Thanks Fi! Dad is typical stiff-upper-lip but he must have been pretty scared, even though he'll never admit it. She doesnt even recognise her own kids always, so it's pretty amazing she recognised the roads enough to get home. Definitely a miracle.

Sorry to hear about your dad. 2.5 years isnt so long ago. I was talking to my MIL, who's own mum died 3 years ago from Alzheimers, and she is still mourning her, and getting frustrated with herself for not moving on. But these things take so long. Still, she felt she'd taken a step forwards this year as she was away for her mum's birthday and managed to let her step-sister put flowers on the grave for her, which before now she couldnt have

Im sorry to hear about your mum. I hope I manage to be really active until nearly the end. I had two ninety-something Aunts that died in the last few years who were like that and it kept them young. Mum on the other hand came down with dementia in her early 70s and is just a scared little old lady now - so sad to see. I know how much she feared this as her own mum had it in the 1980s, so I just hope her body doesnt carry on for too long. Problem is, her body's in fine shape, so she could last another decade. Thanks for your prayers!

Thanks Arna. You're right, it's a tragedy when the mind goes. We have no idea how much we rely on it til it's malfunctioning. My Granny got Alzheimers too (mums mum) and I always used to say that she'd already died except somebody forgot to tell her body.

Thanks Lui! Im so tired at the moment it's hard to believe we'll do anything beyond turn up, but I hope you're right, I will get my act together in time!

Sophie was sad to be left again today (screamed the house down yesterday, less so today) but enjoyed making biscuits - pummeled the dough within an inch of it's life but had a GREAT time.

Dad is very tired again. He's not very good at asking for help. He also trusts her more than me & bro do (she's still ironing even though we're convinced she hasnt got a proper grasp of hot & cold any more...) but his horizons are shrinking fast, kind of the opposite to what happens to us as parents, where we know they'll grow out of whatever, go to preschool, & we'll get a bit of freedom back eventually, so I have great sympathy for him.

Thanks Janice! I may well take you up on your offer. I used to email my genealogy friend when I needed to offload, but that wont be fair again for quite a while. Sorry to hear about your mum - mine has Alzheimers plus vascular dementia, and is bipolar on top of that. We are planning for them to visit at the end of the month. She will find my "mess" hard to handle, and the journey is tough on her. But dad is worn out and will benefit from the break out of all proportion to the length of visit.

 My heart goes out to you all "Alzheimers" is not only so cruel for the person who has but is worse for their family as they have just watch this beautiful person deteriorate before their eyes and can't do a thing about it....so cruel.

I had my mum stay with me for many months on end to give my Dad a break and i think many men find it hard to cope with every day things especially when it comes to doing personal hygiene for another person. I'm sure your Dad will appreciate the break, for sure.

Anytime Kathryn, i'm here.

Love Janice

 My heart goes out to you all "Alzheimers" is not only so cruel for the person who has but is worse for their family as they have just watch this beautiful person deteriorate before their eyes and can't do a thing about it....so cruel.

I had my mum stay with me for many months on end to give my Dad a break and i think many men find it hard to cope with every day things especially when it comes to doing personal hygiene for another person. I'm sure your Dad will appreciate the break, for sure.

Anytime Kathryn, i'm here.

Love Janice

 My heart goes out to you all "Alzheimers" is not only so cruel for the person who has but is worse for their family as they have just watch this beautiful person deteriorate before their eyes and can't do a thing about it....so cruel.

I had my mum stay with me for many months on end to give my Dad a break and i think many men find it hard to cope with every day things especially when it comes to doing personal hygiene for another person. I'm sure your Dad will appreciate the break, for sure.

Anytime Kathryn, i'm here.

Love Janice

 My heart goes out to you all "Alzheimers" is not only so cruel for the person who has but is worse for their family as they have just watch this beautiful person deteriorate before their eyes and can't do a thing about it....so cruel.

I had my mum stay with me for many months on end to give my Dad a break and i think many men find it hard to cope with every day things especially when it comes to doing personal hygiene for another person. I'm sure your Dad will appreciate the break, for sure.

Anytime Kathryn, i'm here.

Love Janice

 My heart goes out to you all "Alzheimers" is not only so cruel for the person who has but is worse for their family as they have just watch this beautiful person deteriorate before their eyes and can't do a thing about it....so cruel.

I had my mum stay with me for many months on end to give my Dad a break and i think many men find it hard to cope with every day things especially when it comes to doing personal hygiene for another person. I'm sure your Dad will appreciate the break, for sure.

Anytime Kathryn, i'm here.

Love Janice

Thanks Janice, x5 ;-) !

Well, we got to school on time, so that was a relief. But I ran about booking th eparty and shopping at Aldis while Soph was at the childminders, so I just crashed in the afternoon. Soph got to play with playdough for a LONG time! Sorry to hear about your mum. Its such a horrible illness, isnt it?

Thanks Winnie.

I think I overdid it a little - I was sooo worn out after the school run this afternoon. Maybe it was all the showers I had to dodge! But I got the party booked at a big softplay, and just wrote all the invites, so that is a good start. Smile is fixed on my face!