The day started with another wet bed - although the hospital bed is in place downstairs Isobel will only start using it when she is not able to manage the stairs at all. Isobel breakfasted, bathed and dressed without problems, she cleaned her teeth without assistance this morning.

June came in the morning, bringing bakestones which we ate within the hour. She helped to sort out a pile of education books and papers which had come to light in the reorganisation of the living room, and left before lunch. After lunch Isobel felt tired and spent most of the afternoon lying down, but not sleeping. (I however did sleep, I was totally shattered all day as a result of having thirteen hours sleep in four days up to last night.)

Isobel had chilli con carne with potato wedges, broccoli and baked beans for dinner, followed by blackcurrant cheesecake. In the evening Rhoda and Iona 'phoned, Isobel spoke clearly to then but instantly the 'phone conversation ended she lapsed back into incoherence; her speech had been fairly good until late afternoon. Isobel was asleep by 11pm. For about a month now the washing machine has shown signs of imminent main bearing failure - given its age this will not be economical to repair. As the machine has often been running for ten hours a day or more, the failure is not unexpected and seems to have occurred today as the last wash was barely spun at all.