Yes, I try to look on the bright side of life, but brightness of light, as in sunshine, is not good for me. Seeing too much brightness is like seeing too much movement, my brain overloads.

When there is sunshine I want to get out and garden, paint or whatever but I have to make a choice; either go out and get punished later by being totally wiped out. Or, go into a darkened room for a while and then come out ready. It seems counterintuitive but the second way works best, so I try to do this unless I have a reason to stay up like socialising or having a meeting, in which case I do get wiped out.

No, not mine, but I did think mine was good. Ethel, my wife and supporter, got an ovation for hers. It was very emotional and I was very proud. She said that close relatives should be called supporters, as they emotionally support us with dementia. Carers are those who come in and do the actual personal care. As it is unpaid family carers for all those that require care (not just those with dementia), save the UK £57 billion per year so a small percentage of that spent on them would enable them to support longer and thus save money in the long run.

There was press coverage of the event, but it was about the VR I sponsored for last year and made out that I had raised £2,000, I wish! It also quoted me as a “sufferer “, aargh! A bit of a way to go there. Unfortunately, they left before our speeches because many of the professionals attending said that they were what they would remember most.