A care home resident in Lincoln has been looking back on a memorable trip to Thailand with her late husband as part of Crystal Care Collection’s Postcards from the Past series.
76-year-old Iris Johnson, who lives at Tealwood Grange care home in Lincoln, remembers travelling to Thailand in 1959 after being treated to a holiday through her work with the Royal Air Force.
The trip became one of Iris’s most treasured memories, giving her and her husband Mick the opportunity to enjoy sunshine, swimming and unforgettable wildlife experiences. Iris said,
“We had such a wonderful time. We loved swimming, getting a lovely sun tan and exploring all the different places.”
A highlight of the trip was visiting Soiyok Elephant Park, where the couple enjoyed getting up close to the animals and taking part in elephant rides.
“My husband Mick actually fell off an elephant! It was about 50 feet tall, or at least it felt like it. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt, but some Thai men had to help pick him up afterwards.”
The elephants provided more than one amusing story during the holiday.
“One elephant nearly sat on me too. Well, it certainly tried to. It gave us all quite a shock, but it was very funny afterwards.”
Alongside the adventures, Iris remembers embracing the local culture and cuisine. Iris continued, “I’ve always been happy to try different foods, but my favourite thing was the Sichuan dishes we had.”
“It was such a happy time for us both. We made wonderful memories together and I still think about that holiday often.”
More than six decades later, Iris said Thailand remains a destination close to her heart:
“If I had the chance, I would definitely go back. There is still so much to see, and it will always hold special memories for me.”
Iris’ story is one of a collection being shared through the Postcards from the Past campaign, celebrating the travel memories and life experiences of care home residents.
To find out more about Tealwood Grange or Crystal Care Collection, visit https://crystalcarecollection.co.uk/.
