“I’ve not been too good. But I’m coming out of it.”

Hiya, this is Jo Bennett. Long time, no reporting.

I’ve not been too good. But I’m coming out of it. Mentally and physically. Physically with a horrible lurgy. My first day out today. I’m just going for a very slow, gentle walk. Also physically because I’ve hurt my foot running, which has helped to plunge me into the depths, because I can’t run. But at least I’m out today for the first time in ages. I’m allowed to be out alone, which is fabulous. In the fresh air, and I’m just walking very, very slowly. I’ve been set a very small target where I have to turn around and walk back very, very slowly.

It is wonderful to be back out, in the fresh air. And the demons, all the octopuses, or whatever they’re called, are back in force, saying I’m still here, where you are not feeling very bright. In other words depression, which is a bit of a bugbear, to put it mildly. But I’m beating it. I’ve signed up to have some top-up sessions for mindfulness, which I know will do me a world of good. I’ve also had my meds increased.

All in all things aren’t too bad, in fact. I’m not really, I’ve totally forgotten about Alzheimer’s, what with my foot and depression. So, talk about being in the moment. There’s only two things on my brain at the moment. Although it’s getting a lot better now I’m out and walking. It’s fantastic.

(Meets a friend.) My dog-walking friend. I’ve come as far as I’m allowed to go, which is the bridge. So I’m just standing on the bridge watching the water, and it’s just so, so peaceful. Wonderful. Just birds and the water.

So that’s it for now. I’m just going to stand here and look at the water until I shall walk very slowly back again. Anyway, all’s well in the world of Alzheimer’s and all is getting well in the world of my foot and my depression. That’s it. Okay, bye for now!

Dementia Diaries would like to thank Veera Hintsala for transcribing this report.