After a wobbly few days I thought I’d share this with you…..

Recently I’ve found it increasingly confusing to decipher what’s real and what’s been dementia playing tricks….

I remember pre dementia, waking up after a vivid dream, thinking for a minute and then realising it was a dream. Now, however, I’m never sure. I have to find the proof now to separate fact from fiction. I’ve always ‘heard’ things that aren’t real – the knock on the door, the tap on the window with no one in sight.

One night I lay awake and heard a cry of help from someone who sounded like my daughter Gemma. She was shouting ‘mum, mum’. There was knocking on my door. I then heard a car door slam and it drove off. It all happened so quickly but when I looked out of the window it was silent, dark and still. It…

With many thanks to Benefits And Work.

Well everyone needs something to focus on to take their mind off the approaching winter and to stop getting excited about Christmas……so on October 27th I’m heading for Dove House Hospice to take part in a Firewalk!

I saw it first advertised on Twitter ages ago and asked if they thought I’d be able to do it – having a wobble and a stick in tow….They contacted the organisers who said they’d be my stick and support me through the fire🤓 No going back then…….

My dear friend, Alex Preston gave me some valuable advice………..Keep Walking! Don’t stop!🔥 note to self……….😳

We need to use hospices more for people with dementia. A hospice is associated with being a place to die for those with cancer, but they have so much more to offer, especially those living with a life limiting condition, such as dementia. They have the ‘talking’ skills we…

Same Difference sends thoughts and best  wishes to readers in Manchester after last night’s tragic incident. We hope that you and your loved ones are safe and unaffected.

To those killed- RIP. To their families, thoughts and sincere condolences.

To those who will now become disabled- your lives will change beyond recognition, but we hope you will eventually be happy in your new lives.

There will be no further posts today. Posting resumes tomorrow. We share the shock and sadness of many and will be spemding today following related news.

This is somewhat different to the usual weekly blog that I write. I don’t often write about events outside the weekly demo, to be honest I wasn’t sure that my readers would want to read it. But I thought I’d tell you anyway. Some might want to listen.

I was awoken quite early by a crank call, made by someone for reasons known only to themselves. They appeared to find it humorous to make fun of what we do, and the help that we give to people. Some people are very strange, and sadly this isn’t unusual its become par of the course. I don’t take it to heart and I did report it.

You see, in the over 3 1/2 years that I’ve been doing this I have encountered many negative things. Name calling, swearing, being told by G4S that they were going to knock myself and a friend…

This week I’m changing Gp practice. My daughters don’t like my Gp and I don’t like their chemist. I got on well on my own before they ‘tried to help’. I’d go on line, in my own time, re order my perscription, collect the perscription and then collect my tablets. This happened every 2 months – perfect. Then the chemist got involved. First he wanted to put my tablets in blister packs, which for some are very useful, but not when you take trial tablets and they insist on me taking Donezepil in the evening, which has never worked for me.
So then they suggested I let them order my perscription and for me simply to pop in and pick it up – no need for me to do anything but pick it up – sounded perfect so I agreed……..bad move…..
The first time I went in there was a…

Alison is in her 50’s and was an editor before dementia entered her life so was well versed in the art of words. Sadly now, dementia has meant she finds writing difficult, however, she simply takes as long as it takes and writes the most wonderful poems.

Remember, we all had talents pre dementia, we don’t suddenly lose those talents overnight. We simply have to adapt and learn new ways…….

This is her latest:

Fighting Back

Faltering, stumbling, I reach for the letters that I use to employ with delight to define me, explain me, to justify me.
My tools, my craft.
Some light touch here, some emphasis there.
Just might strike a chord.
Letters sliding down the stairs of poesy and hoping for a soft landing.
Tiptoeing around my soul.

But now the words rebel.
They sense my growing decline.
They note the hesitation in my clichés.
All is…