Robert Poste's Child

Re flying, you may not have time or headspace for this right now but the nervous flyer course run by Virgin is very good. I did it several years ago and have done long-haul since (once with flu) and now almost enjoy it. It involves a day at an airport with a short flight at the end. With some airlines you can also let them know you're nervous before you fly and they'll look after you.

Poor you, Susanna; sounds very stressful. Despite the negative view of Valium these days, which I do completely understand, I found it fantastically helpful and 2mg (a very small dose) used occasionally was a godsend when I went through a very tough patch some years back. A few other things you could try: - self-refer for CBT via your GP as it's good for helping manage anxious thoughts. There'll probably be a waiting list of a few months though. - 7-4-8 breathing. In for 7, hold for 4, out for 8, repeat. The first few rounds you fight it and then suddenly it kicks in and you feel your body calm down. - list aloud everything you've done today in reverse order, starting with the most recent thing. This is very helpful when anxieties are snowballing in your head as the mind doesn't seem to be able to run both processes at once. Also useful when you can't unwind enough to sleep. - Rescue Remedy, as someone already suggested. Seems to work best in a big glass of water rather than under the tongue. - linear exercise (running, brisk walking or cycling, swimming lanes etc) apparently switches on your left brain, the part you need for problem-solving and decisions. I know people will scoff but definitely works for me and even very left-brained scientist ex agreed. - visit Mind and Anxiety UK for more info and ideas. - use helplines such as Sane or Samaritans to talk things through, explore your options and plan next steps. ETA ...and massage. You may find that as the physical tension is eased you let go of the feelings you're holding at the same time (a big cry, in other words). Best of luck.

I wasn't arguing with you: I just take a more pragmatic view. Hard to imagine all the pedestrians walking in single file on the narrow, sloping pavement, dogs on short leads, while cyclists have the road to themselves!

I do know what you mean, RH, but Dulwich is a very safe, flat, child-friendly park so it's slow going at this time of year, and I'm not sure it's reasonable to ask people to stay off the road. If you want to improve your fitness, you'd probably enjoy Peckham Rye, Nunhead Cemetery, Belair and Brockwell parks more, and you can loop them together with back roads that will be much quieter than negotiating Dulwich Park. Dulwich Park has a 5mph limit so if you see cyclists speeding around I think it's OK to give them a polite reminder.

Calm down, it's only a sandwich. And mine has avocado. I'm guessing you voted leave...

Yes, they need sugar to help the flavour catch up.

I just read Absolute Pandemonium, an instalment of Brian Blessed's autobiography, which was very entertaining and uplifting. Got it from the library. If you don't have much headspace or energy, I'd also recommend the Agatha Raisin detective series by MC Beaton. Far from literary and the editor needs a serious talking-to but the characterisation is amusing.

That's all nice and clear, then.

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Robert Poste's Child Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Bacon, either really thin and crispy or lardons, > avocado, tomato, proper mayonnaise. > > AVOCADO??? > > I think you just gentrified the humble bacon > sandwich. If I'm honest, the bacon's just there to offset the avocado. I've always found bacon and coffee a bit of a disappointment. They never taste as good as they smell.

Bacon, either really thin and crispy or lardons, avocado, tomato, proper mayonnaise. Bread has got tricky as I can't do wheat so probably on one slice of light rye, toasted. Beans wouldn't go, but sometimes I put grilled lardons or cold gammon in the beans and that's pretty good.

That's a bit strong. One of Boris's strongest arguments for Leave was that 'international' is not synonymous with the EU, and there's another 90% of the world out there to deal with. For him it seemed to be about the bigger picture rather than controlling immigration and the false British superiority of Farage. That's not to say he was right - even he knows he wasn't - but I suspect the lesson of getting it wrong will make him more careful in future. This is an unexpected tenth life, and he must know it.

Isn't is the Lambeth Country Show this weekend? Not sure if it counts as a festival but it's on the doorstep and free (donations rather than tickets).

My guess is she wants to keep him visible during Brexit to make sure he cops any flak and acts as a reminder that she's not to blame - so a penance as much as a promotion.

Do we need two separate threads on this at the same time? It would be much, much easier to follow and discuss if you could combine them, rather than having one per point of view, as it were.

There are quite a few previous threads on this that you might find helpful.

Second vote for Broadstairs. It sort of feels right for a family outing to the beach. You can also get there by train in about two hours, as far as I remember.

Or Horse & Hound.

If you spot something red down there it'll be your base chakra. It governs the bowels so don't forget to wash your hands.

You sound troubled, steveo. Hold still while I retune your chakras. (Isn't that a mixed metaphor?)

Start a dog creche aka doggy day care. People pay crazy money for that and when you're self-employed you can use your money in a more flexible way.

That Body Scan with Voice could save the NHS a lot of money. Maybe they could take a look at my dodgy ankle that King's couldn't diagnose.

Apols, Grok, I was reacting to Louisa's post and crossed with yours.

Aren't souls and ghosts different things? (Hypothetically, anyway.) I believe the idea is that ghosts are imprints of moments of high emotion which keep repeating - an impression that remains on the energy of the place where the event happened - whereas the soul or spirit is the divine part of the person that continues after death.

The really insidious bit is that Cameron, Boris, Farage and Gove all get to sit back and watch while the changes they were in various ways responsible for inciting are inflicted on the country, and at the same time Theresa May will legitimately claim it's not her fault as she voted Remain. So everyone gets to keep their hands clean. Which is nice.