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Recently I took a couple of my grandchildren to Landsborough Museum. We loved it. Explaining to them about old telephones and operators, ice-chests, coppers and washing sticks was an amazing experience. Seeing things that I used to watch my grandmother use was like being in a time-warp. Growing up in the 50s was certainly different to today. In retrospct it seemed slower. Quieter. If you are talking about retro items, dairy products or using my Oranges and Lemons themed (cooking) movies for activities some suggestions to stimulate reminiscence about milk in the good old days follow.

Familiar Rituals of Everyday Life

I remember I used to love being stirred from my sleep by the sound of early morning milk deliveries. The clanking of the full bottles landing on doorsteps and the clinking of the empty bottles as they were collected. The sound of coins being picked up. The squeeking of the cart wheel as it trailed behind the horse; hooves tripping and echoing over the bituman. The melodic rituals of everyday life in the 50s.

Most people from my generation remember the free half-bottles of milk delivered early morning to our schools - sun-baked and warm by morning break. Yet we drank without question our rich and creamy warm milk. The bottle pictured had an inserted cardboard lid nestled in the lip of the glass. Pressing one's thumb in to remove it usually guaranteed a milky splash. The milk pictured is non-homoginized. Your residents or care-recipient/s may have some stories about pure milk. The yellow glow as it melted  in a cup of tea. Experiences such as scraping the cream off for scones or dessert. Perhaps they made their own butter or cheese. Maybe they had a cow or goat that had to be milked. Talking about and demonstrating some of these procedures may come easily for people with Alzheimer's disease. Other things that they may like to reminisce about are the horse and cart delivery days, the baker, milko and greengrocer. Days that don't seem that far away.