Nine Feet Underground

When I pulled back the curtains I was greeted with a snow-covered landscape - it had been predicted but when I went to bed last night the sky was clear, so a lot changed in the early hours of the morning. There is always a beauty to a blanket of snow, but I'm always conscious of the negative side of it, especially the impact on the ability of the carers to get about and do their jobs.   Not long after the carers arrive for the second call of the day snow begins to fall more heavily - there are very large flakes, maybe one to two inches along their longest axis.  Luckily for the carers on this call it's their last visit of the day, those who come later may not be so lucky. Naturally I take photos of the snow - it's enough of a rarity to be worth capturing and it does look so wonderful, especially where it lies untouched. Though the carers drove up to the house and walked to and from the front door, the snow fall has obliterated their tracks.  I plan to go out walking ...

Even though I'm, no longer working - more or less - I seem to have even less time now, and it's not because I got up later, as I didn't! More washing to do, for starters - this time bedding. One decision I've had to make concerns whether or not we try and give my wife some Christmas dinner.  I've discussed it with her carers and they've confirmed what I pretty much had already, reluctantly, decided: I can't give her any Christmas dinner, as she can't safely eat it - the risk of choking / aspiration is just too great. This marks a clear difference between this year and last - another reminder of the continual progression and decline that MS brings. I shall try and get her to drink some champagne, once one of her favourite drinks, if she's awake long enough. We will all have dinner in the same room as her, which  hopefully won't be too hard on her, the main idea being that in that wat she is a part of Christmas and we spend it together, even if she...