Got the confirmation today that draft contract has been issued for the bungalow - our solicitor issued draft contract to our buyer so we're on track.

Went out to the bungalow last friday with simon, our builder. He confirmed that there isn't any felt under the roofing tiles, which is going to be a major repair job, however he believes that there is an alternative option to stripping the all roof tiles off. There are some repairs to do - re pointing two of the three stacks, cleaning (moss) some of the tiles and replacing some (ridge) that are damaged, some of the ceilings may have to be replaced too - they're all softboard instead of plaster board, so we should really replace them all but...... Anyway, once this has all be done and we've rewired the place, we can arrange for insulation to be put in and there is now supposed to be a spray foam that can be sprayed onto the INSIDE of the tiles and seals them in the same way that roofing felt would, but we obvioulsy can't do this until all the external repairs have been done, as any tiles removed afterwards would break the seal.

He checked all the signs of 'damp' and it all seem to be 'old' - all dried out. There are some condensation marks on walls etc that will need to be cleaned, however there is going to be a MAJOR cleaning job in the kitchen. Some of the appliances have obviously leaked and have heavily stained the floor. We've asked if this can be resolved before we exchange. Havn't had confirmation yet.

Today the surveyors report finally arrived, and was pretty much as we expected. However there does seem to be a significant amount of damp, but subject to what our friendly buikder has to say, should cause us any problems.. Most of the other stuff will be covered by any refurbishment that we intend to do.

He's valued it at 10k under the price that it was offered for sale, which must be his 'thing' as he did exactly the same with the first bungalow that we looked at.

Things are moving along at a reasonably good pace.

We've now had the sales particulars for our buyer, and as of yesterday we've had confirmation that things are now moving on the bungalow. The previous occupant was apparently the aunt of someone who lives and works in scotland. He's signed of all the probate papers and is having the bungalow cleared 2moro so we may not be able to get the chairs that we wanted as he had ALL the contents valued for the house clearance so may not be able to pull them out of the deal.

Our surveyor went last weekend, but as yet we haven't had his report.

We've completed and signed all the papers for the sale of the flat, Rodney had only incurred costs of £234 on the abortive purchase of the other bungalow so he still has a bit of THAT deposit left, we've just had to give him the deposit for our sale and a bit more for the new purchase.

David's condition is NOT improving and some evenings he's virtually incapable of walking at all, although he still insists on trying but will always end up on the floor where he then gets really frustrated because he doesn't have the strength to get up again, what's more frustrating for me is that HE WON'T ask for help, he'll just sit on the floor until I end up searching him out, but I can't physically help, although I will usually show him how he should be trying, which he's always ignored although I've lost count of the times I've told him and he does it automatically anyway with out prompting when it suits him :( and when he thinks I'm not looking ;)

Where has the time been going :(

Just after last post found that the surveyor's engagement papers had gone missing(the survey had been done on 12th, but hadn't received anything by 22nd so chased it up), then they hand delivered copies of the papers to the wrong flat but because they'd gone on holiday just afterwards it took another week to find out :(

When we finally got the report at the beginning of november, there was quite a bit of work that we hadn't expected - all fairly minor, but quite a lot of individual jobs which when you 'tot up' the costs came to quite a lot more that we wanted to spend.

The surveyor had given a lower valuation so we asked around for approx costings, initially to back up any request to bring the price down to the surveyors valuation, but we were working to a deadline imposed by the agent for the property at the top of the chain and time was running out. Finally our agent came back with some offers for our flat that were way down on what we needed, so we reluctantly chose to pull out of the purchase of the bungalow.. This was last Thursday. We managed to get hold of Rodney, our solicitor on Friday and discussed it with him, but GOM's health is paramount and as all this is having a detrimental affect, he agreed that we should cancel the purchase.

I'd done some more research last week when it looked like we might lose the bungalow and ironically had been to look at another bungalow on thursday afternoon before we found out about the offers for our flat (gom was supposed to be coming too but he wasn't well enough), so got back to the agent and have arranged another viewing for gom when he should be well enough on Monday.

We'd had a run down to look at the outside last sunday (13th) so knew it was accessible. When I went on Thursday, I had the wheelchair and it got in very easily. The garden path is well maintained AND there is rear access.

The bathroom and kitchen will need to be replaced, and only the two bay windows (lounge and Master Bedroom) have been double glazed. There are french doors from the dining room to the garden that will need to be replace, plus a large and small window in the kitchen, the bathroom window and the other bedroom. Also the kitchen door and the front door, which rather surprisingly is a single glazed glass door - a security risk, so will have to go asap..... if we get it
;().

Then because it's only a 2 Bedroom whereas the other had three, we will probably have a conservatory built from the dining room to create the extra room or extend into the roof,..... or even both :().

Went back for another look today to sort out where the rear access led to and sorted that out, and we went to find out where two other bungalow's were, but in the event, neither were suitable. Apart from being on a busy main road, gom didn't feel safe using the pavements that we would be using to get into town. Although fairly well maintained, quite a few of the driveways dipped, so it was like riding a switchback, which gom hated.

Better get off to see if I can catch up on the sleep I've been losing :(

Prospective buyers still aren't prepared to make an offer because of the kitchen -we knew it would be probably be an issue but thought they may still make an offer under the asking price - but no, the kitchen is putting them off completely.

But there was no point in spending 000's of pounds on new kitchen units that someone would probably just come in and change anyway, so I went looking for some Fablon. Found some teak wood effect that I've covered the work tops with (the orginal was wood effect) - couldn't find anything in marble effect then went looking for something to cover the doors/drawers. Ended up with more fablon - this time in a cherry wood effect. Also got some matt black fablon to do the exposed cupboard ends with. Only had enough cherry wood to do the lower doors and drawers - there are 6 regular doors and one slightly wider door on upper cupboards to do but only had enough fablon left to do 5 doors so will leave them as white.

We have someone coming 2moro so we'll see if it makes any difference :(

Still haven't managed to find a buyer for our main flat here, and now thanks to the abysmal solicitor who is acting for the buyer of our lavender hill flat, that sale has stalled just as we though we erer going to complete this week %(

We're getting calls from the London agent who is in turn phoning the buyer who is about to go into hospital any day now to have a baby.

Her solicitor is doing ALL THE WRONG THINGs and seems to be trying to shift the blame - she won't accept that she is wrong (the solicitor NOT the buyer), so our solicitor has given up trying to convince her she's doing it all wrong (she won't back down) he's trying to get the information that she wants but as some of it is more than 30 years old it's probably buried in some archives somewhere IF it even exists after all this time :(. Then she's doing other stuff 'back to front' and asking for papers BEFORE exchange that are normally NOT issued until AFTER completion.

She won't agree to pay certain admin fees that are normally liable as a result of producing the paperwork that she is asking for AND insists that they should be paid by us (the vendor) when that are normally paid by the buyer AFTER completion AAGGHH.

Then to put the icing on the cake (HA!!), she sat on the buyer's approved mortgage papers for SIX WEEKS before someone noticed that the names on the papers were wrong, so NOW they've got to be amended

Went back out for a second view of the bungalow this afternoon.

Just wanted a second look at the furniture before we confirm that we want it.

The dining room suite is wonderful - table, 6 chairs, 2 carvers and matching display/cocktail unit that is TEN AND A HALF FEET Long 8)

The lounge suite isn't bad either. Three seater soft leather sofa, two armchairs (which ALL have a reclining mechanism - yes all sections of the sofa too) and matching footstools, it's looks like a dark terracotta colour

There are actually four pieces in the kitchen white goods ' tall' fridge, small freezer, washing machine and dishwasher. Then on a viewing of the garage (more like a barn) he asked if we wanted a large patio set - OK.

Going back for one more visit next week with our architect to look at what modifications we may have to do to the outside to aid accessibility.

Monday viewed bungalow and 'thought I'd died and gone to heaven'. :()
Tuesday agent valued our flat
Wednesday agent took photos of flat, made offer on bungalow which was eventualy agreed.

Today (thursday) I had some time out to go and print our access group's newsletter, but morning was pretty frantic with phone calls.

I managed to sleep a bit better last night now that everything is more settled, but I've had a migraine 'lurking' all day :(

Have some prospective buyers coming round with the agent tomorrow while we're out doing our shopping.

Haven't heard anymore about the completion on Battersea but I still can't get David to contact the utility companies AAGGHH :(

Had to make a detour from my normal route into town yesterday and just happend to glance in agents window. Saw a bungalow that I though had been removed from the market by another agent - the vendor was obviously just changing agents :()

Got the details and have arranged a viewing for Monday.

Once again it's at the top end of our budget and it's also just outside the borough, BUT it's within a mile of our usual haunts so we went out for a trial run this morning after our normal trip to pick up the Sunday newspapers.

It's got all the things that we are looking for - 3 bedrooms, two reception rooms, a south facing rear garden which seem to be mainly laid to lawn at the moment. The front has MASSES of 'off street' parking. It's not on a main road. There is a little corner shop/newsagents on the corner as well as a postbox.

We'll have to build or get portable ramps for the front entrance and from the raised patio to the garden, BUT as we live on a flood plain it's unlikely that we'll get anything that won't need to have ramps - everything's going to be built up.

The vendor is a retired widow who wants to go into a retirement home, so it's also likely to be in a better decorative order that the last one that we looked at where there was a young family with cats. The carpest were a bit threadbear and the windows would have needed to be replaced.

It's not clear yet of this has completely been double glazed, but there are some replacement units - front door and kitchen, so it should need too much work.

GOM had got his initial calculations wrong - he'd missed an addition, so we have more in reserve that he thought, so we may be able get a little bit done, but I still don't want to have to do much decorating. If it's ok in other ways

The first bungalow that we looked at on 28th, looked fine from the front - the drive way was a nice size, but gom's ramp was a little big to fit the doorways so we elected to go round the back to use the french doors.

This was when the 'baloon burst' The concrete path was all broken and patchy, then at the end of the house and the start of the conservatory, the path way became small paving blocks set into gravel, so the wheelchair got stuck :(

Fortunately the promised rain hadn't come so gom waited in the garden while I walked round.

It had it's good points - level floors, wide doorways and hallways, but the carpets were a bit 'threadbare' and some of the roof window frames were in a poor state. We need a place that's in 'good decorative order' as we know we will invariably have to do some modifications outside for ramps etc so don't want anthing that's going to 'eat into that budget'. It was at the top end of our budget anyway, so we're going to have a hefty stamp duty bill to pay ontop.

Trying to get an appointment to view nearer town. It's smaller, and it's NOT a south facing garden, but they must get some sun as they have a pool in the garden %

We shall see

There is another place that we've been offered - which is a little bit OVER budget AND slighty out of our ideal catchment area, it's also a bit to close to a school :(

Things are beginning to 'crank up a gear' with our impending move. It's been more than six weeks now since we accepted the offer on the london flat so I've started to search for properties locally so that we could have something lined up should we get to complete soon.

Found some real 'stunners' one of which was vacant possesion, however it turns out that even though they have the same postal address as us, because they are on the other side of the river they are in a different borough (river forms the borough boundary). This wouldn't necessarily be too much of a problem but it adds a bit to our journey time if we travel on foot/powertrike into town ;().

Have one property lined up to go and view next week, which is on THIS side of the river albeit in a different borough. It's still within 3 miles of where we are now though, so this has been an 'eye opener' how close we are to the boundaries with other boroughs -we sort of knew about the river , but were confused when the postal addresses were the same :(.

gom's condition is still very much up and down on a daily basis. Even though the weather is considerably cooler. We're still more or less sticking to the morning routine for everything we do. After his usual morning gym sessions he can invariable manage to get up the stairs in 'super fast' time (well for him it is), yet yesterday, we went out to a luncheon event at about 10.30 getting back about 3.30 and he really struggled to get up the stairs, and had a 'little accident' in the bargain :(

We usually take 'precautions whenever we go out by visiting the 'used beer department' before returning home, but yesterday even this didn't seem to help.

Today the 'used beer department' was occupied but he didn't feel any risk so we came straight home, but .... yep he got 'wet'. Then he went to work in the study and concentrated on the work he was doing that he left it too late and ended up leaving a trail before he reach the loo, fortunately the study has a vinyl floor but the rest of his route is carpeted :( So another change of clothes!!

Blimey!!! where has the last month gone. Hadn't realiset it was that long since I've posted anything.

Still waiting to hear anything about the sale of the flat at Battersea Our solicitor has all the papers and has issed a draft contract.

I've got one final? trip up there 2moro to pick up the last bit of furniture. Couldn't get a van, but it should all fit in the Kangoo.

Packing has shifted up a gear and I've cleared one of our wardrobes and got it dismantled ready to go into storage. I came 'flat pack' because it's made of 'real' wood and has been stained, so the only way to get it out was to dismantle it again. It's the smaller of the 2 so I was just able to do it myself. The top was just ligt enough for me to lift off, but when we have to do the larger one, that takes two people to lift the top. Any excess clothes have been packed away and have gone over to the storage units. I've started renting a smaller ground floor one which makes life a bit easier, but I will have to starte putting the smaller stuff upstaires as soon as I can as the gf one less that half the size of the one upstairs.

Well time to go

Mustn't leave it so long next time, but with the hot weather and all the extra packing, It's difficult finding the time at the moment

where has the time gone!!!

We've had an offer on the london flat, just got to get gom to do all the paper work now :(

The buyer wants to move in asap but gom won't PULL HIS FINGER OUT.

I asked him ages ago to cancel the phone account,as there's no equipment up there but did he?.........

He needs to get the last bills out for water, phone, electricity and rates to send to our solicitor but has he?.........

Our solicitor sent us the papers over a week ago but he he won't get going on it.

We got over the asking rpice so the omens are good for us being able to get soemthing good at this end, but AAGGHH he's driving me mad with his lack of activity.

A freind is taking me up to the flat on sunday to clear everything out - which means leaving gom on his own for about 4 hours but I'm not placing any bets that he'll get anything done

WOW another week gone and I didn't get into to post.... again.

On Monday I had a train trip up to the London Flat, only one of the agents turned up, but I can't spare anymore time, so we're going with these. Got curtains up, bed made, and a little vacuming and floor cleaning done.

Tuesday was our sole pool session this week- trainer on course on Thursday. Only did half an hour today. On previous sessions the fatigue has cut in even before we got home, so it's obviously too much. GOM was reasonably ok when we got home - managed most of the stairs but I had to meet him at the top to get him the last little bit in the 'glide about' chair /commode. Phoned Community Care this morning to try and get a commode that we can keep in the bedroom. The 'glide about' has been ok so far but now I have to keep moving it out of the bedroom for daytime use so it's a bit inconvenient.

David has started to double the dose of his medication. He's been on one a day, just taking am, but there has always been the option for doubling up, but he's not been too keen.... 'til now. It'll be a few days before we know if it's having any effect.

Heard from our london decorator that he can't remove the rubbish that we've left in the yard at the london flat because his van's broken down. :(

Wednesday contacted the agents about the rubish, but they say they want to continue so will post them the keys. Phone GOM's doctors - if he sticks with this double dose he's going to need a new prescription sooner than normal. Appointment next Tuesday. It's an afternoon one but if the tablets start working we may be ok, if not....... well cross that bridge etc.

Thursday, no pool session but a few errands to do. Post keys to agents and OH YES IT'S MY BIRTHDAY :().

Then we had a phone call to say that the commode is ready to be delivered so we had to be back by 12 noon. Bought David a shirt at debenhams.

Friday usual Waitrose shopping trip, nothing un toward happened.

And here we are back at Saturday again. GOM's therapist help me get some furniture down to the car. Then I can either leave it in the garage or take it when I go to the storage unit on Monday with the other stuff. It means I've managed to clear the lounge out a bit - I've been able to move one of the units into another room (study), so that we have a bit more room to keep the 'glide about' in one place during the day.

Chinese Street festival tomorrow which may be interesting

Can't believe where the last week has gone. I had a meeting on Monday, that meant that I didn't get up to the london flat to sort it out.

Tuesday we were getting ready for the usual gym session when they phoned to say the lift was out..... yet AGAIN.

At least that meant that GOM was able to get on with the Accounts. But had to make a trip down to the office to pick up some copies of missing papers.

At my meeting on Monday I met the Chair of one of voluntary Groups (the one that NEEDS the accounts completed) and she arranged to come round on Wednesday to 'chase up' GOM.

This meant that we were later than normal getting out on Wednesday, but we still managed to get back 'before the coach turned back into the pumpkin'

By thursday the lift was fixed so we had our normal pool session. I'd tried to book a doctors appointment for myself as I've had some strange discomfort around my waist under my ribs, but couldn't get one. Arranged for the doctor on triage on Friday to call me back (not convenient for me on the day as we've got the gym session) After we'd changed after a fairly longer session, we decided to try out the new concession that had recently opened in the club room. Only then (about 11.30) did we find out about the bombs. So we stayed for some lunch and watched their wide screen tv. Got home about 2pm. Unfortunately the fatigue had already cut in, so GOM had a little 'accident' before he got back (he can't control his bladder if he has to concentrate on 'walking), but we're getting used to this now. However he was completely deflated for the rest of the day and I had to push him around in the chair until bedtime.

Friday everything was more or less back to 'normal' (as normal as it can be). The doctor phoned me about 08.10 but couldn't offer much help over the phone, so he asked me to got down for an examination. Got there about 8.25, saw him about 8.35, but he still couldn't find anything so it's just 'wait and see'. GOM had to stay in bed while I was out - normally I won't go out until he's showered, but he wasn't even properly awake so it was better to leave him where he was. Got back about 8.50. We got out for our shopping just after 10.30 and were back about 12.

GOM's sister phoned to let us know she had got home - she'd had a business meeting in london on Thursday, and although this wasn't affected she couldn't get home afterwards so had to stay with a friend at Putney overnight.

Also found out that my b-i-l had been in Edware Road at the time of the blasts, thankfully away from the incidents, so actually managed to get home - he drove in.

And here we are back at Saturday again. I've got to get up to the london flat on Monday. Last bit of cleaning, make the bed, put up some curtains and the shower curtain and meet with two estate agents for valuations - should be interesting

Weather been quite cool again, so not too many problems for GOM, did our shop this morning, which left him free this afternoon to do some work on one of the THREE sets of accounts that he's SUPPOSED to be working on. Did he ? Did he ever AAGGHH. Instead he did one of the other two sets that have got a later deadline. I GIVE UP......

Regretably wrote a letter today to GOM's neurologist in London asking to cancel his next appointment on 18th July and for a referal to a neurologist at our local hospital.

The National Hospital of Neurology and Nervous diseases (NHNN) is the recognised 'centre of excellence' for MS and other neurological problems. It was very convenient to go there when GOM was working, however the last 4 years since he retired in 2000 have been increasingly difficult. At first we could still get public transport (train and bus), but the timing of our appointments always meant we got caught in the london 'rush hour'. Then we asked for the appointments to be switched from winter to summer months so that the neurologist could see how the heat was affecting him, but this resulted in having to get a taxi last year for an emergency visit. We didn't get much change out of £100. We were able to arrange hospital transport for the next visit, but this is very hit and miss and with 12 months between appointments it wasn't possible to arrange this time.

Then with the recent developments with the fatigue we took the decision that even if we could arrange a car, it was going to be difficult for GOM to get out, so we wrote the letter. Post it tomorrow.

We've had a recommendation of a neurologist from one of our local MS group, but don't know if we'll be able to get him or not. He's not based at the nearest fo the hospitals in our local group, but it will still be a lot cheaper than going to london. An d we already have connections with the local hospital MS rehab team, so it should tie up quite nicely

This time last year....... ah well. Second 'consecutive' hydrotherapy session today. Fatigue has cut in a bit quicker today though. GOM needed help from the top of the stairs and into the flat then had to 'retire to bed' during the afternoon. Hopefully should all be well tomorrow and we're trying another pool session on Thurday. We're still at the 'suck it and see' stage, we don't know what's going to be too much and what's goint to be enough to help him. We're trying to find a balance between the 'cooling' effect of being in the water with the extra exercise that's being done walking up and down the pool. We used to only do it once a fortnight, but now we're trying for twice a week!!!

Grumpy's mobility still pretty good, but then again the weather is still quite cool. Didn't need the fans on yesterday and got through the night without either having to 'shed the duvet' or turn on the bedroom fan.

We both got out this morning and sat in the riverside park to drink our tea. Also broke with 'tradition' and picked up some supplies at the supermarket. We would normall shop on monday after noons, but our revised schedule of morning trips only means that it would clash with the visit of our crossroads care attendant.

All being well I'll have another trip up to the flat that we want to sell in London, and get some more cleaning up done. Also I may be able to spend a little more time up there as I won't have to rush back for the shopping trip

Yesterday's session of hydro therapy may have done some good. We went out this morning to do our shopping and so far grumpy's still able to get around under his own steam. It is a bit cooler as well, so it's difficult to tell which has helped.

His appetite is still affected - we would normally have an indian or chinese on Friday's but he reckons he's OFF 'spicy' food. Alchohol is also off but for different reasons. Staple diet of salads for the forseeable. It's helping that he's able to get out, over last weekend he didn't get out between Friday and Tuesday and he hardly ate, but by going out every morning he is eating whatever I put on his plate for dinner.

Did some reading up last night on the effect that the heat has on somone with ms and have realised that his increased incidences of vertigo may also be down to the fatigue. There are quite a few things available, all with a price attached, that can help keep cool, but the cold 'splash' jsut before bed seems to be helping and also now possibly the sessions that he has in the pool have the double benefit? of getting the important exercise AND getting his core temperature down

The lift was working at the gym again so grumpy went and has some hydrotherapy - just really walking up and down their pool. It's about 20 metres long and because the water comes up to his chest he's supported and doesn't need to use any conventional walking aids - occasionally the normal 'floats'. It's also a nice cool atmosphere for him at the moment. When he's had this type of therapy in the past, it was once a fortnight, but his current trainer is happy to try every session (twice a week?) if he can manage it. As long as there aren't too many other people in the pool I get a good' splash about' as well.

He did the best bit of 45 minutes this morning that I thought may have been too much, but we'll see what he's like between now and the weekend? The Fatigue can take up to 24hrs to kick in and sometimes it can be vicious!!!

We've got our rearranged shopping trip tomorrow which could be interesting?

Good start to the day. We had a business meeting to attend at 10am to get some accounts 'examined', managed without the wheelchair one way, but needed it to get back to the car, then the energy failed on the last leg of coming back up the stairs and I had to get the ramp and chair out onto the hallway to get him from the top of the stairs into the flat.

Still better than this time last year !!

Tuesday is normally one of grumpy's days to visit the gym for sessions with a personal trainer, how as all their facilities are on the first floor and the lift broke last thursday we couldn't go. However I didn't want to waste time when he has some strength so we stuck to our normal (well almost) time and did some errands such as taking some bottles to the bottle banks and paying some cheques into the bank. Was pleasantly surprised with the nice breeze which kept the temperature quite nice in the shade, had a walk (me walking him driving his PowerTrike) down to the riverside park, but there were no seats in the shade that were unoccupied so we came home. He'd had about 45 minutes of 'fresh' air so that wasn't bad for someone who hadn't been out since Friday. He also managed to get back up the stairs quite quickly (for him anyway) which was a good sign.

We've decided that for the duration of this 'heatwave' we will only go out between 10 am and 12pm by which time his energy levels have started to drop significantly

Monday is our day when we have a Crossroads care attendant come in for an hour. At the moment this just gives me a bit of free time to sort out our garage that has been the home for a load of gubbins since I sold my house 2 years ago and had to de clutter this flat to make room for it all. Not an ideal place, so when we finally had to accept that we would have to move from here, it meant MORE de cluttering. This time we've rented a storage unit and I've been de cluttering the garage as well as this flat for the last 3 months

Grumpy also has a flat in London that we've got to sell but it's been a bit slow getting it ready. The decorator has done his bit, but now it's my turn to clear up and declutter up there too, but as this involves a train journey there and back, I only get about an hour or two to do stuff then I have to come back I really need to spend a couple of days there but can't take Grumpy up there as it's on two levels, also as it's only small he'd be under my feet all the time so I'd be worse off. So need to find somewhere I can dump him while I work, I've asked him to ask his sister as she sometimes works from home, but I'm not holding my breath!!!

He's been really weak again today, he was ok for a couple of hours after he got up, but by 2pm all his energy was gone so I had to do the shopping on my own, may go back to using our on line account and have it delivered from sainsburys.

Next hurdle is to see if I can get him to eat.

Our care attendant made him some lunch which is an improvement, and I've bought some yoghurts/deserts that I'm hoping he will eat, may be I should also try to get some more fruit?

Awake early as usual although I nearly had a fit when I looked at the clock on my side of the bed which showed 10.50. Then looked over to the radio alarm and found it was only 6.40ish. When the batteries on my clock run down, the hands stick.

There's not usually much I can do till my gom gets up and due to his fatigue he usually sleeps for about 10-11 hours.

Most days I get up between 8 and 8.30 and make us some cold drinks to take back to bed. I also start the coffee brewing.

I may try to get showered if I'm up early enough, but mainly I have my shower after my gom's got up 'cause he wouldn't be able to answer the phone while he's still in bed but once he's up he's usually in a room with a phone extension.

With the hot summer days finally arrived he's becoming a real worry. It makes him physically weaker and this impacts on his psychological state. He has quite a few jobs to do for the voluntary organisations that we work with BUT he can't motivate himself enough to do them and I end up having to 'encourage' him which stresses us both out.

Last year at this time we managed to get away on a cruise, but we won't have that relief this year.

My hayfever's really bad this year. I've had it all my life so I don't know what it's like to go through summer without itchy eyes, but the last couple of years I've not been able to get any relief (except when we went on the cruise)

Our usual weekly routine would be to shop Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, then my gom sees a personal trainer at a gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays.. Regular exercise normally helps to maintain what little mobility he has left, but, because it's not available on the nhs we have to pay for private sessions. We also have someone come to the flat for an hour on saturdays.

My Gom doesn't like going out on Saturdays because he doesn't like the crowds, I just pop out to get the weekend papers and browse some of the shops. Then sundays we both go out to get the papers and weather permiting we go for a ride to the local park or somewhere for morning coffee. David has a motorised attachment for his wheelchiar and I have a bicycle.

Today however, it was TOO HOT, so I just walked into town to get the papers. I just have to make sure my gom eats and drinks enough!