I was up bright and early this morning preparing for the collection of nursing aids by the council. When they had removed the hospital bed, shower stool, perching stool, commode, differential friction sheet, two raised toilet seats, toilet surround frame and a large thick rubber cushion the living room was almost empty. It is disappointing that several of these items were hardly used (or in the case of the shower stool never used) by Isobel, but others had proved invaluable. Removing the wall unit near the living room door has revealed a pattern of small tears in the wallpaper that suggests the horrible possibility that instead of removing the door from the door opening when the second door to the living room was closed off sometime in the 1950s or 1960s it was left with just a thin skim of plaster over it on the inside, with wall paper on top. It always has made a distinctly hollow sound when tapped: oh well, all will be revealed when the wall paper is removed.

I went in to see Isobel at a quarter past four. She has been in the bed all day and had resisted efforts to encourage her to use Doug's old chair. Isobel's mother said later tonight that the chair had belonged originally to Doug's grandmother and was at least a hundred years old. For tea Isobel had a very large omelette that looked and smelled delicious; followed by fruit salad and ice cream. Isobel was alert and able to join in sensible discussions about a couple of quiz programmes on television, although she cannot really answer any of the questions since even if she knows the answer it is very difficult for her to find the right words to say before the answer is given on the programme. This does not stop her enjoying them!

I cleared away the flowers that Isobel's mother and Jess had sent, bearing in mind the warmth in the room they had lasted well. I reorganised the chocolates so that they took up less space, there is now room to bring in the zygocactus tomorrow if I can find a suitable dish.

We had a long and detailed discussion about redecoration of the living room. Isobel was able to contribute usefully to this. On the whole I thought Isobel was better today than for some time. I went home at a quarter to seven.