I posted earlier on this topic and it was the loving relationship between mother and daughter that delighted me but when I returned a few days later several people had responded to the references to panic attacks. I really do believe it’s down to the glass half full or glass half empty syndrome. My glass is always brimming and I see Catherine’s glass is full too. Whereas the people who home in on what they see as negative are holding glasses that are always underfilled – poor things.

I agree with you, it’s a personality thing. I’m a worrier and if I get really anxious I get what feels like a lump in my chest or I pick away at my fingers or I find it hard to sleep. My mother was a worrier and I remember her telling me that her GP had said, “Mrs C, you worry and if you haven’t anything to worry about, then you worry about that!” I think Catherine and Tadpole have a really lovely relationship because they are sensitive of each other’s needs and emotions and are open with each other.

Then Bossy met a psychologist in her California travels who told her that her panic attack had created Neuro Pathways and Bossy needed to *quickly* work to re-route her tendency to revisit this panic, or risk being stuck in the same record groove.

Bossy accomplished this re-routing by imagining her best self, her unworried self, and what that self would look like to others, and pretending those others were right there with Bossy noticing and admiring how unworried she was, and lo and behold the panic dissipated and the Neuro Pathways, over the next week, disappeared.

Bossy wishes you the best.

Finally was able to get your book, here in South Africa, and as everyone else, read it in one sitting!

Really enjoyed it, but was disappointed when it ended, I had the feeling it needed to be at least 20 chapters longer…..you have an easy to read writing style, one just does not want it to end.

Congratulations on a book well written.

Don’t stop ever.

Reminds me of when our two (now well grown & flown) used to go stay with their Grandparents.

“Don’t you miss them?” People would ask.

“Like a hole in the head!” I’d reply – leaving them to decide whether I meant my eyes, ears or a additionally inserted one!

The things I got done in the time available!

Other times we’d let them go singly. Then have quality one to one time with each. That was good too.

I noted you mentioned suffering panic attacks but that wasn’t important because it’s NORMAL. Anyone, and not just the sensitive and emotional personalities amongst us, who is experiencing big change in their life whether it be a new job, relationship, bereavement, a birth, a divorce or breakdown of a relationship, the illness of a loved one or self, a forthcoming marriage, or like me facing an adult child emigrating to the other side of the world, is vulnerable to an emotional reaction and may suffer panic attacks. When the balance is restored they go away.

Reading some of the negative posts confirms that there are some very warped characters in the world of the Internet who seem to haunt BLOGS and forums solely to post pernicious comments. Humphrey Lyttleton died last Friday and on the BBC website Have Your Say the same old saddos posted sarcastic and cruel comments just as they did when George Melly died last year. Sadly even in the gentle world of Petite Anglaise you have your share. Ignore them, they must live miserable joyless lives……not like our’s hey Catherine.