I've just returned from a wonderful, relaxing week in the countryside staying with various relatives. Returning to my flat yesterday and the noise, especially while building work is going on across the road, was a bit of a drag.

I was expecting to be giving an account of what it's like to have a carer come in and help me with things I find difficult to do, but they didn't turn up. I had an assessment with the local social services department a couple of weeks ago, and had been advised not to expect any help to come from it as budgets are tight and apparently they try and find any reason possible not to provide support, but amazingly I was offered a care plan and it was to start immediately (I actually had to delay it by a week as I was going away). They've arranged for someone to come to my home three times per week for an hour per time, to do any tasks I'm struggling with. It was difficult to think of things to put on the list, especially as it's not in my nature to ask for help, particularly with things I feel I 'should' be able to do, but with my mother's help I made a list and can now look at it and see how many things there are which I do find myself unable to do these days. And that was only a list of the things we felt a carer might be able to tackle in the hour they were here.

I'll write something on Wednesday, after the next time they are due.