Then...
 

From 2018 life became a complete diversion away from our own lives and our attention was fairly full on centred around our elderly parents. My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimers and I stood by her side, doing pretty much everything that she was unable to do herself anymore. Witnessing her independence become dependence and her mind become blank was an exhausting expedition. Over four years she moved home three times and attended hospital and respite several times. She spent the last 15 months of her life in a nursing home, not even remembering her Hungarian language, but her smiles beamed when she was visited by Reg, our little Patterdale Terrier. He was all she recognised during her final months. My wife has also became a more-or-less full-time carer for her parents who also deteriorated quite rapidly since the lockdowns of 2020. Both were diagnosed with Dementia early in 2024.
Sadly my mum passed away in July 2025, followed just a few weeks later by the passing of my father-in law.