Update

I have not posted to this blog for a couple of years now. In fact I had forgotten all about it so here is an update.

Three years ago, when David was still in the awful sheltered accommodation we described in earlier entries we decided that we had to do something ourselves to improve his living conditions. We got some help from relatives and spent our life savings on a house for him. It was half built when we first viewed it and the developers told us it would be finished in three months. They lied and it was over a year before the house was ready for occupation. It cost in the region of £220K and, as we are both retired pensioners, it has left us very vulnerable but there seemed to be no alternative. In fact, the recession means that we shall lose a great deal if we have to sell.

David has been at the house for two years now. He is mostly happy but as he is completely alone we spend our time visiting him nearly every day. We buy most of his food, pay his bills, petrol, water rates etc etc as he gets very little to live on. We receive nothing from the authorities for his use of the house so they have gained a great deal - this, after my wife and I both worked for 30 years paying into the system.

David still keeps up a regime of fitness and a strict diet, constantly worrying about his health and weight. Often the old, dark thoughts come back so we spend hours on the phone talking him through it. He is on only 200mg of clozopine per day now. On the positive side he is becoming more independent and there are several local venues where he regularly jams with other musicians.