When I get to St George’s hospital on Monday morning, Mum looks better than I’d expected after the drama of her passing out on Saturday night. She looks tired and is lying on the bed but she’s fully dressed and seems herself. She tells me she’s been “pulled about” in all sorts of machines.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/mar/22/familyandrelationships5

It’s 7pm on Saturday and John and I are on our way out of London. My brother rings. He had been planning to go over to my mother’s to spend the evening with her. “She’s not back yet,” he says. “There’s probably no reason to worry, but what do you think?”

“Probably not,” I say. “It’s what happened the other week, isn’t it? She didn’t get back until 9pm then, so maybe she’s got a bit lost again.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/mar/08/familyandrelationships5