My visit to Isobel today was made later than usual, after I had taken Euan and his games equipment to Gravesend. Driving conditions were appalling in torrential rain. I arrived at the Centre shortly before half six. Looking at the visitors signing in log I was surprised to see Louisa and Teri had arrived soon after I left the previous evening and stayed until 8pm. When I spoke to Isobel, she had forgotten their visit, but evidence remained in the form of four slices of uneaten sponge cake.

After we had chatted for a while, Isobel asked me to turn the television on and she watched Alan Bennett with some interest. Isobel's speech was difficult to follow, a complete contrast to several other days this week. I fed Isobel two slices of the sponge cake. Afterward Isobel fancied some chocolate, so I opened the last little package from Zoë's box so she could have a couple of chocolate pearls; in no time at all she had eaten half the packet. I changed the water in the flower vase and took a large number of dead flowers from the zygocactus. Isobel was in a good humour and I left at about a quarter to eight, calling in at Iona's empty house on the way home to check everything was OK.