GASLIGHTING AND DEMENTIA

My wife sent me off to the shop yesterday and sensibly gave me a short list of what I was to buy. The note read, 'bananas,lettuce,bread and milk.' Unfortunately on the way to the shop I threw the note away by mistake. Desperately trying to remember I kept repeating what I thought was on the note and duly returned with beans, spinach and butter. My wife has a sense of humour, but was of course not thrilled. The problem with memory loss, dementia and alzheimers is that despite the best of systems like diaries and note books, if you lose or replace the book you're in trouble. Also, sometimes I forget to tick the thing to do on the lest when done and then I forget that I have done it.. Strangely enough, despite the slowly growing number of blank spots so far I am able to function very well. My decision to use my brain a lot by reading and writing is I know a good one and 'Down and Out In BoLandville' is coming steadily together. I am sure that I can finish this book before my dementia stops such activity. In fact I am determined that I will still be able to write until the end. Of course alzheimers is the danger. Dementia on its own is for most of possible to control and live with, especially with good support, but alzheimers can become utterly destructive. I was trawling the net the other day when 'Gaslighting' appeared. This rang a vague bell and I discovered that it was a film made in 1934 starring Ingrid Bergman. The story is about a husband who drives his wife insane b playing tricks with the gas lighting and carrying out other strange manifestations which he pretends only she can see. The relevance of this today is that apparently a lot of alzheimer sufferers believe that their carers are lying to them, robbing them and other dastardly deeds. I don't know how the poor carers deal with this, but it is apparently a big problem with alzheimers and even dementia. My memory loss is no worse this week and we are both very busy. Julian making some amazing dress for a client and myself working on my book. The weather is very pleasant and a little cooler, so Boysie takes a swim on his own and I just pass the ball. Bobby the parrot is a little tamer and has developed a taste for grapes. The squirrels also have expensive tastes and are happily munching their way through the avocados on our giant tree. Please do send comments and information, especially things that will help those of us suffering from memory loss, dementia or alzheimers. David Barnato. Paarl. South Africa.