Glad when wife's arm is better

My wife has lost the use of her right arm temporarily. As she reminds me (every 10 minutes), this is very inconvenient to her in her daily life. Being a good husband I offered my help. She fell about laughing but eventually agreed to let me try.

I started as I meant to go on. This was serious business. I set the alarm clock for 6.45am. When the alarm sounded I advised my wife that it was time for her to get up.

Downstairs I helped her wash up. I passed her the tea towel to dry up and showed her how to hold the plates etc under her chin because she needed two hands. I passed her the dustpan and brush to sweep up the broken crockery.

When she made the mid morning tea, I held the cups still while she stirred the sugar in. I think she was being overcome by emotion because her hand was shaking and she slopped hot tea over mine. I didn't let it deter me though and when she received a telephone call I sat in the armchair by the telephone with pen and paper in case she wanted to make notes.

At lunchtime she showed me how to light the gas ring and heat soup. I put the cutlery on the table during which time the soup boiled over.

My ironing in the afternoon wasn't too bad. The scorch marks hardly show but the shrivelled hole in her silk blouse is a bit unsightly.

As she is unable to drive, she has to walk to the shop but has difficulty in carrying three bags in one hand.

I had a cunning plan to overcome this problem and she now makes three separate journeys. I've offered to help her again, but she says that she'll be glad when her arm's better so that she can take the weight off my shoulders. To tell the truth so will I - I'm shattered.

Jim Wood, Holmer Lake