A NEW book from a Peeblesshire writer approaches the difficult subject of Alzheimers in an imaginative way.

Peter Sellar, form Cardrona, has written a hybrid fiction/non-fiction book about his father, William Sellar, currently a resident in Peebles nursing home. While the core subject of the book is Alzheimers disease – never the easiest of topics to tackle – Who the Hell Are You? is narrated from William’s point of view as he sits in the nursing home’s lounge overlooking Tweed Green.

To beat Alzheimers, and during one of his lucid moments, William decides to commit his memories to paper so that the disease does not take everything away from him. And so, using flashbacks, we read all about his uncle in the trenches of the First World War, his father in the Malayan jungles, his own adventures out to Aden just after the war, and to the United States and Singapore in the 50s before finding love in the 60s.

All the flashbacks are based on word-for-word transcriptions of letters, telegrammes, diary entries and newspaper articles from the period. The documents speak for themselves and are an objectively fascinating reminder of a different way of life during the years of the crumbling British Empire.

The book also narrates William’s descent into Alzheimers and the ravages that he and his family have had to endure for last five years. The book is an easy read, an emotional one, with moments of light and dark intermingled.

Speaking to the Peeblesshire News, Peter said: “The book flits back and forth from my father’s present-day situation to moments from the past -all recalled form the original letters, telegrammes and post cards written by him and family members. It took well over a year to complete from start to finish.

“The motivation for writing the book was to have my father’s memories recorded before they disappear, so from that point of view, it has been a labour of love.” Who the Hell Are You? Is available for £3.32 or $5 on Kindle and at Whities in Peebles for £5. All proceeds will go to Alzheimers Scotland.