Yesterday was a day of chores. Mr Hsg is full of cold, he has ‘man flu’.  The rain was torrential and it was windy.  The Marina staff turns the water off in November, to stop the sudden freeze and damage to the water pipes on the pontoons.  One tap at the far end of the pontoon is left on because it is heated to keep from freezing.  So, Mr Hsg got dressed in his warmest wet weather gear and went outside to connect our hoses together to fill the tank.

The toilet cassettes also needed emptying, something that definitely cannot be left. I offered to do all of this but he insisted that he would do it.  When the water needs filling we do everything that uses water whilst filling it so that we end up with a full tank.  I put the washing on and had a shower and did the washing up.

The wooden pontoons become very slippery in winter, and my balance is not good, so I am really careful not to slip.  Back when I was at the University of Leicester studying Psychology, I attended the British Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Newcastle. I think it was in 1995, anyway, I went to a lecture being given by psychologist Pat Rabbit on Dementia/Alzheimer’s, and he said that it was shown that people who had difficulty in closing their eyes and stand on one leg was an early indication of possible Alzheimer’s. It has been something that has stuck with me, mainly because even then I was unable to do that without falling!   I used to laugh about it because I have never been able to do it. I thought it was because I was dyspraxic and had poor balance.  Now, who knows!!

When all the chores were done, the washing drying in the dryer, the beef stew I made the day before was heating, I made parsley dumplings and popped them in.  Being gluten intolerant, I can’t use suet because they add flour, and gluten free flour does not always perform well.  Mr Hsg had a hot shower, sat by the fire (we have a multi fuel stove in the corner at the bow) and I served him up hot stew with dumplings which turned out quite yummy.

My brother, who is 11 years younger than me (I am 59) phoned, we are close and I know he is having difficulty with my diagnosis.   “When will you have more tests and get a prognosis” he asked. “I have had all the tests and the prognosis is unknown, 5 to 15 years if I am lucky before I am no longer me” I answered him.  He then reminded me he sees his consultant on the 2nd Jan, because they say his frontal lobe has shrunk. He has had episodes similar to epilepsy.  He said he had spoken to our Dad who is very worried about my brother now because of my diagnosis.  Me too, hopefully it will not be of lasting seriousness.

We will have to wait and see….