Well…. I didn’t expect that
21/10/11 • 2 Comments

Its been a while since my last post.  I’ve been to visit my friend in Melbourne.  We had an awesome and sober time.  Occasionally we would catch each other’s eye looking longingly at a person enjoying a cold wine or beer……. She’s doing so well.  So optimistic, so brave and so (most importantly) focussed.  I’m still scared for her though.  All around her people are still engaging in not so healthly past times.  Whether it be drugs or alcohol I could see the TUG of other peoples recreation pulling at her.  Its up to her, to dig in her proverbal heels and make sure that she stands strong.  She’s taught me so much.  Reintroduced me to the power of prayer and how to love someone from a distance. One thing I have noticed (and didn’t expect) is that I struggle with a new ‘holier than thou’ position on drugs and [...]

Its a two way street
08/10/11 • 3 Comments

Thank you so much for all the support over the last few days.  Some of you have been very generous with your praise, saying that they think what I am doing for my friend is amazing.  I want to temper this praise by saying that its not a one way street.  She is and always has been the most amazing friend to me too.  She has been there for me through everything.  Bringing me bakery food to eat while I huge and pregnant.  Indulging me by being my bridesmaid on my wedding day.  We are good friends to each other, so this for me is easy.  Afterall, I’m giving up habitual drinking with my husband at the end of the day aren’t I?  Well, I am increasingly starting to realise that I am changing in much more significant ways, and that it is time for me to be honest about [...]

Outside forces
07/10/11 • 6 Comments

Today driving home from the city I couldn’t help but start to cry.  I felt so overwhelmed I wanted to scream at the world and ask the inevitable question of how could this happen to my friend?  How could she be the one in trouble?  How come she is an addict? And me, who had the same interests in the my early twenties pretty much escaped without barely a scratch?  This got me thinking…… somehow I feel as though the people worse affected by drug and alcohol abuse carry the shame, the embarrasment and the pain of all of us.  We need to take responsibility for our role in these people’s addictions.  We need to take care of them.  Afterall, we have all enjoyed a drink or ten with them.  Often these people are our ‘partners in crime’.  Society had told them that it is normal and OK to drink [...]

What do people do at airports…. except drink?
05/10/11 • 3 Comments

Ok, so I’m just about to book my flights to see my friend. My first trip away without my children…. how will I get through that anxiety without a little tipple?  What the f$ck do people buy at the duty free shop except alcohol?  I can see that this challenge is not only epistemological, but also a logistical juggle of re learning how to cope in every day situations. You know, in the beginning I didn’t think this would even be hard.  I am a 31 year old mother of two.  For around 5 years I have spent a long proportion of that time either pregant or too tired to go out and drink.  I have however fallen into the easy habit of having a couple of wines pretty much every night.  I haven’t had a drink for a week (before registering with HSM).  But tonight after registering, all I [...]

Solid as can be.
04/10/11 • 5 Comments

Today I decided to show my solidarity to my oldest friend.  She is in pain.  She is struggling.  She is sober and clean at last, but her journey is troublesome and lonely.   I can honestly feel some of her pain and despair as she is starts to piece together her new life.  It must to be hard to find new ways to find pleasure.  New ways to relate to people.  Her whole existence has been put under her own microscope and she HAD to change.  How can we help these people?  I believe by walking the same path as her I will able to be a better friend.  This way we can learn together alternative ways of having fun.  I can show her, that through my own struggle to give up my precious wine and whiskey that I love her.  I love her so much and I will NOT [...]