Catherine Coralie Belk, known best as Coral, moved into Enliven’s Coombrae Home just over six months ago from her family home on six acres.
While Coral likes company, she says having her own space is very important to her. Her room is light and sunny and has a view of the garden.
When she moved in, Coral brought some carefully chosen treasures like china birds and photos with her to make it feel like home. Coral also gets gifts from her family – her grandson made her a model church complete with steeple, which lights up at night.
“My room is my sanctuary,” she says. “I like my own peace and quiet.”
Solving crosswords and knitting keep her mind and her hands active.
“I only knit useful things, like clothes,” she says. “I’m knitting myself a cardigan for winter.”
Coral previously worked in retail and in later life successfully pursued cake decorating as a hobby.
Coral is an avid reader of murder mysteries and biographies. She says the library at Coombrae Home is well stocked.
“I always have a book on the go,” she says. “I like to figure out whodunnits and also learn about other people’s lives.”
And while she enjoys spending time in her room and participating in activities with other Coombrae Home residents, Coral’s independence is something she values. She likes having the peace of mind that she is still managing her own finances and getting out and about, even the weekly trip to the supermarket in the Coombrae Home van links her to the wider world, she says.
