Ten days respite is on the way in a week’s time.  When Chloe our regular ‘sitter’ takes  annual leave we will ask the Care Agency not to send a replacement.  This will give us a further opportunity to reclaim our home and lives.  It will also give us a chance to see how we cope under our own steam

It was good to have Chloe back on the scene yesterday and catch up on her latest news: Maureen really enjoys having an opportunity to listen to someone else rather than me. Although yesterday was no different than normal with Maureen asserting that she would sooner be left by herself if I need to pop out for the odd hour.  What she forgets is that the bonus of having Chloe and Gail here is they are great at helping us keep our home in order. They are also well versed in supporting clients with dementia but it is possible that they could learn to be a little more enabling.

We popped over to ‘Tickerty Boo’ in the afternoon to buy some batteries for our digital camera.  Maureen used to enjoy taking photos and I’m hoping to encourage her to become a happy snapper again.  I will need to be patient as her eye sight and apprehension about new technology may well be barriers to this pursuit.

On our way home from our shopping expedition I nudged us in the direction of the lady at number 26 Fairway Court.  I have no idea what her name is but we have chatted to her on a few occasions.   Maureen had a ball in the company of this lovely lady who held her hand as she showed us around her garden. We must have spent half an hour with the residents at number 26 as Bert also came out to chat with Maureen for a short while.  It’s amazing how those who have troubles of their own are so generous with their time.  Bert had recently narrowly avoided a stroke and had to have an operation to disperse a blood clot behind his eye.

Late evening Maureen became very confused once again expecting my eldest daughter Lisa and her family to stay here.  She told me she had spent a long time preparing the spare bedroom for them to sleep in.  When I checked I could see no evidence of her endeavours.

I have been up very early this morning searching for Maureen’s wedding ring.  She told me she had taken it off yesterday and put it in a drawer because it was too loose.  I must have spent a couple of hours this morning looking in the obvious places without any luck: half an hour later I saw her putting it back on her finger having retrieved it from under her pillow where she had left it.  I just wonder if the missing engagement was left in the same place and is now under the bed: we’ll be investigating later

It’s a lovely morning in Cleethorpes and that always gets us off to a positive start on our journey.