Today has been a very difficult day. It started well enough at about half seven, Isobel came downstairs without difficulty, breakfasted and took her medicine. Afterwards she said that she wanted to lie down in bed, not to bath or get dressed; this would not normally be a problem. This was followed by four hours of intermittent verbal abuse and refusal to go to the toilet. In the course of the morning the bed and the quilt were soaked in separate incidents; also the bedroom carpet and the commode (Isobel sat on it without taking the cover off!). With Euan's assistance she was eventually convinced to take a bath in order to clean up. After bathing she came downstairs to dry off, but immediately wet Euan's sofa just as she assured Euan she was not going to do this. After lunch it was found that Isobel had ripped her pants and made another chair wet.

The district nurse called at about half four and observed Isobel's walking problems. It was agreed that within the near future the stairs would become a major problem and Isobel will be based downstairs all the time. A hospital bed will be ordered and installed in the living room. She discussed at length with Isobel the need to avoid sitting in wet pants, Isobel minimised the problems she had and was only a little bit rude to us during the discussions; she agreed to co-operate in changing pants etc. Before the district nurse had left the drive, Isobel was verbally abusing the children and refusing either to go to the toilet or change her pants. When she was eventually convinced to move, it was found that she had wet the chair she was sitting on.

Iona and Euan went to the shops and Euan cooked a splendid chilli con carne afterwards. Isobel went up to bed at about 9pm and was asleep shortly afterwards.