In 1994, Lilian and Murdoch MacDonald were destitute, sleeping rough in Cambridge. Refusing to accept Alcoholics Anonymous methods, the couple set about searching for the underlying causes of their self-harming behaviour problem. Thanks to their endeavours, the couple are today back home in Ayrshire, Scotland, leading normal lives again.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Down and Out in Cambridge; Chapter 2: Climbing Back Up in Cambridge; Chapter 3: Lilian's Story; Chapter 4: Recovery Through Discovery; Chapter 5: The Final Furlong; Appendix 1: The Twelve Steps; Appendix 2: Destroying the Myths of Alcoholics Anonymous; Appendix 3: "Alcoholics Can Be Cured - Despite AA"; Conclusion; Contacts

Author Biography

Lilian MacDonald was born in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1943, where she and her brother and sister spent their childhood. Her grandparents had a smallholding where they worked as market gardeners. As an adult, in spite of her alcoholism and eating disorder, Lilian has worked successfully in several varied spheres, most notably owning and managing a country inn in South Ayrshire. Lilian married Murdoch in 1993, and has two children from a previous marriage, John and Elaine. Murdoch MacDonald was born in Putney, London in 1946. After graduating from Magdalene College, Cambridge, he first worked in banking, and then public relations. He wrote a regular column in a prestige Scottish business magazine, hosted and produced a weekly radio programme and took part in a television series, both about family finance. Since Lilian and he resolved their alcohol problem, Murdoch now writes for the business page of three local newspapers in Ayrshire, and in addition runs his own PR business. He also has two children from a previous marriage, Kirsty and Grant.