This weekend has been a challenging one for me.

On Friday I put some eggs on to boil, yes reader, I know I’m not supposed to touch the cooker, but was trying to help.

I went to the shops to get some milk and when I got back my wife told me that some cardboard boxes were next to the cooker and had caught fire, luckily my wife noticed before it took hold.

Saturday morning, I woke up just after 5am and the fog of Dementia was waiting for me with avengeance.

I liken these times using Greg O’Brien’s analogy “On Pluto”, for me my body is on earth but my head is far away through the fog on Pluto and it would be 4 hours before I could venture downstairs.

My daily trip to the shops cancelled as the challenges would be too great, later I turned off Social Media and the TV and waited in silence as my head made its slow journey back from Pluto.

This morning the fog of Dementia waited for me again but I was able to rouse myself after a couple of hours.

Over the weekend I have remembered how relaxed I had been last week in Birmingham at the Dementia Diaries Meet Up last week and I am now going to cancel all my Dementia based activities this week in favour of spending some family and me time.

My blog will continue, I already have some articles ready to publish as I cannot always find the words to write them daily.

Dementia will still be there in a weeks time and there will still be many battles and abuses to be fought but for now my own personal battle will come first.

If you are interested in Greg’s book it is called “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s”

To finish with, a couple of quotes from my favourite album:

“Every year is getting shorter.

Never seem to find the time,

Plans that either come to naught,

Or half a page of scribbled lines.

Hanging on in quiet desperation,

Is the English way.

The time is gone.

The song is over.

Thought I’d something more to say..”

“You lock the door and throw away the key

There’s someone in my head but it’s not me.

And if the cloud bursts thunder in your ear.

You shout and no one seems to hear.

And if the band you’re in starts playing different tunes.

I’ll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon..”

Posted by “Pink Floyd – Steve” on Twitter

Recently, Parliament passed the EU Withdrawal Bill, which was given Royal Assent on 26th June 2018.

Director of Liberty, Martha Spurrier said:

“Hundreds of MPs put protecting the Prime Minister ahead of protecting their constituents’ rights tonight. As a result, ordinary people will now have fewer legal tools to fight back when Parliament puts the interests of the powerful ahead of equality, fairness and human dignity.

“This marks a needless step backwards for the UK, weakening legal protections for LGBT equality, privacy, children’s rights, and the rights of people with disabilities. We need to consider what kind of country we want to be – whether we accept that a post-Brexit Britain is a country with fewer rights and a diminished position as a global leader on freedom and liberty. Rights lost aren’t easily won back, but we will keep fighting.”

It was an opportunity missed to strengthen rights and fully incorporate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into law.

Frankly reader, I do not care whether you are a leaver or remainer.

The facts about recent Referendum about Europe are:

January 1973 – After the European Communities Act was passed in October 1972, the UK became part of the European Economic Community (EEC), no Referendum

June 1975 – Referendum to confirm joining the European Economic Community (EEC).

November 1993 – As a result of the Maastricht Treaty the UK became part of the European Union, again no Referendum

June 2016 – Referendum to leave EU

March 2019 – UK Leaves EU no Referendum

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Currently, the debate is all about self interest and scoring points over each other rather than a reasoned discussion looking at the wider challenges facing our Nation come the end of March 2019.

Posts on social media remind me of being in the playground at Junior School, may be all those PPI claim adverts on TV will change to claims against peoples comments on social media after next August, after all, even in cyberspace we are governed by the laws of the land.

There is no informed debate about what will happen to ordinary people in the UK after Brexit.

A couple of examples of where there needs to be an informed debate are:

EU Judges Can “Interpret” Withdrawal Bill However They Like

Brexit: Losing care staff from EU could force disabled people from their homes, report warns

We are seeing a return to the divisive 1930’s, where minority groups such as immigration, religion and disability groups are blamed for the ills of society.

In relation to disabled people in Germany:

“The Nazis claimed that the social and economic problems that Germany experienced in the 1920s and early 1930s were due in part to

the weakening of the population created by an unfair burden.“

The Holocaust and disabled people: FAQ – frequently-asked questions

“Laws passed between 1933 and 1935 aimed to reduce the future number of genetic “inferiors” through involuntary sterilization programs: 320,000 to 350,000 individuals judged physically or mentally handicapped were subjected to surgical or radiation procedures so they could not have children. Supporters of sterilization also argued that

the handicapped burdened the community with the costs of their care.“

Nazi Germany 1933-1939: Early Stages of Persecution

As then the media has joined in with articles saying the young shouldn’t pay for the old, now wanting increased taxes on over 40’s and to take way the money and property of the old to pay for social care, that the disabled are a burden on society.

Hold on, aren’t we supposed to be an inclusive society.

Besides if you take the money and property from the old, what will the young inherit, who then will pay for their care.

Disability Rights UK has a page that links to articles about Brexit and Human Rights

Dementia is recognised as a disability by the UN.

The UK is signed up to the United Nations Conventions on Human Rights AND the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but still we are not treated as equals with other disabilities, chronic terminal diseases.

Assessments for disabled benefits, council tax rebate, travel passes etc still do not recognise Dementia as a disability.

The weakening of those rights continues with the Mental Capacity Amendment Bill

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It is sad that the wartime ethos of make do and mend of our Grandparents has been replaced by greed fanned by the flames of media that in turn affects the opinions of so many.

Their support of inclusive community as opposed to divisive communities, where everyone was welcome and supported even if their views could be influenced by an elitist view of empire.

The alarmist headlines and the articles that influence opinions of readers one side of the debate or another. the latest being there will be riots after Brexit.

The almost daily articles about Dementia, how to not get it, how to reverse it or a new cure that do nothing for someone living with Dementia or their family but sells papers.

The media perceptions of some one with Dementia being 80-90 years old, with wrinkly hands, hunched over and drooling, leads to comments such as “You don’t look like you have Dementia” and persons with Dementia being challenged when using a Disabled Parking Space, Toilet, seat on the bus.

No one seems to look behind the headlines to disseminate the facts

Well that’s my musings over for today reader, you may agree or not that is your right, as it is my right to be heard even if I have Dementia.