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By the time this blog is published, I will have returned from our 2nd adventure of the year. This time we chose to visit Wales
I can’t remember the last time we visited Wales but I do know it was a good few years ago now.
Venturing somewhere new, whether it be a solo trip or a holiday can feel so exciting on paper. But for me I get that hit in the stomach…Yes! Anxiety!
My brain is wired for familiarity now so stepping out of my comfort zone and into the unknown is like setting off an alarm in my brain.
On paper holidays are so exiting, I read through the description, looking at the images of the quiet idyllic lodge surrounded by countryside.
In reality it’s a totally different story…
I stress trying to pack…I stress even more trying to remember everything, and as the days get closer, anxiety jumps in to the mix…Woo my head is like being on that fairground Waltzer ride!..Spinning!
New places do stretch me, but they also spark something new, it give me the opportunity to create stories, capture different views, capture wildlife through my camera lens. It’s just that initial knot in my stomach and the fight with my brain and anxiety, I have to keep reminding myself to “Ease up Gail, calm down”
By lunchtime everything is in the car, and we are off traveling on the M6 towards Wales
My head is spinning, I have been a little snappy all because dementia and anxiety are messing with my head and I can’t remember if I’ve packed everything
Hubby always reminds me it’s not the end of the world if I have forgotten anything…but to me it is!
I’ve just got to change my mindset now and remember, we are on a new adventure and the views from the other side will be worth it!
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When we think of life’s biggest killers, most will think of heart disease, cancer, strokes…Dementia rarely comes to mind.
As life expectancy increases and younger generations age, the number of people affected by dementia will rise unless we take action, we should be looking at
1. How to prevent
2. Getting an early diagnosis
3. Having a support and care system in place
Yet, How many times have we heard about people living with dementia going round in circles to source the right kind of support.
How many times have we received the same answers.
“I’ll look into that”
“Yes, I hear you”
“Leave it with me”
“I know you should have more support…But!”
Sometimes I feel like I’m banging my head against a wall
Nothing ever materialises…Nothing ever changes!
It was only the other day Fiona Phillips’s husband was on TV saying that nothing has changed in over 20 years. Still today, there is no support, still today there is no money available and people take the same drugs…are they actually working!
I completely agree…Nothing seems to be moving forward where Dementia care and support is concerned.
I have heard so many people say the same things over and over again…It is now getting exhausting!
Dementia has been recorded as the leading cause of death in England and Wales yet again!!
Why does nobody listen!
So why is nobody doing anything!
Attending a singing group and shaking a tambourine, or going to a reminiscing group where they look at old artefacts and objects, scrapbooking through the decades, sharing memories from days gone by, is not my preferred kind of support.
Those groups don’t inspire me, they don’t give me an insensitive to live my life well.
I know some people will enjoy these groups, but to be totally honest I’m just a little too young at heart to be shaking a tambourine or reminiscing over an object.
I’m now tired of broken promises.
So how can we support people whom do not want to join a group, because it’s not right for them, for those who feel uncomfortable stepping out of their comfort zone.
We should be focusing on a more person centred approach, focusing on the person’s remaining strengths and preferences rather than just signposting to a group that has no stimulation or interest.
Don’t forget Dementia doesn’t just choose older people.
In an ideal world, we should have a local hub, a single point to access information, benefits advice and information for carers, with a little coffee shop where you can sit and just have a coffee with like minded people. Somewhere to chat and offload, sometime just chatting to others that are going through something similar, is the best kind of support.
Early diagnosis has been talked about a lot just recently but if there is no support network and post‑diagnostic support, it’s just going to be disastrous…Just think of all those people that will feel so alone because there is no support network
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This is a true account of a recording of my blog with no editing, no reruns, just me and my sidekick, it definitely will not be perfect
Recording my blog isn’t easy these days, some words I come across now are difficult for me to pronounce, which sometimes can hinder my recordings. I do get quite angry with myself when it take quite a few recordings to master a correct pronunciation
It’s one of those things, you don’t know you have trouble saying a word until you actually try to say the word. I can say the word in my head quite perfectly, yet when I open my mouth it comes out a jumbled up mess!
Genuinely being one of those words
Bassenthwaite being another
When I struggle with the pronunciation of a word Google is a wonderful assistant, if you type into Google “how do you say Genuinely” Google will come up with the correct pronunciation, you can even slow the pronunciation down. I find by listening and breaking the word down, this does eventually
How long the word stay in my memory, well that’s another story
Will I remember the correct pronunciation when I come to recording my blog?
Some might ask why I record and not just return back to plain text?
The recording of my blog is to assists those who struggle reading
It’s also good for me to keep my brain reading text
Dementia we know can erode speech, causing slurring, mumbling or even silence, but reading aloud can be highly beneficial, it’s like a leverage to preserve and stimulate our brain’s function.
It’s just another routine we need to keep going…The rhythm of our speach
I’m sure I have read somewhere that rhythmic reading activates the brain and therefore boosts our cognition, and I’m all for keeping my cognition going!
I know I can’t read a full book now, I get lost, frustrated and can’t remember what I’ve read when I come to picking up the book at a later date. However I can listen to audiobooks and I can still read short pieces, hence reading and recording my blog.
Reading isn’t a cure, but hopefully it will keeping my brain functioning longer and it’s free!
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I am sometimes riled by what comes out of people’s mouths when discussing dementia…People can be so blinkered.
The other week I was in a local meeting with professionals, carers and myself, representing people living with dementia
Firstly, I get so annoyed when giving my time to a group when we don’t stick to the subject we are supposed to be focusing on. I know we all go off piste at times, but spending 15- 20 minutes talking about something entirely different just feels like I’m wasting my time, and most importantly the topic on the agenda. We just have less and less time to discussed the main topic. Therefore there is less planning time for the main event which is only 3 more meetings away!!
You know how meetings go…everyone throws ideas around the table, discussions, laughter, a little anger, tea, coffee, biscuits, you get the picture.
Then all of a sudden one person says “ why are we inviting people whom live with dementia? Why do they need to be present?
Oh my goodness red rag to a bull, i nearly popped off my seat!
Excuse me! How can we not invite and include people living with dementia! The main topic is about dementia!…The people you are not wanting to include and invite are PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA!! I’M A PERSON LIVING WITH DEMENTIA!
Why do you think things never change?
Why do you think there is still a stigma around dementia?
Because people don’t include the most important strategic assets…the people with lived experience…They are the experts, how can you say that these people should not be invited.
I was absolutely gob smacked that in 2026 people still want to hide away those people whom are so important to changing the stigma and educate the population around dementia
This makes me so angry!
It’s so bloody exhausting!
The meeting carried on, but I also carried a fire burning inside…anger!
I don’t think I will ever forget how that person made me feel.
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Trying something new…
I am a big believer that trying new things keeps the brain active
Trying new things matters to me for several reasons practical and psychological. New experiences like different crafts, art, whatever really, will teach you new skills, and that has got to be beneficial to help my mindfulness and keeping my brain active for longer…Fingers crossed!
By trying new things and pushing yourself it also helps your confidence, with each small success it gives you a little boost, which then makes you more willing to take future risks and try other things.
By trying new things it can increase your creativity, reduces your boredom and keeps life a little more interesting, perhaps even bring new opportunities.
I have been so lucky to have had new opportunities creating cards and bookmarks for DementiaUK
Designed a program for an opera, and also a book cover…Who would have thought the girl who was told she was useless at art could actually be creating pieces of art 45 years later while living with Early Onset Alzheimer’s
Never ever let anyone tell you, you are useless…No one is useless!
Don’t be scared of giving art a go, we all see different things in art. We all have different techniques and ways of doing things, that’s because we are all different and unique, just like a piece of art.
A few months ago I was itching to try something new, I wanted to create a larger piece of art for a wall in our home.
I kept on coming up with excuses not to have a go…
I’m not good enough.
I don’t have an easel
I don’t have the correct paints
I don’t have a large canvas
As humans we are good at making excuses when we don’t believe in ourselves.
Hubby sorted my excuses out, he went out and purchased a large easel and some canvases, oh no! Now I have to create something. All I needed now was the acrylic paints. So after purchasing a selection of colours, it was time to plan.
The delivery of paints arrived, time to enter the craft room and create. I stand looking at the blank canvas took paint brush in hand and started to spread paint whooshing it across the canvas. At this point I have no idea where I’m going, only it has to coordinate with green. I have no idea of design, I think I’m going to give abstract a go.
The room was quiet, a little uninspiring so I kindly asked Alexa to play some Dua lipa (a favourite of mine at the moment especially when I need motivating)
From having nothing in my head only colour, things immediately changed, I think it was the beat of the music that got into my head!
It’s like I had entered in to a different world. I was getting drawn into the painting, blobbing, spotting, mixing, dabbing. It was getting a little messy!
It was messy in a good way, because now I could now see where I was going, the colours were coming together and I was getting a little excited.
I was totally lost in the beat of the music, paint and creativity.
I have always talked myself out of trying to create a large piece of art, because I didn’t have the confidence. By hubby purchasing the easel it gave me the encouragement and incentive I needed.
We all need a little encouragement every now and then and we all need to believe in ourselves more!
This piece is totally different to anything I have ever done before, I never really thought about abstract art, because I had no idea where to start.
The thing with abstract you just have to feel…go with the flow… let yourself go and just create
Now I have the inspiration to try more pieces, I have even purchased more canvases with new ideas in mind, who knows if they will work or not, but at the moment I’m enjoying myself trying…I’m just having fun!
If I could give anyone any tips to try art or any craft
Start small, don’t take anything on too complicated.
Try something a few times, you can’t give up after one go!
Keep things basics first, perhaps watch YouTube for ideas
If it doesn’t work out it doesn’t matter, don’t beat yourself up, you are still learning something. We all learn from making mistakes.
Make time, perhaps put your craft time on your calendar.
You might want to try sketching first as pencils and paper don’t cost the earth.
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At the end of 2025 I was given 2 opportunities
1. Walking the Talk for Dementia. A walking conference that takes place over the last 40kms of the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, where people come together and cover about 10k a day, chat etc and at the end have a 2-day symposium. It’s for people with dementia, journalists, consultants, care partners, artists. Once of a day I would have jumped at the chance…Now I don’t think me, dementia and anxiety would even make it to Spain.
2. Podcast : With Damian and Imogen. This was much more me, something I could do closer to home…In my own home. It was to be part of a podcast produced by a lady called Imogen Blood, you can find all her podcast on YouTube
We met for introductions and an initial chat in January and immediately felt at ease. Instantly I realised this podcast was going to be relaxed and comfortable…Imogen was a great podcast host and I had met Damian previously at the Birmingham conference.
Tuesday 27th January is recording day where I will be speaking alongside Damian from Innovations in Dementia…as Damian put it …”it’s no good talking about people without people”
The podcast is a chat about a simple message… Life goes on…There is strength and potential in peer support.
How could I refuse this opportunity, it was Innovation in Dementia and the Deep Groups that got me through lockdown! It was being part of these groups that connected me with new friends, brought my confidence and purpose back after receiving a diagnosis of Early onset Alzheimer’s.
Our recording lasted about an hour and seemed to flow well, unfortunately I can’t tell you everything we spoke about, I can’t tell you a word I said! Once my words are out of my mouth and release, my brain doesn’t let them back in. Dementia is a strange one, it can lets somethings back in to my brain only to capture and hide my words and memories. Sometimes i have snippets released, days or weeks later. Normally happens when you least expect it!
So watching the podcast back is strange, did I say those words, did I talk so much…It’s all a complete surprise
You can watch and listen to the podcast by clicking the link below
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It’s always good to be back home
There’s something quite wonderful about walking back through your own front door after a holiday. The familiar key that fits neatly into the lock, the familiar smell, the familiar chair that’s so comfy…My bed!
For a few blissful hours I’m still floating on the the calmness of the Lake District, photographs still warm on my phone, suitcase and stacker boxes half-unpacked. I always vow to hold onto the relaxed version of me.
And then the kettle boils, the inbox pings, the laundry mountain reminds, my real life still exists, and within a day or two the calm slips away as life’s usual momentum reasserts itself. It’s always good to be back home after a holiday, but it doesn’t take long to fall back into being busy and confused.
It’s the “in-between time” the window between stepping through the door and being consumed by my daily tasks. I try desperately not to loose the calm, but by the end of the second day I’ve crashed…Back to the busyness!
I know it’s part of my life, but as every year passes now, i wonder if i should be doing more of what i want to do, should i stop the campaigning, should i live a quieter life while i can.
I don’t want to slip away without being with the people I love or missing out on doing the things I love
I question…Am I missing my life’s rhythm.
I often feel like I’m drowning in campaigning and not being heard. Then at the back of my mind if I do give up the campaigning will i deteriorate quicker…
Being away from home always makes me think.
Home is great, It’s a place for comfort and routine.
Holidays are a reminder that life can be slower, a lesson worth carrying forward. A reminder that we don’t know how long we have in this world.
I know i can’t stop the busyness from coming, but i can choose when to hand over the reins.
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I was tired from our morning walk, brain tired too.
5pm time to take Toby and Sooty for their second walk of the day. I had my coat on, boots and my hat, but where are my gloves?
When on holiday I miss the drawer where my hat and gloves are kept at home. On holiday I usually put them in a box by the door.
I check the box, my camera bag, my pockets…Where are my gloves? I’m now getting more and more agitated.
Is it Gail or is it my sidekick that is now well on her way to having a hissy fit!
I ask out loud, “Where are my gloves? Where did I put them?” Hubby looks at me and calmly says “ Have you checked your bag?” “ Have you checked your pockets?” Yes! YES!
Frustration swelled. It’s a small thing, gloves, but when you’re living with Alzheimer’s even small things can feel like mountain.
There’s the unsettling rewind of the day… Where did I take them off?” “Did I put them down somewhere?”
I reached for my hat pulling it tighter on my head, the familiar shape soft and woolly with two Pom poms is years old but it’s soft, cosy and familiar. Hubby gives me a funny look… “ Gail are your gloves in your hat? Your head looks a funny shape!”
There tucked inside, were my gloves. I laugh a slightly embarrassed laugh. I roll my eyes, I feel both silly and relieved.
I had been looking everywhere for those gloves!…I can’t remember putting my gloves in my hat!
Finding the gloves in my hat was more than a small victory. It was a proof that life has many surprise.
Afterwords it was funny, I think it was the absurdity of gloves nesting in a hat made me laugh, and laughter is a good medicine to bring you back to the hear and now.
So if you ever find your gloves inside your hat, Just laugh!
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I was up early with the dogs, being a way from home in our new surroundings always unsettles for a day or two.
I open the door to the lodge so the dogs can go out to relieve themselves, all is quiet and still. The odd coo from a pigeon, a distant call from a pheasant, most of the outside world still sleeping . It’s that time in the morning when it’s not dark but not light and my eyes are finding it hard to focus.
I stand looking out over the lake towards the shyloettes of the trees on the hill, Therein the distance is a line of lights…” oh my goodness i didn’t know there was a train line”
I watch as more and more carriages with lights on disappear into the distance.
The long shape moved steadily along a line, I assumed it was the train track. For a moment I was filled with excitement…a train, wow! I didn’t know there was a train!
The shape had the unbroken line, the look of carriages, and the motion felt familiar. I pictured windows and that steady chuff of the train in my head.
Hubby came to the window as I was still watching the carriage steadily moving…” look there is a train line over there, can you see all the carriages lit up.” Hubby looked at me quite puzzled “ Gail there isn’t a train line, that’s just a line of cars travelling on a road with their headlights on”
I question again but after closer inspection he was right.
What I had seen was actually a neat row of cars on a parallel road, their headlights and taillights forming a continuous line. The fading light, and the distance had blurred them together into something my brain recognized as a train.
I must say I was a little disappointed, and also felt a little silly, I should have known that there wasn’t a train track, as we were miles away from Penrith where the trains are.
How easy that our eyes and brains fill in gaps.
When things are far away, in poor light, or moving in a steady procession, familiar patterns jump to mind. It wasn’t a failure of sight so much, as a trick of perception.
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It’s Thursday 12th February and we have had 4 days at a Lakeside Lodge at Bassenthwaite Cumbria. Unfortunately our first break of the year is coming to an end
There are only a few places that completely slow me down, Bassenthwaite being one. Lakes aren’t just stunning open waters, they are like a natural reset button.
For the last few days I traded my art and inboxes for misty mornings, dry stone walls, and the stunning landscape.
I filled pockets of time with walks that have left my legs aching and tired and my head pleasantly calm and empty.
Life now feels much simple when I’m surrounded by nature.
Yet still, as I look out over Bassenthwaite waters, a part of me is counting the hours until I will be back home to my familiar routine.
I find myself appreciating those ordinary things, my favourite mug, my comfy blanket…the smell of home.
For the moment, I’m taking with me a quieter breath, and the wonderful memories captured in photographs to relive to my hearts content, I should remember to look at these photographs when my days feel boxed in again.
So I go home grateful for the break that has reset my pace, yet relieved for the routine that brings me my familiarity.
Think I’m going to have to print off some photos just to remind me of Beautiful Bassenthwaite is and how it allows me slows me down.
Too Young for Dementia? 