Back Again
11/05/12 • 0 Comments

Good morning HSM’s (my favourite crowd) So far my experiences with abstinence have been “up and down like a whore’s drawers” – some days – total abstinence, some days – controlled drinking – some days – total write off and the accompanying side effects – shaky hands, nausea, puffy face etc. Anyway I got some news recently that could be the wake-up call I need.  I had an unusal blood test to rule out a rare illness that one of my sisters has recently been diagnosed with – it is an illness that can be genetic so we four siblings decided to have the test to rule it out. The immunologist called me in and told me that the good news is that I do not have the illness, but the bad news is that the blood test showed that I have Non-Hodkins Lymphoma.  He also said that I was [...]

Better late than never
26/03/12 • 1 Comment

I have read, with great interest, about some HSMers who are attempting yet again to undertake their period of abstinence without falling off the wagon.  Gosh it hard.  This must be about my fourth attempt, but each time I start, I go a bit longer, so I must be heading in the right direction.  Why would we trade the feeling of well-being for a rotten hangover and all the other nasties that go with excessive drinking????  Never mind – if we are blogging about our failures, then we all know we have problem and we are trying to sort it out.  Socialising is difficult – I just love a glass of wine when I am out having a meal – now – if I could only stop at one or two – but I can’t and I know it.  People have told me that after a month or so of [...]

Made it
19/02/12 • 1 Comment

HSM – How much I have longed to say that with hand on heart – no grog on Saturday Night.  Guess what?   After 3 attempts, I have made it through the first week without a hiccup.  Well – perhaps a tad of a hiccup in that I went to see a live show last night and everyone I was with had a drink with dinner before the show, and one had a drink at the theatre.  I wasn\’t really tempted, but I would have had a drink if I wasn\’t doing HSM.  At interval, it was a friend\’s turn to shout me, and she offered to buy me a glass of wine (one won\’t hurt she said) but I told her that I would settle for ice-cold water – she chose the same, so today I told her what I was doing – eg – 3months alcohol-free with HSM and [...]

Getting There Now
15/02/12 • 4 Comments

Okay – after 3 disasterous starts – first time nearly two days, second time again nearly two days, and thirdly nearly seven (what a shame) -  I am back on track with a vengence – no more stuffing up other people\’s birthday parties for me (I shudder at the mere thought of it) – that was my rockbottom albeit a long time coming – what a time to stuff up – ie – in front of my family (some of whom had travelled from interstate) and all  the other party guests.  Fortunately for me, the following day I was offered support rather than condemnation but I am not naive enough to think this kindness will continue should go for a return performance. During my fourth attempt, the first  two non-alcohol days didn\’t bring the feeling of euphoria that I usually feel when I wake up sans hangover and trembling hands, [...]

Will I ever make it?????
11/02/12 • 2 Comments

Hi HSMers I havn’t been blogging because I have been so bad.  Keep starting again – which must say something, but I have gone two days, then six, then the naughty guy inside me keeps telling me that I have proved that I can abstain, but I can’t – I am an alcoholic and that’s that. Typically, of an alcoholic, I like to blame the stress in my life – but I really did have a rough week – my 38 year-old son, who lived at home until earlier this week, gets drunk frequently and abuses me – eg – calls me every filthy word he can get his name around, and, usually, while he consumes copious amounts of Bourbon out on the back deck.  This worries me greatly, because we have excellent neighbours and I don’t think they should be exposed to this behaviour – me neither for that [...]