kp still doing very well, but this week she has had flu-like symptoms, so it’s knocked her for 6 a bit.

This week, Natalise, the new support worker started. She came on Monday along with Patti (Natalie’s boss) to take Karen out for a drive. The idea is Karen needs to feel safe in the car with her. I went along to give directions and Karen was happy with Natalie’s driving, so that’s good.

Natalie was due to start on Wednesday. Tuesday, I was starting to think Karen was not 100%, but she kept saying she was fine.

dp:- I think you’re coming down with something.
kp:- I’m fine.

Tuesday, we went to physio at Seaham (a double-session). I took her as Natalie was on training. She did an hour with Steve doing various balance things and some treadmill work. It went very well. Then it was an hour with Joanne who did her massaging and stretching to try and loosen Karen’s left shoulder. It was educational for me too. Karen’s upper stroke-side limbs have a tendency to curl in. This happens with all of the limb, so her shoulder stiffens, her lower arm is carried at bra height (without her realising), her hand curves in, and her fingers curl in, so Joanne makes sure they keep “not stretched in”, although the physios call it some thing else, like “maintain extension” or something like that.

Steve explained it well. The brain doesn’t receive as many signals from the limb as it used to, so to compensate it sends more signals to the arm to try and get a response, but it doesn’t, so more signals get sent and in the long run, it has the effect of telling the muscles to contract. You learn somat every day.

Interestingly, Steve told Karen that he thought she was coming down with something, and at that, I couldn’t help but tell Karen that I told her that too, but she still wasn’t convinced.

After the physio, we went for a bag of chips and to sit at the seafront. It was freezing and blowing a gale, but that’s what makes the chips so much more enjoyable. Karen’s appetite (which is never very good), was not upto it, so she had some “fresh air” instead.

After physio, home for a bath.

Wednesday, Natalie started. We sat down with her and did our usual spiel (to new support workers). I went through Karen’s injuries and how they affect her, especially the brain injury. Then the girls chatted for ages to get to know each other more. Karen later told me that she thinks Natalie will be great, and I concurred.

I think they spent the afternoon following my mum’s recipe trying to make some mince pies, and in my opinion, she did a great job, but because they weren’t as light and perfectly formed as my mum’s, she didn’t think they were too clever, but they tasted lovely.

The following day, the girls spent the morning preparing veg for the evening meal, which they had to abort ‘cos Karen couldn’t face food any more. I finished it off and made some lovely Steak and Ale Casserole, but unfortunately, Karen couldn’t face it on the night time, so I pretty much ate the lot

On the afternoon, I took Karen to an appointment at the Sleep Clinic in Durham. Karen’s sleep is 10x better than it was (thanks to Amytrypteline), so the lady consultant suggested we stick with it, if it was working, because the other option is that she wear a mask to bed everynight, which pumps air into Karen whenever she breathes in. We were happy with that.

Friday was an awkward start to the day. Karen got up and just sat on the bed in the changing room and couldn’t think of anything. She didn’t know what to do, should she have a shower ? shouldn’t she ? I couldn’t do right for wrong, and it got a bit heated. In the end, she accepted that she had come down with some bug and that she should take it easy. The plans for the day were scrapped and Natalie who had arrived on time, was told her services wouldn’t be required. Karen slept a lot of the day, and she woke up better for the sleep, which was great.

She has hardly eaten anything this week, the odd mince pie, the odd biscuit, and probably 2 boxes of Bran Flakes, but no proper meals. She couldn’t face the Saturday night pizza. But, at least she has accepted that she has come down with something and that this is the normal kind of downer that we all get from time to time.

Saturday and Sunday have been a leisurely weekend. I walked the dogs, ‘cos kp wasn’t upto it, no energy at all.

This is a photo I took on the Saturday dog walk. It was the most beautiful red sky, but not sure this photo does it its full justice.

And that’s this week in a nutshell.

Next week is a busy week.