Sunday morning check in - day 8 of DM for me.
Anne I am so, so sorry about your friend. I hope you find some comfort today being with others who knew her and talking through your feelings. It resonated what you said about how she seemed to be coming out of it and into a better place. It reminds me of something I read once which was, 'the most important thing about a person is often the thing you don't know'. It resonated with me, because most people in RL do not know I struggle with drink, with self confidence, with my marriage - it just makes you think we all need to listen to each other, to empathise, and that is what we all get here on this bus, which I am so grateful to have. So just know we are all thinking of you and here to chat if you need us xxx
Mouse, hello lovely. I know just how you feel about mother's day - the first few after my mum died were hard. But what I did was similar to you - I put fresh flowers next to her photo for Mother's Day, her favourites. Sometimes I go to the grave but it is 30 miles away and not always easy to make time for the trip with all the kids need me to do. But mum always had fresh flowers in the house, even when she was broke (on the basis of if you have two pennies buy a loaf with one and flowers with the other I suppose!), and I never did until she died - then gradually I noticed I was buying them each week, and now, even 9 year's later, when I pick out flowers as I did today I think which ones she would like and it makes me smile. One example of how they all live on in us. 
Babes, I think we should all PM Mouse on Mother's Day to tell her we love her. Cos she is the Big Mama Mouse of our bus - we all feel your support whether you are there posting or not. Big, big, big hugs xxxxxxxxx
Babes (singular, not generic), your post about drinking really resonated. After Dry January and drinking February, and now Dry March, I am realising I find it so much easier just not drinking. Controlled drinking just causes me stress. Maybe one day I can but I am not there yet. I loved your brave post, especially related to the bit about not having conversations because you aren't sure whether you have had them the night before.
I'm - your takeaway sounds yummy. Me and the DCs always have chicken tikka wraps and chocolate crepes after swimming on Sundays. Yum! I am delighted you have a bit more cash to treat yourself. Nobody deserves a treat more than you do, so enjoy them! You are brilliant. And Faire - cheese, mmmmmm. I love cheese - favourite is Blacksticks Blue, but recently I have become addicted to Marmite Bites, which is Marmite flavoured cheese for the uninitiated.
Have to pop off now to make DD and her friend some lunch. Am furious with the friend and her mother - she was supposed to come today at 11.00am but turned up just now (at 1.30!!!) because she had an offer to go to the park with a cousin. No apology. 
Then the mum texted me to say she was on her way, then phoned me after the text to tell me that she'd not had lunch so could I make her something. My DD has been waiting for two and a half hours, and I threw her out of bed early to do her homework and clean her room specially so she's been pretty much sat looking out of the window since then. Feel like spitting in the child's sandwich, but I know it's the mother's fault really. Almost tempted to post it on AIBU but frankly the ladies scare me on that, they are so dogmatic and judgemental!
Anyway, sorry for the moan, I know that it is small fry compared to what you are all facing atm, but just wanted a little rant.
Rural, Ionnika, Ma, Soc, Beaches, Rachael, Venus, Joey, BabyJane, 50, Mamabear - have a lovely Sunday babes xx
Why - how are you lovely??? Please check in x