The long drawn out saga of the power cuts is drawing to a close. Apparently all consumers had power restored by 6am this morning, although many had a brief interruption during the day when new circuits were attached. Most of the traffic lights came back into use at 10.30am. Later in the day the shopping centre was packed out as if it was Christmas as people caught up on their shopping.

Isobel's speech was fairly poor this morning and her balance and walking were even worse than usual. She went to the hospice on a Thursday for only the second (or maybe third) time. We were slow getting ready but the new scheme for bathing continues to work well - I can manage the exit from the bath single handed in about ten seconds, so much better than the ten minute struggles of a couple of weeks ago.

Iona has dropped a bottle on her toe and broken it again, so today's plan for her to collect Isobel from the hospice had to be changed. I collected Isobel and dropped her off at Iona's for a couple of hours. While Isobel was at the hospice I had several 'phone conversations with Maidstone Hospital, the upshot was that an appointment suddenly became available on Monday with Professor Hawkes (I guess this may be the "MS is possibly an STD" man). Anyway, it was a great relief and we will go there for blood tests tomorrow.

After her usual substantial three course lunch at the hospice, Isobel only had pizza for dinner tonight, turning down all the other planned food except for a bowl of ice cream. She settled in bed just after nine, had her ice cream at about 9,45pm and was asleep by half ten. Tonight her speech has been as poor and confused as it has ever been. Balance was also very poor.