Helen Ley Centre update

I took mother to see dad in the respite centre Sunday afternoon and it appears that the centre will close at the end of November after all as the prospective buyers have pulled out and there is only a week left for anybody new to save the day - which is very unlikely. The government cuts in funding mean that this much needed facility will close making the residents "homeless" and not providing much needed respite to carers of long term MS sufferers like Dad. Fortunately Dad will be going into long term residential nursing care in Derby close to home from 1st October but others will not be so fortunate.

Olu Deniz, Turkey

Sue and I returned yesterday from a week's break in Olu Deniz, Turkey. We'd never visited Turkey before and we were very pleasantly surprised. We had a relaxing week, soaking up the sun, and as we were all inclusive we didn't go short in the food and drinks department either. In our week we experienced a Turkish bath & massage with facial, the Blue Lagoon day trip, a 6 island cruise, "Bargains & Bays" excursion (morning in the weekly market in Fetyhe and afternoon cruise)

The the coach return trip on the Tuesday's "Bargains & Bays" excursion stopped at a gold/jewellery outlet where Sue had her rings cleaned (for free) and I bought her a ring with her birth stone set on 14 carat gold. The highlight of our stay was Suzie doing a tandem paragliding flight on Saturday morning before we returned home that afternoon. She started from the top of a local mountain at 6,500 feet above sea level and landed on the beach.

Additional activities included lots of walking, lounging round the pool, general socialising the ubiquitous shopping for bargains. As a holiday destination we found Turkey to be very agreeable and it exceeded our expectations.

Helen Ley Centre

Yesterday lunchtime dad was collected by the private ambulance to take him for his final visit to the Helen Ley Centre near Lemmington Spa. Due to cutbacks in council funding there will be no more trips, and this one is costing mum & dad over £2,300 just to ensure mum gets the rest she has been looking forward to. Dad won't be returning home at the end of the trip either as we have made arrangements for the private ambulance to deliver him to a residential nursing home just down the road. Mum can't cope any more with caring for dad, so this is the only way to keep them alive and well. Not sure yet what routine mum will settle into but if she wants she can visit dad daily, no restrictions, and have her meals with him (if she wishes) at a cost of £1.50 a meal. It wasn't an easy decision to make but one that had to be made, and the timing is as late as it could have been as the last 2 years of caring for dad have taken at least 4 years off her life and she looks like an old lady now - she didn't 2 years ago.

Mum came to have Sunday roast lunch with us today and the difference that just one good night's sleep has made was visible so this new arrangement will (hopefully) work for both of them.