I was diagnosed with PD in 2021. They say there are 40 symptoms and each person gets a different pick-n-mix. I’ve only ever had the tremors and a few falls. In the last 18 months I lost 20 kg in weight (from 74 down to 54). I have a friend in Brighton who’s had Parkinson’s for 18 years and never had a tremor, but he’s had dozens of falls, including once backwards down a flight of concrete steps. He survived that, survived them all.

On June 30th I called 111 (our non emergency paramedics) and they took me to hospital in Brighton where I was fitted with a feeding tube (called a Peg) for all my food and liquid. I’m unable to swallow, even the smallest mouthful. For a month I was totally bed-ridden. At the end of July they transferred me to a care home in Hove for rehabilitation. After 6 weeks I can walk a bit but not much else.

I am investigating applying for palliative care only, which I think means I would have to starve myself while a morphine drip slowly eases me towards the crematorium. If I’m able I will make more posts on this final journey in order to share it with you, my readers. In the meantime let’s end with the good news that Paradise Press is going to publish Laurence and the Hippies, my long-awaited (I wish!) sequel to Lillian and the Italians. 

This is where I should wax philosophical and share with you the wisdom of my 84 years. At my funeral or memorial service Charles Aznavour is going to sing “Yesterday when I was young”, which to some extent captures my feeling of a life that combined creativity (my 6 published books) with indulgence – I was 68 before the Prince of Persia entered my life and stayed there. My other great loves have been the many friends, male and female, that I collected along the way. For example Mary and Susan, whom I met in Bahrein in 1976 who are now, 50 years later, hugely cherished (Mary flourishes still but Susan is fighting a battle with dementia, a battle which her mother and mine fought and lost). Friendships for me are a long haul, not ships that pass in the night. I should also add that my four rescued dogs have been the other great loves of my life..

If anybody feels like sharing their Parkinson’s view point, please feel free.

Here is a picture from my college years. As you can see it’s true that old age is not a blessing!