And what a shame that is! Apart from the stalwarts it's just me, and that takes pretty much most of my day. The more Colin is on his own, the more down he gets and/or starts seeing things. Latterly this has been horrible things like crocodiles. snakes, and insects attacking him - and he really does get frightened by them!

Colin may have a damaged brain from that wretched Lymphoma, and perhaps not act 'normally' etc., but he is still Colin - he is still quite able to have a laugh and joke when given the opportunity. I hear people say things like "I won't visit because I want to remember him as he was" - well I'd like him to be as he was, but he isn't and never will be, but he is still Colin. Or... the other one is, "we've got so many family commitments" - well let's hope those people are grateful for having a family to commit to!

OK, rant over. Those of you who have visited Colin in the last two weeks (and I'm really grateful to you for making the effort) will have noticed he's got a new chair - this is on loan from a company who specialise in supportive chairs. Hopefully when all the red tape is finalised, Colin will have his own chair which will be specially fitted to his specific dimensions and needs. We're also trying to get him a wheelchair - which will also be specially made to fit - so that we can get Colin outside for a bit of fresh air. He still cannot see - although he seems to have the odd moment when I do think he can see something though not much - so this has to be taken into account when visiting. This makes passing the time more difficult for him as he can't just look at photos or a magazine, for example. I do try to read various things to him - articles from newspapers, magazines, etc., but I have found stories (like novels) are more difficult as Colin can't keep track of the storyline - he still has memory issues and concentration problems sometimes.

By the way, if you do visit, please remember to put your name in his visitors' book - it is usually on top of the cupboard near the radio - and if you feel like it, say something about what you discussed. That's really useful, as when I arrive, I start the conversation by reminding him who has visited and what you talked about. And if there is more than one of you, you will find some spare chairs in the RHS of the wardrobe - no, not quite Narnia!!

Jane.

It has taken me ages to get around to producing another post, I'm really sorry!! Since the last one Colin has been his usual up and down. However things are looking up again as the GP is slowly reducing and hopefully eliminating one of the medications which is not helping Colin's drowsiness. This is making him more awake and with it when he is not truly sleeping (as it were!) which makes all the difference when one is trying to converse.

Yesterday was a case in point. When I arrived one of our kind neighbours and friend was visiting and had been reading to him. (This is something which I'd like to encourage others to do, if at all possible!). However Colin had fallen into a bit of a doze and so we left the room for a while. However after about 15 minutes Colin had 'awoken' again and was fully aware of what I read to him out of this week's New Scientist, to the extent that he was giving his opinion on some of the articles! And then the carers came to reposition him for eating his evening meal, and that was like throwing a switch - he became more tetchy and 'seeing things'. It's like if the brain gets tired of having to process lots of goings on - which includes lots of people talking and being moved - and then connections get a bit muddled, which makes him confused, and so on and so forth.....

This is likely what happened on Friday - Colin had had Physio, was taken into the bath and then was moved from one bed into another into the room next door. By the time I and a friend got there in the afternoon he was having none of it!!! He really was tired and wanted to sleep, and being woken for teeth cleaning, having a drink and then evening meal was more than he could cope with - and so didn't, in no uncertain terms!!

And so, taking all this variation 'as read' I would still like to encourage you to visit. WARNING: HE HAS MOVED ROOMS TO THE ONE FURTHER ALONG! It would be wonderful if those of you who knew Colin in the 70s/80s cycling/walking/YHA etc could make the effort to visit and regale stories of what you all used to get up to in those fun days!! Colin can remember all sorts of things from years ago and it would be great if he could be reminded of those good times and be made to laugh. The only proviso is to remember he can't see so it is important to orientate him when you arrive - saying who you are and how he knows you. And then to talk slowly, one at a time, and give him plenty of time to take it in and respond. And if you're lucky like I was yesterday afternoon, then you may be pleasantly surprised!

Jane.