Keith Boldy

Not my Daily Diary Sunday 1st of November 2026 #DementiaAwareness Settling down in front of the telly on a Saturday night is never as easy as it sounds. Finding something we both fancy when there’s not much on is always a bit of a struggle. Early evening was straightforward enough, "Strictly Come Dancing". My favourite, Graeme Hall, was up with Lauren Oakley doing a Samba to Harry Nilsson’s “Coconut”. They didn’t score very well and I think they’ll be in the dance off. Still, it was a good show. The Halloween costumes were brilliant. Whoever designs them must have been rushed off their feet this week. Because it was Halloween I’d bought "Into the Woods" earlier in the week, Starring Meryl Streep. It’s a lovely, magical sort of musical that combines all the old Brothers Grimm stories together. Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, all based around a baker and his wife who try to lift a curse. Chris found it a bit confusing at first, so I kept explaining who was who. She stuck with it though, and by the end she said she’d really enjoyed it. We had about half an hour left while the electric blanket warmed the bed up. (Chris likes the bed warmed). Being Halloween we put a bit more Daniel O’Donnell on. We finished the night the way we always do, a little dance, holding each other close to “Fascination” by Nat King Cole. And being All Hallows’ Eve, I’m not sure we were entirely alone. The front door bell gave a little tinkle in the wind, the candles flickered, the floorboards creaked, and the wind whistled through the gaps. Oddly enough we both slept well. I was awake at seven though and couldn’t drop off again. My mind was already on the little party I’m having at the end of the month. Nothing extravagant as Chris’s do, just a small gathering. I need to send a few reminders round because I never actually sent invitations. It might end up being just me, Chris and the pub staff! Sunday was a busy one. Plenty to do around the house and I got dinner on early because we were heading to the pub later this afternoon. They were putting a Halloween party on with music, and we were looking forward to it. Chris wanted her nails doing as well, so I had to get her up a bit sooner. No time for the garden today. Dinner was slow-cooked lamb ribs in BBQ sauce with spicy roast potatoes. The meat was falling off the bone and the potatoes were lovely and crispy. Frustratingly Chris only ate the potatoes again. It’s getting harder and harder to know what to cook these days. After we’d eaten, Boldy’s Beauty Boutique opened for business. Nails first, then hair and some makeup. Then I got Chris ready. Chris put on a warm woollen dress and boots, the party was outside under the awning at the Old Gate and i wasnt sure how warm it would be. We got there just before five. Inside the pub it was packed with people eating, outside was starting to fill up for the party. DJ Bill was in charge. Sammy and the staff had dressed in Gothic and Dracula costumes. They looked fantastic. We were having a great time. We weren't cold, the heaters were doing their job. There was music for everyone, kids included. Then, after about an hour, just when we were getting into it, Chris was unwell and we had to come home. Back on the sofa I was stuck with the usual problem of finding something to watch. I hadn’t expected to be home so early. Still, we were in time for the "Strictly" results. Graeme Hall, who I was sure was going home, got through. Helped by the public vote. That made me smile. Have a lovely evening or day, wherever you are. Keith and Chris xx

Not My Daily Diary Saturday 31st October 2026 #DementiaAwareness It’s nice to know I can still get taken by surprise.  Last night I left "Have I Got News For You" playing while I made coffee in the kitchen. It’s a satirical look at the week’s news and usually very funny. When I came back a few minutes later, Chris said she was enjoying it and asked me to leave it on. I knew she wasn’t fully following the jokes because she kept asking what it was about, but it clearly held her interest and she laughed. It’s lovely to find something new to add to the list. From there we travelled (via the remote control) to the Yorkshire Dales to watch Matt Baker turning the stone barn on his parents’ farm into a home for himself and his wife. Then it was over the border to Greater Manchester and Weatherfield for "Coronation Street", and more prison scenes. I’ll be glad when Gary has finished his four months, or, better still, manages a prison break before then. Chris was still busy with her Dot to Dots. I’m beginning to think the more books she has, the more she needs to get through them. I’ve hidden them for now and will bring them out when needed. That gave me the chance to watch a drama further north "The Northumbria Mysteries" where a poker player is murdered and an ex-convict solves the crime before the police. The scenery was stunning, as always. Later we headed back south to London for "The Graham Norton Show", which I hadn’t seen for years. He was interviewing Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, plus two other actors who were clearly famous though I couldn’t place them. We laughed about Glenn Close’s role in "Fatal Attraction" the jealous, unstable character who boils Michael Douglas’s daughter’s pet bunny in a pot.  As you do. We’ve all done it… It was a quiet night and we got by. We finished with our lounge shuffle: I whisked Chris off her feet to “Memories” sung by Elvis. We had another good night’s sleep. Chris’s head was still hurting this morning, though the lump is now no more than a bump. Sleeping sitting up against the big bolster we’ve nicknamed “the elephant” helps, it keeps her head off the pillow. I was up at nine, more washing and housework, sticking to my Saturday routine. I took Chris her breakfast and she settled in bed with "Escape to the Country", no doubt choosing our country pile… I’m very lucky on days like today. People often suggest I need respite, but I really don’t. Chris doesn’t realise how helpful she is to me. On our days off, the days we’re not going out, she prefers to stay in bed, and that means I get to spend time in our garden once the chores are done. I’m never quite sure if I’m doing the right thing leaving her in bed, but she is very happy. This afternoon it was sunny and 12°C, perfect gardening weather. It’s my happy place and offers all the respite I need. I spent about three hours clearing the bottom flowerbed of weeds and filled the green garden waste bin. I only wish Chris was with me the way we used to work side by side, but that’s not going to happen any day soon. That done, I headed indoors to cook and get Chris up. Dinner was four-cheese pizza with home-cooked spicy potatoes and a salad. Probably our last pizza for a while, Chris has hardly touched hers for three weeks running now. I took it as a compliment that she ate all my potatoes. Putting our gates on lockdown tonight. Keeping things quiet this evening. Hope all the neighbourhood ghosts and ghouls have a fantastic and safe night, and that not too many things go bump in the night for you. I’m including a photo of my 2026 Halloween pumpkin, i did this earlier and have already posted it once, but it's very apt for today I wanted to carve a fresh one for tonight but ran out of time. Have a lovely evening or day, wherever you are in the world. Keith and Chris xx

From japan Gorilla, colour pencils

Not My Daily Diary Friday 30th October 2026  #DementiaAwareness You may have wondered why my diary always finishes in the late afternoon, after dinner, with just a little supposition at how the evening might go. The truth is I write it in two parts. First part, after dinner I write about our day and stop around six so I can watch the news and spend the whole evening with Chris. Second part, the next morning, while she is still sleeping, I pick up the phone and fill in how the previous evening actually went. Chris likes to know how we spent our day because she can't remember. I read the diary to her several times through the evening, she forgets I have already read it. At the end she always says the same thing: “That’s good.” In a lucid moment she asked me, “Why do I keep forgetting?” I explained once more that it is not her, it is the dementia, a word we use every day. In the past, if I have ever complained of some minor ailment, she has put me firmly in my place with: “I’ve got dementia, just get on with it.” Last night something unexpected happened. Out of the blue Chris became fully aware that she has dementia, and she took it hard. The distress brought on two non-epileptic seizures. I stayed with her, held her, and waited until they passed. She was diagnosed on 24th December 2023 and until now had simply been aware of that knowledge and accepted it. Late in the evening the reality hit her. These moments are part of the journey we share. They are painful. I tried to be strong for her but struggled with my own emotions at her distress. I felt lost for words. I just kept assuring her that nothing has changed, not the love, not the care that keeps us together. I tried to distract her by putting on her favourite film, "The Sound of Music". It was late, I knew we wouldn't see it all. Then came another surprising change. In the scene where Liesl dances with Rolfe, Chris said, “Are we going to have our dance?” She seemed back to herself. I held her very tight as we did our nightly shuffle, last night to Dionne Warwick singing “I’m Never Gonna Let You Go.” I expected a sleepless night. Thankfully that didn't happen. Chris was already asleep when I went to bed. I dropped off with my thoughts and emotions an hour later. I was up at 8 a.m. It was a pleasant day, though only 9 °C and a little misty. I needed to get ready before getting Chris up at ten. She was coming with me to my doctor’s appointment at 11 am. about my throat and blood results, afterwards we were going straight to Morrisons for the weekly shop. The doctor told me I am anaemic and need B12 injections, which will explain my tiredness, and that I must have another camera down my throat for further investigation. All of this by the end of November. It sounds like a great 80th birthday present to look forward to. We collected Lin and headed to the supermarket At the supermarket it was easier to park than to find a wheelchair trolley. Most of them are broken, and it seems my chat with the manager several weeks ago had no effect at all. Eventually, after covering most of the car park, we found a suitable one. There was no sign of the manager in the store. She had probably spotted me and was hiding in the aisles. In my mind’s eye I could see her in a pith helmet with binoculars, crouched behind a stack of toilet rolls. Shopping itself was painless until we reached the checkout and had to pay the bill. Back home I unloaded, unpacked and put everything away. Chris was quickly into her onesie and already at the dot-to-dot books. Dinner was egg, sausage, chips and beans, except the “chips” were baby potatoes, halved and roasted with herbs and tomatoes. I had found a pack I had overlooked earlier in the week. Looking at the television schedules I can see I am going to struggle to find something suitable for both of us. But I am sure we will get by. Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are in the world. Keith and Chris xx