Sir Terry Pratchett's Living with Alzheimer's

[missyburd]

Just watched this on iplayer, was on last night.

Absolutely fascinating programme but also very moving, actually seeing someone go through what he is. I shouldn't imagine this sort of documentary is to everyone's tastes especially if you have (or had :() a family member suffer from this. Alzheimer's is a traumatic disease, not only for those suffering but awful for the families of those concerned so I apologise if this stirs memories or affects you in some way but I do think this chap is doing a tremendous amount of good making a documentary about it.

One quote from the programme when Sir Pratchett is being interviewed for a radio show:

Radio presenter: "So one paper has said you have finally found God after years of being atheist, is this true?"

Terry: (pause) "I can't find my keys!"Made me chuckle that one. Great to see he hasn't lost his sense of humour one little bit.

Anyone else see it? A good watch, I'd recommend it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00hhgsb/Terry_Pratchett_Living_with_Alzheimers_Episode_1/

[zsv650]

i watched that last night sometime's it was hard to believe he had it still seemed real witty to me but he seemed to struggle with some tasks like the tie and get muddled up sometime's still dont know what the deal with the greek chorus following him was about though.

[SoulKiss]

One quote from the programme when Mr Pratchett is being interviewed for a radio show

Thats SIR Terry to you :p

or as he's referred to in Diskworld Geek circles Sir Pterry

[missyburd]

i watched that last night sometime's it was hard to believe he had it still seemed real witty to me but he seemed to struggle with some tasks like the tie and get muddled up sometime's still dont know what the deal with the greek chorus following him was about though.

The tie thing was the most moving bit, just seems so wrong that a person can be perfectly capable one moment and then struggling to do the simplest things the next. And the reading to the audience bit too :(

Oh and the greek chorus thing confused me too :confused:

[missyburd]

Thats SIR Terry to you :p

or as he's referred to in Diskworld Geek circles Sir Pterry

Sir Terry Pratchett's Living with Alzheimer's

I had mentioned it :p

[Speedy Claire]

Was a fantastic programme Maria... I really enjoyed it.

[SoulKiss]

I had mentioned it :p

Yes, but you then referred to SIR as MR

tut tut - off to the Tower for you :)

[dizzyblonde]

The tie thing was the most moving bit, just seems so wrong that a person can be perfectly capable one moment and then struggling to do the simplest things the next. And the reading to the audience bit too :(

Oh and the greek chorus thing confused me too :confused:

He was interviewed yesterday morning on the beeb, he said something like you could be a scientific genius and waffle and rant philosophically like any other time, yet you can't remember how to tie your own shoe laces. Its very hard to realise theres anything wrong at times....like you say its the simplest of things that can cause the most difficulty

[missyburd]

Edited, happy now Soulkiss? :p

[Bluepete]

I have been reading his books for as long as I can remember! I've met him, several years ago, top bloke, and I'm mad as hell that he is probably going to be unable to write Diskworld Books in the near future. Selfish on my behalf, but I doubt he wants my sympathy.

And who could not have had a lump in their throat watching him start reading the new novel on stage at the convention...... and end up not being able to read his own words. I know I did.

The Humax is set to record the next episode.

Pete

[SoulKiss]

Edited, happy now Soulkiss? :p

Yep, I wont feel so embarassed when I point his daughter at this thread when I next see her on MSN.....

[missyburd]

Yep, I wont feel so embarassed when I point his daughter at this thread when I next see her on MSN.....
Lol say hello from the .org! :p

[zsv650]

i've never actually read any of his book's though as i only really read ancient military history book's roman's and spartans and the like but might give one a go now the only fiction book's ive read are lotr including the hobbit which confused the hell outta me most good writer's are a bit zany though.

[missyburd]

I've only read a couple and I was only about 12 when I did so I don't think I fully understood them. I might pick them back up again, I like a bit of fantasy (;-)) every now and then.

[xXBADGERXx]

My Grandmother had Alzheimers and I was told not to visit her and to keep her in my mind the way she was , I gave up and went to see her before the end and it crushed me . I watched this last night as Sir Terry has had me in stitches with his books over the years . Try and sniff out some of his early short story stuff like "The Hades Project" , very entertaining stories .

I met Sir Terry about 17 years ago . I had bought my first motorbike and had gone to Bangor to browse the local record stores for some Vinyl . I walked past an independant book store and glanced in . I screeched to a halt and did the "comedy backwards walk" and leaned back and looked in . There , sat facing me was a dignified man , with a floppy black hat on , leaning on his elbows with hands folded together , looking out into the rainy street . He raised his eyebrows and nodded at me as if to say "Yes , it is me" . I spun around and basically said "What the heck is Terry Pratchett doing here and why isn`t there a queue into the next town?" .

It turned out that it hadn`t been greatly announced , and in the day before mobile phones , word of mouth was about the only way he was going to get a crowd . A couple of students had spotted him and had made off for the University and the Throng was on it`s way . We chatted for a few minutes and I bought a book for him to Sign . I left him with a cheery goodbye and went to get some records .

An hour later I walked past the same shop and it was madness . I glanced in and Sir Terry looked at me over his glasses with a resigned look as if to say "Well , they are here in their masses , Happy now?"

5 minutes spent with the guy chatting about normal things instead of his work was a nice moment in time , He won`t remember it as he has met thousands of people in all sorts of circumstances , it is a moment that will stay with me forever .





P.S. His daughter is hot LOL

[Raf]

Yep, I wont feel so embarassed when I point his daughter at this thread when I next see her on MSN.....

Tell her I have a word or two about what she did to Mirror's Edge, which I believe she wrote the plot and dialogue for. But anyway about Sir Terry.

Having lost my grandad to alzeihmer's early last year I can definitely say that it is one of the most cruel diseases out there. It really just steal a person away little by little. I shall spare everyone the details, but in the end, I think everybody was glad that he passed away. However, none of us remember him how he was in his late years, but rather how he was back in the day when he had his wits about him and had a sharp mind.

On a side note, I do remember reading about the time he go diagnosed with the disease. Because he has such and eccentric and individual view of things it actually was quite hard to run one of the normal tests which is name as many animals as you can. As Pratchett's readers out there might guess, what followed as a list of some of the world's most interesting animals, but none of the usual ones (Elephant? What's that?). Which caused the doctor conducting the test to just invalidate his results, he couldn't determine if he had the symptoms or it was just Pratchett being Pratchett. I still haven't read all of his books, but I enjoyed all of the ones I've read so far, even though I only starting reading his books at a late age.

I haven't watched the program yet, but I may do before i go to bed tonight, I am very curious to see how he is handling things.

[missyburd]

Having lost my grandad to alzeihmer's early last year I can definitely say that it is one of the most cruel diseases out there.
One of the scientists in the program referred to Alzheimer's as "a living bereavement", an apt term I think.

[Raf]

One of the scientists in the program referred to Alzheimer's as "a living bereavement", an apt term I think.

Indeed, that is spot on.