In case you were wondering…
25/10/11 • 4 Comments

In case you were wondering, I fell off the wagon a few weeks ago and have been too ashamed to face HSM….. The ensuing hangover, however, has only strengthened my resolve – how many times do you have to bang your head against a wall before you realize it hurts? I’m recommitting to the remainder of my three months.  I may even try for a sober Christmas. I hope you are all going well. Andrew

(Over) Compensation?
28/08/11 • 7 Comments

I was just wondering today if anyone else is noticing other not necessarily health habits creeping in as a kind of replacement or compensation for the absence of alcohol? I find I’m eating more sweet things and consuming more caffeine. I’m sure I’d be tempted by marijuana too if it didn’t have such an unpredictable effect on me.        

A close scrape..
27/08/11 • 4 Comments

I’ve been feeling a bit lowdown and disgusted with work and things in general so on  Wednesday I decided if I ran home I could drink a couple of beers on the way. This was my old routine – run for an hour or so then have some beer. I found, though, my desire to retain the positive sense of being in control was stronger than my desire for alcohol. I actually ran past 4 bottle shops, telling myself I’d give this one a miss and stop in at the next. I felt pretty good about jogging through the drive thru of the last one, as if to say ‘you’ve lost you’re hold on me….’ So five weeks tonight, and I’m glad I’ve kept it together so far.

Unexpected Pay Off
21/08/11 • 1 Comment

I got an unexpected pay off this Sunday morning with a good round of golf – 55 on a par 54 course (18 par 3 holes). That’s a record for our group. I don’t take golf very seriously so it was a happy surprise. I’m sure being more composed (as opposed to hungover)  had something to do with it. I was concentrating on relaxing and letting go and it really seemed to work – by detaching from the outcome you paradoxically play better. I’m sure this applies to many aspects of life. Perhaps even giving up an addiction – if you obsess over it you become miserable and crave the escape even more. Whereas if you can detach a bit, walk it out the back door, so to speak, perhaps the adjustment is easier to deal with.

A hard night
20/08/11 • 8 Comments

28 days done in two hours time. A hard night because my wife and her friend were drinking and smoking tonight. I’m a bit grumpy because we have an agreement that I’ll give up alcohol and she’ll quit cigs. We’ve been through this before and I’m getting better, but I still feel a bit angry and a bit jealous in these situations. It seems unfair that she’s indulging herself and I’m not. Now she’s gone to bed and thoughtfully left two beers in the fridge….There was part of me that really wanted a drink tonight but I’ll feel awful tomorrow if I do. I’ve been cleaning up in the shed but still not tired despite having had a bush walk and a ride. Our relationship developed with alcohol as an integral part. Now we’ve matured it is less central, only weekends recently. And none for me for a month (in [...]