My life has changed in so many ways over the last decade and not for the better. But today I was sat thinking to myself and I realised I’ve forgotten what it’s like to have a friend just pop around for a cup of coffee and a chat about nothing and everything.

I have my visits from my support workers every day but they are paid for appointments. They aren’t spontaneous, but instead governed by rules and boundaries that can not be broken therefore conversation is stilted and un-natural..

I would love to sit down in the evening with an old friend and talk about what we did, about politics about science and about dreams and hopes and fears. I want to laugh again.

I would love to have an old friend come round and just tell me it’s going to be OK even when we both know it’s not.