Maureen decided to take matters into her own hands on New Year’s Eve and find her own friends. She had a great time in the morning in Freeman Street Market where she wandered at will chatting to stallholders. When we moved onto Aldi she was equally at home as we topped up on basics. We went with the flow in the afternoon when one of us left a tap on in the kitchen.
Maureen couldn’t cope with my frustration at the water level in the kitchen and fled the scene. I found her in next doors garden and our neighbour coaxed her back home. Then she walked out again; reluctant to have anything to do with mopping up – something she was adamant was not of her making. I tracked her in the car for a while before shepherding her in the direction of home. Unfortunately, she took a wrong turning and another thoughtful neighbour steered her back home.
We declined to see the New Year in and were in bed before 8 pm. However, some kind neighbours decided to wake us at midnight with their firework celebration of the New Year: I’m not sure we regarded them as our friends!
I’m clearly not Maureen’s friend this morning. She woke suddenly at half past six, shot out of bed, seeking ‘our little girl’ and went on to tell me that she’d ‘been in a black fog for two months’ continuing with ‘you are nuts and should have your adventures when you were at school’. It is difficult to predict what Maureen would call those who are driving the need for a Best Interest Meeting on Friday. We all know the law -The Mental Capacity Act included – can be an ASS but I would think ‘NUTS’ would be too kind for those people behind the need for such a wasteful formal gathering on Friday!
All I can do this morning is give Maureen space and hope that a cup of tea, later on, will clear the air so two really good friends can enjoy a peaceful day together. I also need to advise professional staff, once again, to stay away from our home as Maureen is still reeling from our social worker’s visit on Friday. She keeps asking ‘what did that ginger haired man want: what was he trying to find out?’
My priority remains to minimise Maureen’s distress. I need to try to try to calm her down, help her feel safe and ensure that we are only visited by familiar faces for a while. Thank goodness Girl Monday is here at 10 am: she is like family to us!
Maureen woke up this morning clearly thinking I was her dad. This is not something new and I no longer find it upsetting. The important thing is that she feels safe in my company; irrespective of who she thinks I am.
Moray Firth Ross and Cromarty Scotland 
Sincere thanks to all those people who have supported us in 2016: we wouldn’t have survived without you. We hope you all have a good Festive Break and a Happy New Year.
Maureen was ‘filled with joy’ last night as she opened our front door and joined in with Carol Singers who were in full flow. She sang along and conducted three young lads who gave us their rendition of ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’.
Neuropathy Nightmare 