29th November 2011

Doug left Darwin a week ago and Dave and I arrived. Louis is still in Victoria. Restarting work has been busy for me. I've visited Helen 3 times only in the week just gone and I'm in Alice now for work and won't see her again til Thursday. On the visits I have had, I've had a little conversation each time. The first was much the best as she recognised my voice and we spoke intermittently for about 10 minutes - all fantastical things from her mind such as worrying she would crush some eggs she was carrying - but it was lovely to be recognised and to feel that if I joined in and reassured her about the eggs she was reassured. The other two visits she ate/drank a few mouthfuls and recognised me but it was very brief in terms of interaction and she basically fell asleep again for the rest of each visit. I hear from the nurses that Kaye has been in a bit but I haven't crossed paths with her. It was lovely to read Kathy's card to Helen and to receive Maureen and Dorothy's recent missives. I haven't yet been able to try to read them to Helen - she's not really withit enough. Dave is going to visit her today on my behalf. Robin (Helen's brother) plans to arrive next week for a few days and I think Louis will return sometime toward the end of next week also.