Becky's story

6.15am

I was awoken this morning at approximately 6.15am by R going to the toilet. The banging on the floor as he jumps out of bed, the bang of the door against the radiator in the bathroom, the bang as he opens the toilet seat and the toilet flushing.

After some "just woken up" clapping and verbal noises I hear the toilet flush again. R then comes into my room to see if I am awake. Due to the time and how it impacts on his routine, it is best if he does not start the day yet, so I pretend to still be asleep. R closes the door and goes back to his bed. He goes to the toilet again around 5 mins later and repeats the whole process before going back to bed until approximately 7 am.

7am

R then gets up again and looks into my room. I say "Good Morning", he gets his plug, bubbles and shampoo, goes into the bathroom. He puts the bubbles and shampoo on the windowsill, and runs himself a bath. I then go in and support him to have a wash, brush his teeth and wash his hair.

After his bath I support him to get dry and dressed. We take off his bedding, open the windows and mop the bedroom and bathroom. Now we are done. We go downstairs, R carries the washing and I carry the medicine avoiding dropping items on the stairs!

R stuffs the clothes into the machine. It's breakfast time; banana, weetabix or yoghurt? Today, R chooses banana and weetabix. As I mash the banana and heat the soya milk, R goes 'round and opens the curtains. He must have been hungry today as his breakfast disappears like a shot!

8am

R now points to his ear. He wants his music on, so we choose a CD and put it on (80's hits today!). It's time for coffee, so we have our usual game. R puts the coffee jar on its side, so I put the cup on its side. Then we stand them up and then put them back on their side...

Eventually, after about 5 times, we stop and make coffee. I hold the coffee jar tilted for R so it is easier for him to get a spoonful out. Most of it goes into the cup, excellent job! Now it's my turn, one spoonful in. Next, the kettle which has just boiled, hand over hand, careful, a little pressure by me to tilt it up and R realises that’s enough.

He now gives me the kettle, in my water goes. Lastly the milk, same as the kettle. Everything away, coffee’s made.

8.10am

Now R is pointing to the top of the cupboard. This is where the paper is kept, "writing please." Paper, pen and coffee over to the sofa, I sit down and write what is happening today.

I write on the paper "Becky now, Becky staying, Ryan visiting, car, pub today, Babsie sleeping today." As I write this as a list, I say what I write.

8.30am/8.45am

After writing we finish our coffees and go upstairs to collect the hoover and bring it downstairs. I unravel the cord and give the plug to R. He plugs it in under his blackboard and turns the switch on and I turn the hoover on. I hoover all around the dining area, and then the kitchen, through the lounge to the bottom of the stairs.

When I get here and turn the hoover off, R goes to get the plug and takes the plug to do upstairs. Now it is time to hoover the stairs. R sits at the top whilst I hoover each step. Once this is done, I go and retrieve the hoover from the bottom of the stairs and carry it up.

Now a quick hoover upstairs. I start to wind the cord up, R unplugs the hoover and hands me the plug and hoovering is finished!

Downstairs the washing machine is on the final spin, the pegs are out ready and at the "beep" I open the door and pull out the clean washing. We pick each item up and give them a good shake and carry them outside between us.

As I get the clothes, R passes the pegs. It's a bit of a squeeze but we manage to get it all on the line. Another job out of the way.

9.30am

Today is the day we do the weekly car checks, so I go upstairs to get the Health and Safety file and bring it downstairs and get out the relevant pieces of paper. I get the keys and open the front door and say "car checks".

I open the car and prop the bonnet and check all the things we need to. Oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid etc, all looks ok. I shut the bonnet, we have a look at tyres and bodywork, then check inside. Now to check the lights in and out and lastly, "beep" the horn is working.

"Yes car today" as R points to his car as I lock it up. "Very good" and R and I go back into the house. As we go in, R gets out the coffee indicating that he would like another drink. We make them the same way as before.

10.30am ish

A bit of a sit down.

10.50am

Time to go and get changed and ready for our trip to the pub.