Bravo to all on the charabanc and the legend that is Chloe!
I have mostly just had to content myself with reading along with all your thoughts, discussions and sleuthing as my poor old phone struggles with Mumsnet. I nod frequently in agreement with you, applaud the breakthroughs and shake my head at the behaviour of charlatans. All whilst stirring my pot of boiling fudge, in hopeful anticipation of the charabanc detouring inland to my part of the Westcountry. Homemade Sloe Gin (lightly salted sloes actually picked on the SWCP) and fresh scones available freely. The hefty stirring and beating that fudge requires is rather cathartic when thinking about our buccaneering, embezzling, ne’er do wells and their ill gotten gains.
It’s great to read of the podcasts and I shall register to listen to those. As I have previously said, I have personal experience of these kind of people, however, they will never be exposed as it is surprising what families will cover up and how hard it really is to see people for who they are and accept that you aren’t a mean and cynical person when you can. It can be a situation where the messenger really does get shot and withdraws severely wounded.
As a retired HCP I often reflect on the whole medical picture of TW. In assessing patients, we are there to see if we can help, or facilitate access to those who can. Obviously, the overwhelming majority of people will be truthful and genuinely concerned about what is going on for them. I couldn’t imagine not believing a patient, or acting as if I didn’t trust what they were telling me. I have a lot of sympathy with the medical people who met TW and SW. I think they could have been that very rare instance of people specifically looking for medical confirmation in order to validate a non working lifestyle and access PIP. I feel terrible saying this but so many of TW’s problems, as described by SW, fit almost too neatly with the criteria for a higher level of payment. He apparently cannot get out of bed without assistance, needs help dressing, batch cooked meals, gets lost when out on his own, forgets his medication, struggles with walking (unless long distance!), speech (except when schmoozing an actor or flirting with/charming ladies) and memory. I generally had to ask a lot of questions to establish full details, as people normally don’t want to over exaggerate their symptoms and there is a natural tendency to play things down. Faced with this particular double act, going about their planned duplicity, I am not surprised that the consultant tried to come up with something helpful to them by suggesting a possible diagnosis. It is probably what they were specifically after. He possibly also thought he had to be helpful when asked to review the book of “their story”. I find it hard to imagine that he volunteered himself for it.
Also, I wonder how TW ever got the role of a head gardener, apart from modelling himself on Monty Don? It niggles me that SW says that his degree consolidates his lifetime of knowledge and experience, or some such thing. Didn’t learn anything new then? Despite being at the Eden Project? lol!
I have never doubted that they were in it together. A codependent relationship as PPs have said. TW basks in SW’s adulation and servitude. Her mother was an astute woman and saw through him from the start. I sympathise with her too, having seen a parade of DD’s boyfriends pass through. I remember thinking, somewhat doubtfully, that one adored her. Then I realised that he was just reflecting her adoring looks at him and he unfortunately turned out to be the kind of person that I thought he was in the first place. He played with her feelings. The relationship of TW and SW brought it back into my mind. Enough of my rambling. I must see if I can actually post this!