Neither Sally nor I particularly like big parties. With dementia, I find them particularly difficult; my spatial awareness is poor, as is my hearing. To us both, the ideal form of socialising is meals with a limited number of friends. One can talk to everyone and hear them all. Louise and Robert are two of our closest friends since we had children at the same school. Their daughter and our second son were great friends and shared a love of horses. They live just north of Southampton, which is a quick run for us and dinner with them has become a terrific and regular occurrence.
Bob is a very successful businessman, formerly in retailing, and now in property, and other bits and pieces, as he modestly says. He was also an early backer of Thomas the Tank Engine when friends purchased the rights to the books and characters from the son of the author, the Rev Wilbert Vere Awdry OBE. It has proved to be one of his best investments!
He is a keen field sportsman and shoots and fishes around the world. These interests and travels always yield great stories. Louise retains the family pleasure with horses, and Bob confessed over dinner that not taking up riding was a regret.
We’d both enjoyed Rory McIlroy’s nerve-shredding triumph in the Masters, and Bob said that was another regret - not taking up golf.
I said I shared the view that it was an odd way of spoiling a good walk. We all talked a lot about the state of the world, and shared our confusion, anger and in some cases (not least in the case of Sally) our contempt for Donald Trump.
The trade war continues, as does the nastiness over Ukraine, though there may be some conditional hope in the Paris talks. Bob and another friend, Khalid Aziz, regularly take me out for lunch, which is always a pleasure. Both men are great successes in their chosen worlds.
Khalid runs a successful communications business and offers PR services too. We had a fascinating chat about the pressures on business people to do and/or say the right thing or the easier, less truthful thing. It is a challenge for politicians, too. Despite his wealth, Bob has always had some sympathies with Labour and was a big fan of Peter Mandelson. He also likes Sir Keir Starmer and thinks he is an honest man. I told them about the letter I got from the PM proving his humanity and kindness, which are great qualities in anyone.
It meant the world to me, as I said last week. Both friends said it was a document I should keep safe and cherish. I will, and I do.
Khalid’s wife, Kim, is a close friend and a former TV work colleague of Sally’s, and Sal had lunch in the same restaurant. We all met up afterwards, which was fun and rich in banter. Bob’s wife couldn’t make it as she was seeing her poorly mother.
Alastair Stewart reveals the challenge of navigating social engagements with dementia and how blessed he feels to have love and support throughout this period of his life in this week's Living With Dementia
GB NEWSMidweek, our second son Freddie phoned up out of the blue and suggested he bring his son Jimmy and pony Matilda over for a hack up to the village playground. We were thrilled and encouraged him to do it. They duly turned up, truck and horse-box in tow, and with Jim, clutching his riding hat.
We unloaded the pony and off we went. I have to be very careful walking on the road, which is a country lane, but is still busy with traffic. We got both to the playground without incident and, as Sally stood guard by the tethered pony, Fred, Jim, and I made the most of these delightful public pleasures - kicking a football around, exploring the climbing frames and the slide, swing and the little roundabout.
It was great fun and we all loved it, especially Jim. But when we were done, he was equally happy to remount and ride with his father, leading him back to our home.
Following my submission to the NHS survey, I got a thank you for your time email. Whether they will improve their dreadful app, I will wait to see, but it was kind and courteous.
That my brain is still going ok and the fact that my friends and family stand with me is powerfully reassuring, despite my dementia. I may have an impediment, but I am truly blessed with those who love me enough to share time and friendship with me. Loneliness would be intolerable.
