THE FUN OF STORYTELLING!

The ability to dream, and mine are always colourful and typically off-the-wall, is a wonderful thing. I owe this gift to my dear departed mum, Barbara, as she, too, had a vivid imagination.

In her later years, as a touch of dementia began to creep in, she would tell us of her latest dreams, which were often so vivid that she awoke truly believing she had lived the event. Initially, I tried to tell her they were simply dreams, but then I realised she was getting so much joy and fun from them that I stopped telling her and actively encouraged her to enjoy the moment, and she truly did. I should add that, apart from believing in her dreams, she was totally in the moment and sharp during waking hours!

PD Simpson's late mother, Barbara Simpson

On one occasion, we were having breakfast together at her favourite restaurant, and as she was tucking into a plate of cinnamon crepes, she casually announced that she had gone to the moon last night! “Oh, that’s nice!” I said, “And how was the trip?”

“It was very good, and so interesting, but the only thing was that they lost my luggage on the way back!”

Days later, she was still commenting that they had not yet found her luggage, and it was clear that this was troubling her, so one day my wife said, “Barbara, good news, they’ve found your luggage from the Moon trip and I’ve put all your things back in the cupboards.”

Her relief was instant, and that night she embarked on an ocean voyage on a large yacht!