spent Christmas Eve collecting the parents in law from Stratford u Avon and transporting to TheSilentOne's sister and bro in law in Hambledon Hampshire.

Mid trip Mother in law (84) became confused and agitated. Did not understand where or why we were going. Feared we were taking her to a home. Completely changed personality.

It was a heartbreaking drive for all of us. Not the same lovely lady as just 2 months ago when she was only having short term memory lapses. She did not retain a recollection of the reason why for the entire stay, though she remembered wrapping the gifts she handed out. Thought I had ransacked the luggage which she had packed for the trip. She kept commenting that we should not surprise her this way in future. That it was not well done.

So this sad event has us all worried about how her husband who is a very frail 94 can cope. He down plays the seriousness of her lapses. And the consultant who saw her a couple of months ago said there was nothing wrong. Just short term memory problems.

TSO and I are now looking at our own wills and TSO to talk to his sister and father about lasting power of attorney so they don't fall into the clutches of local council and social services.

I have had 3 or 4 good cries over this terror of strangers making decisions about this lovely couple. Already seen the horrors of couples placed in different facilities and parents placed too far for family to visit easily.