Saturday 15th October 2011

I am about to leave Darwin and won't be back until the 19th November or so. Helen has been quiet over the last few days. She has been eating a little (7 spoons of scrambled egg this morning) and drinking. I have enjoyed holding hands with her, massaging her hands and feet, oiling her skin, kissing her forehead and doing miscellaneous grooming activities but there has not really been any conversation to speak of. I have passed on greetings and love from Louis and Sally, from Max and Barbara and read Dorothy's letter to her. I have put Shirley's picture in for framing. Louis plans to return early next week and will be in Darwin until closer to the time of my birthday (26th) when he will come down South also. The coffin is pretty much finished. If Helen does die soon) before I can easily come back) we plan to defer the funeral so it is likely to be later in November. Having said that I am hesitant to predict anything with her as I (and others) have been wrong so many times. The way she is right now could easily go on for a few weeks and she does seem comfortable in her body and her mind and generally at peace. Her skin is still improving as the bruises from the clexane and dex resolve and although sometimes she looks a bit dry she is still drinking. Today I gave her a hot chocolate milk which she drank all of and yesterday a whole cup of juice.