Hi Laura,

I am fine thanks, and it's obvious that you have done well. Now in my view (although I tend to go off most people's radar a bit these days) I think what you have had there is a bit of a "metanoia".

The word means literally to denote "changing one's mind, in the sense of embracing thoughts beyond its present limitations or thought patterns". You probably feel refreshingly good about that, you have had, in a sense, a breakthrough. So well done.

Comparison with my friend R, who once had a scary diving experience. He went into a cave, and he kicked up a load of mud and couldn't find his way out. He got terrified, thinking he was going to die there, and the 10 minutes or so seemed an eternity. It is pretty frightening when you can't see the way out of a dark situation. Fortunately for him he thought to turn his torch off before his air ran out. After a few moments in complete darkness, he began to see a glimmer of light. That was his metanoia moment, and I suspect that's where you are now. From that point on he knew which direction to go in.

The thing is once you have seen that direction, no one can take that away from you. The way you travel doesn't have to be dead accurate, you can make changes later, as you approach the light it becomes brighter and more defined. The general direction is fine. And don't worry of you slip a bit either, it doesn't matter. That's to be expected really. Rome wasn't built in a day.

So apart from keeping yourself busy enjoy some rare UK sunshine, it is going to be 28 here next week (over 80) and sunny. You deserve a treat! :)

I won't bore you about plant based diets, I have posted enough elsewhere, but a few specific things that might help you. I slipped up the other week and bout cashews that were salted. I ate the whole damned pack. If you do eat those, try the unsalted ones, they taste better (when you get used to them). Better still, get nuts in shell. Asda do peanuts in shell and unsalted pistachios. Takes longer to eat them like that, so it's better. Smaller packs help too. And when I was doing the Fuhrman diet I placed one ounce in a plastic bag each day - my allowance. Doing that made me eat them more slowly.

Oh and I still have a few addictions too, for example cases of 20 x Stella Artois for £10 each, maximum 3 per customer. I am sure you will guess how many I bought. Once they are in the fridge, the temptation is then too easy.

Now I rarely use the supermarket though. I go to our local fruit and veg market and get everything I want there. Peas in pod, broad beans, root veg, tomatoes, fruit.

You are doing well dealing with the voices, just sharing with others can be a great relief. I hear that saying bye bye to them is like killing your best friend. And that's why you need the support from other friends to take their place.

I also think that someone who fights a harder battle in life gets greater rewards, so don't for one minute give up :)

PM me if you want any more support, or email me.

And congratulations, yet again

Steve