A clean start - in more ways than one.

I'm back from my break - refreshed and revived, ready to fight the fray. I had a wonderful time with my mother. We chatted non-stop, while we emptied out bulging cupboards, hacked back rampant undergrowth in her garden, washed net curtains and cleaned windows. We went for gentle walks (she hardly ever leaves the house otherwise) or went out for trips in the car. I have brought her back with me for a little holiday in the metropolis. She will also be here with me when Kay returns from her adventures at the weekend. There will be so many stories to hear then.

On that subject I cannot believe a whole month has nearly gone by since I last saw Kay. When I got home, I discovered two emails from her sent over the last two weeks telling me what she has been doing and of her adventures. It was a welcome relief as I had been worrying terribly, as some of you already know. My fears were made worse by the story in the press last week about a group of boys from Tunbridge Wells who were in Guatemala on the same sort of expedition with the same organisation and were attacked by armed bandits. Kay was due to take the same route as these boys a few days later, so I was truly alarmed and could not settle. Her emails therefore buoyed me up. I am counting the days till her safe return.


To thank me for not being in use these past few weeks, my trusty washing machine decided to give up the ghost and the drum would not turn at all either to rotate the clothes while they wash, or to spin them at the end. I suspect the washing machine decided to go on strike before Kay throws muddy trousers and mosquito-splatted tops in its direction, when she gets home. It is hardly worth the call-out charge to get someone to look at it, as I know they will write it off. It has served its time over many many years, anyway. So my priority has been to find a replacement as quickly as possible. These days there are so many to choose from..... from the basic switch on/ switch off, to ones with control panels that look like an aeroplane cockpit! I have spent the last few days sticking my head inside the drums, twiddling the knobs and making up my mind about whether there's a bargain to be had. I wonder if they take empty whisky bottles in part exchange? I am lining up the laundry in anticipation of its arrival, hence the "clean start" to my title.

To those who asked me in my last post why I bought enough whisky for Greg to last during my absence and why I did not leave him to make his own choices, my answer is simple. If I did not supply Greg with whisky, he would certainly go out and get it himself. However, that would mean him getting into his car and driving about half a mile or so either eastwards to an off-licence or westwards to a supermarket. Bear in mind, on most days he can barely stand, let alone walk or drive a car. If he killed himself whilst driving under the influence, I accept he would have only himself to blame, but I could not have it on my conscience, if he killed someone else in the process. I have tried to confiscate his car keys so many times in the past and it has led to even more conflict between us and subterfuge on his part to steal my set of keys from wherever I try to hide them. He cannot walk the distance to the various outlets, because he gets severe pains in his legs (a side effect of the smoking and heart disease). To leave him without alcohol altogether is not an option as the withdrawal symptoms would be too dangerous... hallucinations, convulsions and coma being the worst. So I figure that buying him the supplies is the best option all round until he can either reduce his consumption or kill himself. Whichever comes first.

Greg did not look at all well on my return. He had not eaten ANY of the food I had prepared for him or the ready meals left in the freezer. He had basically existed on a diet of whisky and virtually nothing else, apart from the occasional can of soup. He looks very thin, can barely walk and needs my help to stand up from the sofa. We have an appointment with the GP this afternoon who has asked him to come in for the results of some blood tests done a few weeks ago. I fear the results will not be good.