Friendship.  Personally I think this is a subject that is so deserving of a post, but also a fear inducing one too.  How on earth can I do 'friendship' justice?

I've been pondering this for a while and have had so many different thoughts about friendship, including what makes it; what breaks it; why it is so crucial; and just how did I get so darn lucky with my friends?

As I couldn't explore all of these ideas in one post; I thought I would focus on one thing today, and that is 'now'.  I can safely say that without my true friends I would not be where I am now.  

Over the past year or so I have had an absolute shocker of a run.  There have been challenges in pretty much every aspect of my life - big proper life changing challenges that I wouldn't wish on anyone.  These included some serious breaches of trust, and as a result I shut myself off from people for good.  In turn I didn't feel I had anywhere that could be my "safe place".

Initially I had no idea what to do, I was numb and pretending it would all go away if I just kept going.  I refused to face up to the fact that being in tears from the second I woke up until I reached work an hour later was an issue.  I couldn't admit that sitting at home with the curtains drawn all weekend might not be healthy.  Most scary in hindsight, is the fact that I had no control over my lack of desire to see anyone.  Friends and family would try to arrange to visit, but I couldn't face them.  

After months of this came my panic attacks, and I was finally forced to sit with a doctor to explore what was happening.  As terrifying as it was, being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder was a hugely positive turning point for me.  I was able to access help, I was started on medication, and most importantly of all I had a doctor I trusted who kept telling me that it would be ok.  I was able to learn about anxiety, depression and mental health, and with this knowledge came a form of comfort.  

Things are slowly changing, but while this may be the case for me, they are not changing as dramatically for many of the people in my life.  I am still not always able to see people, or even speak to them.

I now have counseling and CBT every week, but due to the breaches of trust, I still struggle with being able to trust or be around people I know.  I am too reluctant to be near people I have trusted in the past in case something goes wrong with them.  It must seem so crazy to an outsider - Afetr all, I can now do my shopping and speak to the person on the checkout, or walk into town and handle the fact people may speak to me; after a lot of persuading I was even recently able to go on the holiday that Mr. BuBakes had booked months ago (not that this was the best option - see 'was that lightning or a silver lining' from 3.10.14!) but I still can't speak on the phone without it affecting me, and I still can't see large groups of people that I actually 'know'.  This means I have missed birthdays; parties, gatherings and other similar events, and I still do so.

So how can I be saying that I still can't fully trust those closest to me, while trying to post about friendship?  I can do so because my current situation actually demonstrates just how outstanding some of the friends in my life are.  

I have friends who have barely seen me for a year yet will still text most weeks (sometimes most days!) to say hi.  Some people will come to see me "just for a quick 15 minute cuppa" and that can involve them travelling for an hour each way in order to do so.  

Friends know I can't come to meet with them, and yet they are so patient and unwavering in their support for me.  When they have a question about my anxiety they ask it - they accept that it is something that is still fairly new to me, and that I am learning ways to handle it.  I have friends that I haven't seen for nearly a year and although I keep saying "hopefully next month" they don't pressure me when I am still not able to fulfill our plans; they know that the time will come, and would rather I am ready for it rather than it being a source of worry for me.  They know it is nothing personal when I can't speak to them, and that I do care about them deeply and can't wait to 'get back out there'.  

Gradually I am starting to let myself engage with people again, purely due to these incredible specimens showing me that it is ok to do so; and I am reminded daily about how loving they are. I have definitely only been able to move forward due to their continued support.  

Forget the adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer.  Instead keep your friends as close as you possibly can; let them know what they mean to you and don't ever take them for granted.  Friends are the family we choose for ourselves, and friendship really will ensure that no matter what happens you are never alone. 

In order to tie this post back to baking, I will add that my friends are also incredibly generous and know just what will make me smile.  Here are a few fabulous gifts that they have given me over the past couple of months, all of which can be found in my kitchen so I see them every day:

Thank you for reading, I hope the talk of my anxiety hasn't dragged on.  I am still really wanting to raise awareness of the disorder and working through ideas as to how I can do so, at the moment this blog is my starting point.

Now pick up your phone and tell a friend or two that you're glad to have them in your life - it will make their day! 

Take care 
Bu x 

PS - did anyone else do the 'Friends-theme-tune-hand-clapping-thing' in their mind when they read the title of this post?  Just me?  Ok...  

Holidays... Super relaxing, all inclusive holidays. Nothing to do but lay in the sun, eat, drink and read the mountain of books that have been piling up on my 'to re-read' list.

Sounds idyllic doesn't it? I thought so too.

Well it's day 6 of our 'escape for some sun' and so far this has been our break away:

Day 1

Travel to Tunisia, arrive at airport, wait for as long as possible before admitting our luggage wasn't with us, travel to resort, realise Mr BB (Mr BuBakes) has left his passport at the airport, be told our luggage has been found, return to the airport, be told they only have Mr BBs case, collect passport and one case, return to hotel, sleep.

Day 2

Lay in bikini that I'd packed in my hand luggage, have dinner in clothes bought in local shop (called Ali Babas, which catered for the tourists wanting to buy 'local gear' and therefore looking like a reject from the cast of Aladdin) sleep

Day 3

Be told my luggage is in Stansted (having visited Glasgow), lay in same bikini as day 2, have dinner in my panto fancy dress again, sleep.

Day 4

Lay in same bikini as days 2 & 3, have dinner in my costume again, be told I need to go to the airport at 8.30pm for my luggage, return from airport at 11.30pm, try to sleep

Overnight of day 4

The nicest way to put this is that I was rather poorly. Repeatedly.

Day 5

Lay in bed unable to move, start downloading a movie onto my iPad at 8am, watch amazing thunderstorm, sleep

Day 6

Lay on bed, sit on balcony, eat a bread roll and some fruit, read a book, watch more storms, check at 9.30pm whether my film has finished downloading -it still hasn't, start writing blog post about positivity...

Hmmm... Positivity

Well, part of my therapy for my anxiety disorder is CBT (am having it quite intensively too; a session every week for 12 weeks, complete with homework!) and something we've been talking about is positivity.

I feel I have always been able to find the positives for other people, but not necessarily for myself. I don't think I'm negative, but I do like to play devils advocate with my situations. Considering "what if" or "yes, but" has always (I felt) helped me see a more rounded version of what was happening. However maybe sometimes for myself I'm faster to discover the possible negatives than the rays of light.

So there is one day left in sunny (yet rainy and thundery) Tunisia, how to sum it up in a way that would do my therapist proud?

- I have learned I can live for four days without all those 'must haves' we convince ourselves we need

- I have learned that I could be an extra in a stage show of Aladdin if the opportunity ever arose

- I have learned that I can almost follow an episode of Family Guy in German (did I mention the tv here had only one English speaking channel, and that was just news on a half hourly loop?!)

- I have probably lost a few lbs

- I have seen some of the most incredible lightning I have ever experienced (videos to follow when I return to civilisation and a decent wifi connection)

- I know to keep a few films on my iPad "just in case"

- I have no tan lines

- I only have a smattering of freckles rather than the usual face full, meaning I don't look 17 again

- I have seen a lot of very distressing stories on the news, which have reminded me frequently how lucky I am to live where I do, and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by the people I am. We should never take that for granted

- My medication for my anxiety had been packed in Mr BBs case. The one thing I NEEDED was here from day 1 (well, 2 things if you count Mr BB!)

Perhaps the biggest positive of all is that I have learned a very valuable lesson:

"Don't sweat the small stuff"

Seriously, there is so much happening to us all that we have no control over. If we can identify these things and direct our energy into making the outcomes of such occurrences as good as possible, then surely that's the best path to take?

Bad things happening to us does not mean we deserve them, or that no good thing can come of them - we just occasionally have to try incredibly hard to find that good thing.

I know it's easier said than done, and I'm really not trying to lecture people in some super cheerful or cheesy motivational way. I'm just wanting to highlight that bad stuff happens but it's up to is how we then view it all; as a regular visitor to Vegas, I think perhaps the best cliche to use is that sometimes you just have to do your best with the hand you're dealt.

Take care guys and girls, I look forward to being back in sunny England with you all on Sunday evening!

Bu x

(Thought of another positive - my laundry load when I get back is going to be minuscule!)