Tag: facing

Writing 2026

Today I visited my friend who now lives in a care home. 

There were a couple of other people in the lounge with M when I got there, and Betty soon joined us. 

I’d taken with me a magazine and some sweet treats – flapjack fingers and brownie squares – to share. I suddenly realised I was hungry so I had two pieces of flapjack. 

Dorothy didn’t want anything initially but later helped herself, which I was pleased about. Lillian was asleep when I first passed them round but M and Betty enjoyed some of the brownies.

After reading a story, which M seemed to like, I passed the treats around again and this time Lillian was awake so she had a brownie. When I later offered them again she wouldn’t accept one, saying she didn’t want to take it from me, because it was mine. I couldn’t persuade her otherwise. I can’t thank Lillian enough for saying that as it’s shifted something internally in me at such a profound level.

I read another couple of stories and by the time I left all the treats were finished, but I’ll take some more with me next week. There are still a few stories left in the magazine.

Lydia and I made progress today on our walk. We encountered dogs, a horse and several vans with barely a bark, though I did manage the situation intensively, making sure that she felt reassured and rewarded as she faced her fears.