John Lydon's wife can't always remember their grandchildren

He said: "She doesn’t remember faces or situations, but her personality is still there and that’s the person I loved over 40 years ago. That’s not going to change. Of course, there are issues, but there are issues with everything. I’m a long-term hauler and so is my Babbie.

"‘She doesn’t forget who I am, but with the grandchildren the memory’s in and out. She can remember things extremely accurately from 25 years ago, yet things that happened ten minutes ago she can’t.

"Her memory is a permanent jigsaw puzzle that keeps getting wrecked just as you’re about to complete it."

The Public Image Limited (PiL) rocker does get frustrated at times, but a knowing look from Nora makes it all worthwhile.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Sometimes accidents will happen and she’ll pour tea accidentally down my head because she forgets the correct way to hold a cup and she’ll be distracted by the television or something.

"From time to time, I’ll have my inward explosions because sometimes it’s like banging your head against a wall. But then there’ll be what you might call a heated situation and I’ll notice halfway through that she’s winking at me.

"Moments like that are so genius and rewarding because something in her has clicked and she’ll be teasing me like she’s always done when I’m being a bit saucy!"

John insisted he would never have his wife admitted to a care facility.

He said: "No, no, no! That would be horrid. I can’t do that. She’s not a difficult auntie — this is my significant other in life.

"I have many friends who have gone through similar things with their parents, but that’s a different situation that requires a different response. And it’s not like Nora and me have got kids running around. We just have each other, and that makes it less of a problem.’

The former Sex Pistols frontman doesn't like to think about how long he has left with his 73-year-old wife and believes he'll "die of sadness" when she passes away.

He said: "One of my friend’s mothers was ill and that went on for 12 years, and I’d like longer, thank you!’ he says. ‘But I’d die of sadness without Nora.

"You just can’t think of things like that, though. You’ve got to be bright. My mum and dad taught me not to have self-pity. Just take life as it comes."