My Mad Dad

Inadvertent cross-dressing
Attempted murder
Jail break
A waltz at a funeral
A hernia the size of Guernsey

Heartbreaking and darkly comic, these are the moments that litter the messy road from cared-for to carer, a journey that Robyn Hollingworth finds herself on when she's only twenty-five years old.

Leaving London to return home to rural South Wales, Robyn finds that it's her old life - same teddy bears resting on her pillow, their bodies tucked under the duvet; same view of the garages behind which she'd had her first cigarette and first kiss - but so much has changed.

Her dad, the proud, charmingly intelligent, self-made man who made people laugh, is in the grip of early onset Alzheimer's. His brilliant mind, which saw him building power stations and literally bringing light into the lives of others, has succumbed to darkness.

As Robyn settles back in the rhythms of life in the rain-soaked vast Welsh valleys, she keeps a diary charting her journey as the dad she knew disappears before her eyes. Lyrical, poignant and with flashes of brilliant humour, My Mad Dad explores how in helping others we can heal ourselves.

'At some point the cared for become the carers...this isn't a shame and it isn't a tragedy and it isn't a chore. It is an honour. To be able to return the gift of love that someone bestows upon you is a gift in itself. This is a story of caring...'

Imbracaminte incrucisata involuntara Incercare de crima Pauza de inchisoare Un vals la inmormantare O hernie de dimensiunea Guernsey Descompunatoare de inima si intunecata, acestea sunt momentele care imprastie drumul dezordonat de la ingrijit la ingrijitor, o calatorie pe care Robyn Hollingworth o gaseste cand are doar douazeci si cinci de ani Plecand de la Londra pentru a se intoarce acasa in Tara Galilor de Sud, Robyn constata ca este viata ei veche - aceiasi ursi de plus odihniti pe perna ei, cu trupurile ascunse sub plapuma; aceeasi vedere asupra garajelor in spatele carora isi facuse prima tigara si primul sarut - dar atat de multe s-au schimbat. Tatal ei, omul mandru, fermecator de inteligent, creat de sine, care a facut oamenii sa rada, se afla in stapanirea bolii Alzheimer cu debut precoce. .