Technical fixes have made an appearance in the last couple of weeks - a shower stool, perching stool and raised toilet seats, followed last Friday by a wheelchair. The latter is needed as Isobel can usually manage only about 300m on foot; although a five or ten minute sit down gives her the strength to go as far again. Other aids such as grab handles that were under consideration have not been proceeded with as Isobel tends to lose arm strength when her legs tire. The muscle weakness is attributed mainly to the long time she has be taking steroids (dexamethasone). For the moment no other technical aids are planned, although an additional handrail on the stairs to help with balance could be installed if ascending stairs becomes significantly more difficult.

Isobel spent yesterday at the Cottage Hospice, today she has had a lazy day and rather unusually has not been outside the house. She enjoyed a glass of beer while watching the football this evening and continues to have a good appetite. Fish, chips and peas for dinner with ice cream for desert, followed by chocolate pud later.