My father, who was a Royal Marine, was a huge influence on me. He always said, 'I never want to die with the words 'if only' on my lips.'

I think I've got better and more observant as I've got older.

In my experience, there are good days and bad days when caring for someone with a memory-impairment condition such as dementia, but it is really important for you and the person you're caring for to regularly get out and about - to enjoy a change of scenery and feel the sun on your face from time to time.

It's the pleasure of the moment that really matters to someone with dementia.

Some restaurants and cafes are very dementia friendly - having a quick chat with a staff member when you arrive will help them to understand that they can help you by giving you a table in a quiet area or prioritising your order and clearing plates away quickly.

Being able to feel the wind on their face or smell fish and chips in the air gives those living with dementia a sense of space and time and a welcome distraction from their symptoms.