Paddy Ashdown seems to be surviving the revelations about his having had an affair with a former secretary
Paddy Ashdown seems to be surviving the revelations about his having had an affair with a former secretary

Uncomfortable day at home with Debbie keeping me company and comforting me as Diana is no ‘Florence Nightingale’! A restless experience trying to sleep being required to sit in an upright position to allow my nose to ‘drain’.

Breakfast on my own with the cooperation of the girls but falling out again with Diana although she was also off to have her own screening session at The Evelyn Hospital where she was having a "mammography" and "cervical smear" tests. I felt a little better, if tired, and tried some more time at my desk and computer before resting and reading in the lounge again.

My diet of fish led to me getting under my 13st 7lbs target that I have been aiming at for more than a year now! Daniel and Angela came home this evening and the whole family were very glad of this. Paddy Ashdown seems to be surviving the revelations about his having had an affair with a former secretary after a Tory burgled confidential documents from his solicitor and tried to sell them to the tabloid press. The latest polls show the Liberal Democrats up 2%!

In many ways, the night-time is the worst for wearing these internal nose splints and external bolster, as there are few distractions from the aches and discomfort. The more so for Diana's tiredness in the late evening where she just wants to get off to sleep herself. Certainly, given the pile of pillows dumped on my bed which is not turned down or otherwise prepared for me, I should conclude that she is no Florence Nightingale! This has always been a difference between us. When ill herself, she just takes to her bed and becomes quite offish, wanting the interest, reassurance and attentions of nobody so that any contact might be regarded as undue interference or criticism!

** "Read More" BELOW for the complete story **

Then when I am ill, she must think that I should have the same approach whereas the technique of nursing is such that, whilst there is little that a helper can do, just putting a person to bed, sitting them forward, fluffing up and adjusting the pillows and attending to minor things helps; none of which would logically affect the patient, but all of which are important to his/her morale and state of mind and a necessary contact for monitoring progress and acting accordingly. Debbie has been more sympathetic. I had gone and sat with her in her room last night whilst she was doing her homework and when I had found the strain a bit much to bear. She was sorry for me and lent me her cassette tapes on "The Hobbitts", which I listened to in the dark after retiring to bed.

I took another couple of Nurofen tablets (containing Ibuprofen) on retiring to ease the aches but still had trouble sleeping. The problem is that they wish me to sleep in an upright sitting position to help my nose drain which is a most unusual and uncomfortable position beside leading to a sore or numb coccyx (tail bone). Much of the night was a restless and fitful experience but then I slept more soundly until woken at 8.00am for my morning tea. Breakfast late and on my own and then I got the girls' cooperation but upset Diana by criticising the way she had left the house as she rushed out this morning. However, she had not only to take the girls to school but also to go on to her own screening session at The Evelyn Hospital where she was having a "mammography" and "cervical smear".

I slowly but steadily got myself shaved and then ran a bath and soaked in it before also washing my hair. An opportune time to cut my nails (which had been cracking for lack of attention) as well whilst listening to Desert Island Discs on the radio. A nice interview with a writer (which contrasted sharply with that last week with John Major which turned into a party political broadcast). I felt a little better, if tired, after all these things and felt up to trying some more time at my desk and computer before resting and reading in the lounge again. Fish galore for my meals again today and, I must admit, the accompanying white sauce is getting a bit sickly if you have too much of it.

I would prefer fresh fish, with pepper and vinegar, and look forward to having the kippers that are lurking in the fridge at the moment. All this has led to me losing weight and I now stand under my 13st 7lbs target that I have been aiming at for more than a year now! This afternoon reading in the lounge and then, this evening, I spent some time at my office desk answering some correspondence which I managed to do. Daniel and Angela came home this evening and the whole family were very glad of this.

It is nice to see them back here after many weeks spent working on their projects at University. We watched a film together later in the evening which was nice. Paddy Ashdown seems to be surviving the revelations about his having had an affair with a former secretary after a Tory burgled confidential documents from his solicitor and tried to sell them to the tabloid press. The latest polls show the Liberal Democrats up 2%!