Saturday

We got up early for breakfast with Ig and Og.

…and then dropped them off at Durham Bus Station before heading for Jane and Guy’s (Bury, Lancashire).

It was great to see them all again so soon after the holiday and the kids were so much closer to us than pre-holiday. Jamie was all over Karen which was really great to see.

We went bathroom hunting in Burnley and then came back for Roast Lamb, cooked in Jane’s aga. It was lovely, finished with mum’s home made strawberries and ice cream.
Sunday

Today, we came home after a thoroughbly enjoyable weekend. On the way home, kp got to asking health-related questions like ….

kp:- When do you think my arm will be better ?

kp:- When do you think my walking will be better ?

kp:- When do you think my personality will be back ?

kp:- Do you think I will ever drive again ?
I told her I never thought the arm would get as good as it has, but that I expect it will continue to improve for another year or so. As for walking, there is probably a big improvement coming after her hernia op and then another 1 to 2 years improvement, but gradual improvement after that. Driving again ? I asked her why she didn’t feel like she could drive now ? She feels that she doesn’t trust her eyes enough. By this, she means, physical eyesight and the inattention she has in her left field of vision. There are also physical issues, such as clutch control (in her stroke leg) and steering with one hand, but there are ways round this.

As for personality, I told her that if she had asked the question to most people about her personality, they would have said she was exactly the same person as she was pre-accident. She feels she doesn’t have the confidence she had before and she doesn’t join in as much. I tried to reassure her that this wasn’t the case, but she feels strongly, that she isn’t the same kp as pre-accident. I reassured her that it would get better over time, but it would be very, what’s the word I am after, innocuous, surreptitious, something like that.

She has been a very anxious passenger in both directions this weekend. I wound the window down in Barnard Castle, and she awoke from her snooze very alarmed. Her car travelling seems to be getting worse, rather than better, will have to keep an eye on this !