and care of stray and abandoned cats and kittens. Lonely Miaow brought around 12 very friendly cats and kittens who loved mingling with the residents, having cuddles, and of course... getting into mischief.

At Real Living, some of our staff members are renowned for going above and beyond to ensure the happiness of our residents. Epsom Village is fortunate to have two of these superstars, Les and Penny. This remarkable duo excels not only in their respective roles but also in bringing joy to the residents, particularly through their talent for dressing up and acting.

When it comes to garden parties, Epsom Village steals the show! The central garden, adorned by a magnificent oak tree, provides an idyllic backdrop for an alfresco gathering featuring delightful music (courtesy of Jim Joll), delectable nibbles, and the Village Manager's signature cranberry mocktail.

If you're looking for a Christmas celebration like no other, Epsom Village is the place to be. This year the village organised a Mystery Christmas party with the surprise appearance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. The residents had clues to unlock and mysteries to solve, while they enjoyed a five star menu and delicious Christmas treats. Sherlock made sure that everyone finished the dinner unharmed... but they certainly had a night full of friendship, joy and laughter!

The Junior girls of the Diocesan School for Girls visited Epsom Village for their annual Christmas concert. They sang traditional carols that delighted everyone, but they also incorporated some more modern songs to their repertoire, like the Gingerbread man rap. A wonderful way to kick-start the magic season and remind us of the true spirit of Christmas: generosity.

Some of our residents are larger than life, with experiences that could be written in a book… or in Barbara’s case, several travel journals! Barbara’s adventures started when she was 19 years old when she did her first trip around Europe. She hasn’t stopped travelling since then: she’s been to 45 countries, including Uganda, the Galapagos Islands or Cambodia.

Connecting with the community is one of the main core values we have at Real Living. One of our residents at Epsom Village, Diana Burslem, visited St Joseph’s school in Orakei to share her passion of writing with the children. Diana writes books for Red Rocket Readers and she was a teacher for 40 years so she was totally in her element at St Joseph’s. It’s a good thing she was because the little ones only asked about a million questions!

Our superstar chef at Epsom Village, Nick Seaman, has more than 40 years’ experience in cooking. He loves his job because “feeding people is like nurturing them” and working in a retirement village allows him the chance to get to know his diners. There’s nothing that Nick can’t tackle, from a Pink Ribbon breakfast to an international midwinter dinner.

At Real Living sometimes we like to follow the traditions, and other times we like to try something new. For the past two years Epsom Village has moved away from the classic Christmas theme for their midwinter dinner. This time, the village decided to celebrate that the residents are travelling overseas again after the long Covid break with an internationally inspired dinner.