The Reconstruction of Fallen Stars

  It is important when building something to start with a solid foundation. If you don't there is no point in laying even a single brick. Your project is doomed from the outset. If your foundation is strong enough, you can build a vast skyscraper, that will stand for decades, and weather any storm. Mr A, and I, had a long and frank talk, it was possibly the hardest conversation I've ever been called upon to have. It is fair to say neither of us enjoyed it. It was a conversation that could only be described as "good" in the technical sense of the word, in as much as we kept to the point, and had roughly equal input. The subject matter was painful for us both, and there were long pauses while we each collected our thoughts. There is no transcript, and even if there were, I would not publish it. What was said will remain between the two of us, it is enough to know that we reached an accord. We have each made promises to the other, and I am certain we will endeavour to ke

In Awakenings, a film based on a true story, Robin Williams is a doctor who cares for patients who have been catatonic for many years, and discovers a treatment that 'revives' them. Achieving his best results with a man played by Robert DeNiro. For a while this treatment works well enough that the patients begin to think they will be able to lead a normal life. Sadly, after a while complications lead to the withdrawal of treatment, a they slip back into their catatonia. I realised yesterday, that my life has turned out rather like the plot of "Awakenings." For over 40 years, I drifted through my life without much of a plan. Then I met Mr A. and after a while, I woke up, found I had a life, and started to live it, I made plans, built a home, and settled in for the long term. Then like Williams' treatment, complications have caused the treatment to be withdrawn, and I sometimes feel like I'm returning to my previous state. It is, of course, a loose comparison. M