30s TTC. It was the BESHt of times,it was the worst of times, it was the age of rummaging in gussets, drinking gin.....

[ginhag]

C'mon in BESHes to the beach bar...sprawl on comfy sofas while you wiggle your toes in the sand and watch a glorious sunset....and drink brightly coloured cocktails with sparklers in. Cos we're classy,innit.

I've got Adam and joe in as barmen, and we have a rather nice Cave of Gloom in the corner for those 'whyyyyyy meeeeeeee???' moments. We have a reggae sound system playing mob barley's greatest hits. It's a sunshine paradise!

Newcomers welcome,as long as they drag along a bucket of black humour and a vast amount of gin. And please note,some of us have been here so long we have forgotten the real world almost entirely.

Now,who's getting the next round in?

7lb sounds impressive, water or no water. (Possibly some water I guess, but clearly not all). I've avoided stepping on the Wii fit since we got back from the US cos I know it's going to shout at me....

weightlossresources.co.uk and sticking horrendously to a limited calorie budget, tagine. Oh, and exercise.

choeeeeeeeee cooeeeeeeee Sad that you're off sick, but enjoying your diet. Mmmm, ice cream.

meeeeeep Good luck with doctors. Remember you know more than them about your own body!

Is it me, or has scorps been suspiciously quiet? Scorps? Are you trying to take over the world?

7 pounds! Blimey, Camelgirl - that's some going. Now don't do anything too silly will you ? Make sure you eat properly etc etc etc.

Adds "metallic taste" to Mewsuh's list.

I know you're supposed to keep a PMA at all times, but sometimes expecting the worst really does soften the blow. The bad news is that the previously "indeterminate marks" on Dad's liver have grown since the last scan, so we now know for certain that they are tumours.

The slightly less awful news is that at the moment, the surgeon thinks she can operate - yet again. We have to wait for the PET scan later in the week to confirm this - if there are tumours elsewhere that didn't show up on MRI today, then there's no point in performing major liver surgery.

So the positive news is that she isn't saying there's nothing else she can do - although she might be by the end of the week.

If she can operate, it will be a balancing act between going in fairly soon while the tumours are small, but leaving it a little while to enable dad to gain some strength. He's gained 2kg this week. I've told him it's mostly water - opposite to the Camel! - but water that he needed.

Sorry for the mememe. Going home for a good weep with HO, then for a run to clear my head.

Please don't ever apologise for mememe, Lyra. It's your darling dad after all. Thinking of you and your family and wishing for the best.

Fingers crossed for the better option, Lyre Drom, if you don;t mind my asking, how much do you have to lose to get to an "acceptable" BMI?

I've been thinking about San Fran too, could have a BESH convention there!

Keep your chin up sweetie. I've been where you are, I know EXACTLY how you are feeling.

Now then drom. No, no signs yet. every time I think 'Braxton Hicks', my body says 'trumps'. V. impressed with your weight loss - anything to get into that boob tube and hot pants ready for the next gin based BESH meet eh?

Really sorry the news isn't as good as it could've been Lyra, but glad it's not as bad as it could've been either. Hope the better news continues with the other scan. Look after yourself, and don't apologise - you have no need to.

Sure I could be persuaded back to San Fran for a BESH convention , not least because we didn't have time to do very much wine tasting in Sonoma. I think Yosemite's top of my list of places to get back to sometime, preferably when it's not so busy (we managed to be there for Memorial day weekend, not recommended if you can avoid it!).

Popping in to embrace Lyra & admire her courage & good humour. Pal, wish it had been fully good news, but so relieved there are steps to be taken & the surgeon is being positive, & hurrah for the 2kg.

Loves and kicks to the rest o'yez. Moooos I'm on tenterhooks with these symptoms of yours; 'tis mighty uncomfortable

No apologies, you know the palace is for support through everything. Really hope the next scan is positive, it must be so awful for you at the moment.

Oh Lyra

I am googling 'heat rash' and 'pregnancy' as the rash is now in my armpits too (lovely). Can someone deliver me some violence?

Also meant to say a hearty congrats to BangtheDrom on the weight loss.

And while we're doing good vibes, please spare one for my friend who is having cancerous stuff removed from her wombular region tomorrow. And if you've been putting off your smear test, don't.

Have violent headache, will post more later when human once more, just wanted to give big loves to FamilyLyra and tell you I'm sending your pops all the hugest healthy vibes ever. With plenty left over for Muser's pal (poor her). Gaaaah, the pain! Laterzzzz

Take THAT Muse!!!!

Smooches to perfectionGuaranteed Lyra so sorry about your bad news, and really hope that his doc's confidence is encouraging to you all while you wait for his treatment.

LyraBesh I have everything possible crossed for the very best outcome for your family and your dad. And we're here for you, whatever you need. Big love.

PS DickNDrom, you say you lost a stone via diet and exercise but I suspect you've been using THIS

PPS My fucking head! Is CD14 and Ovumalation is upon me but if TYF so much as looks at me I will have to murder him.

I luvs you all. Sending good womble vibes to MuseMate for tomorrow.

Glee is making me cry. SYMPTOM!

ANOTHER friend is pregnant. Oh God. It's about 2 announcements a week at the moment. I am running low on grace and empathy

Seriously. I am so glad she told me on facebook because I just can't make my face look happy, or blink the tears away tonight.

Fuck fuck FUCK.

Oh tagine, poor you. Have an extra large glass of gin. It will be you soon.

Poor Tagliatelle. It's shit isn't it?

Oh Lyra I'm so sorry to hear the news about your dad. I have everything crossed for positive news from the next scan. I suppose in a way at least things are getting done & explained, & hopefully they can operate soon & you can all move on. Lots of good vibes on their way, x. Oh & apology for mememe post not accepted!

drom pliz to move in with you & copy your diet. 7lb in a week! That's, well, amazing. At the risk of sounding like a jealous bint (which I am), I hope that its been done sensibly & that you're feeling OK.

tagine Tis so difficult to keep up the happy face isn't it? At least this group of friends appear to be low on announcements!!!!

Oh look, a veritable cornucopia of pre-menstrual spots have erupted on my chin. That's lovely. I think I sense the droids approach.

It's not over till its over Musterup

Thanks lovelies for sympathy. Woke up feeling shite this mornign but am going to try a new tactic of giving myself half an hour a day to obsess / feel shite about it and employ some Great British Repression the rest of the time.

In other news, my Mum's just told me my Nan, who is in a nursing home, is refusing to eat and failing fast We only saw her on Saturday and she was quite bright (for her) Am v close to her as I lived with her, my Grandad and my Mum till I was 18, she was the one who took me to and from school etc while my Mum worked (no Dad). So closer than your average Nan. She's been in a home with dementia the last 2 years and tbh I've been praying for the end; she's stuck in her room all the time as she gets anxious or aggressive when they try and take her downstairs, she can't talk any more, or read, or do anything except sleep, dribble and stare at the telly / magazines, so really it would be a blessed relief. But however prepared you are, you're never prepared, are you? Shitfuckbollocks. Minitagine's just learned to say "Great Nanny", too

They're not planning to do anything except keep offering her food and liquid. I want to fight, go down and feed her cake. Even though (a) I know it won't work and (b) it would only prolong her suffering. But letting someone die in front of you seems wrong on a visceral level, doesn't it. You think you've got to act.

Shitfuckbuggerbollocks again.