Deirdre Geraghty

I spent last weekend with my son and his partner . I travelled with Assisted Travel who helped me with my bags and put me on the right train. I was still anxious about it but not as much as I am usually. I had a lovely time but woke up on Monday with a cough and a burning chest when I cough. That has persisted all week off and on and all I really want to do is sleep.

My two ragdoll cats – Molly and Lily – are a very important part of my life. They keep me company and, ultimately, sane. Molly was spread out on her back in the middle of the bed. I managed to put my legs down even though Lily was in the way and then she was spread out down my other side so I couldn’t move  – that was last night. Half past four this morning Molly was patting my face, her claws slightly out, so I have to wake up and Lily was sitting on top of me, her tail swishing my face. Where would I be without them.

Why do so many women wear shoes which hurt their feet? Every step is not only painful but is disfiguring their feet for the future. Yet people think of this as a subject of humour. How many times have you heard people joking about bunions? And if it is the truth that men like them then perhaps they should wear them.

The Pope on the television was apologizing for the paedophile priests. I felt this Pope was trying his best but then he started talking what I think of as gibberish which I find very hard to follow. Once people of religion start talking about their beliefs I feel as though I am on another planet.

I woke up at 3.00, needing the loo and also a drink and put the tv on. Ed Miliband (the Labour leader) and his family were visiting Israel. Apparently his grandfather died in the holocaust and then Ed’s children were playing in a playground with a reinforced ceiling to protect them from bombs. My heart warmed to him even more.

For the past few days the air has been full of pollution which is sand and dust from the Sahara. So all who are vulnerable are advised not to go out. I have a diagnosis of COPD (emphysema) and asthma so I have had to stay indoors. Which is what I usually do but when you can’t go out there is always something you want to do out there.

When my cats were kittens the only thing they would drink from was the tall mug I drank water from. In the end it was easier to give it to them than to stop them drinking from it. Eight years later it is the only thing they will drink from. It got broken. I have had such difficulty replacing it with another tall mug. So I did my best but the replacement is 1 inch shorter. Molly has been drinking from it but Lily just sniffs and walks on past.

I have lost so many of those close to me in the past few years so when my friends or family are unwell I fear the worst. This is purely a selfish side to my character where I am only thinking of myself and how much I would miss them. Shame on me.

I have been feeling poorly the past few days. It is probably no more serious than the lack of sleep with a bit of cough and sore throat but such symptoms seem to floor me these days.

For the past few weeks I have been spending time sorting out my little house. Putting up some pictures and sorting out plants. It is starting to look like a real little home instead of just the house I live in. At least I think so.