grizzlybearblue

Wow, Juno, last night was a rough night for you for sure. That's so awesome that you didn't drink over it, and you sound really level-headed in dealing with it all. You are strong! I'm so glad tonight is going better for you : )
Winslow, I hope you feel better soon! It does get really annoying to feel bad for so long after we quit drinking. This week I'm feeling better, but the lingering effects of alcoholism are still not gone. This has been a practice in patience for me. I talked to a friend of mine over the weekend, and she said at 6 months she was feeling really good again. I know everybody is different, and maybe, hopefully, it will happen sooner for you. It will happen!
Sydneyman, you are a busy bee! You are sounding absolutely fantastic!! I am so excited for you!
I am just chugging (I tried to think of a different word, but nothing came to mind) along over here, working hard and taking care of business. Things seem very calm for me, but I actually think it's me that's calm. My everyday life hasn't changed, I still have to do the things I always have to do, but because I'm not drinking I deal with them all so much better now!

Midton

Syd, great news from the health check. It's amazing how much abuse some of our bodies can take. I've been taking my blood pressure 3 times daily. Recently it's been fantastic. This morning it was 112/62.

Juno, I really can relate to your daughter situation. I, ashamedly, let my wife deal with the bulk of our daughter problems. We're at our wits end but she has eventually (last week) started taking some kind of medicine after resisting for years.

Personally I'm doing fine. Similar to last week. I'm getting massive cravings at work but they dwindle and fade after I get home and eat. I'm finding the weekends easier though. Oh and today is day 90. Written down it doesn't look like much but it feels like for ever.

Midton

Chugging brings lots of images to mind. The strongest one is a little steam engine, like Thomas the Tank Engine, happily going about business.

The bear image has now been replaced by a steam locomotive with a face.

sydneyman

Midton- your Bp is perfect!!! No need to measure it unless something drastic changes in your lifestyle.. Congrats on 3 months.. Thats fantastic.. I know you seem to struggle with the cravings a bit but you really are doing great.. Inspiration..do you have a lot of friends where you live in Japan? Busy social life?
Grizzly - Calm exactly, being calm and everything around you calms down as well. I used to be so neurotic and jumpy. Obviously withdrawals.. Been thinking of meditation.. It sounds interesting, maybe in the new year. Apparently so good for you so why not try that as well..
Work is really slowing down and staff at work are talking about drinking and getting trashed at the xmas party tonight as work pays for unlimited booze.. Got no desire to join them at all..I would propably have no job on Monday if I was a drinker and went!!!
Nah, my weekend is as as I wrote about previously.
Well its a month tomorrow for my flights to Europe.. I got my valium script from docs as well today for flying.. Need to mentally start preparing myself for flying again..

grizzlybearblue

Haha, I love it! That's what I pictured too- a little train just chugging along like the Little Engine That Could. I think I can, I think I can : )
Congrats on your 90 days!!! That is so awesome!!!

Dee74

Congrats on 90 days Midton

I reckon your weekend can only get better after that Drs visit Sydneyman

D

sydneyman

Yes Dee, it was a visit and a half!!

Midton

The western population here is by it nature transient, people come and go, making it difficult to make real friends as opposed to mere acquaintances. The natives are generally friendly without being friends. There are a group of long term expats who,get together on a regular basis but we a kind of artificially came together due to language, cultural and stress similarities. Although we can talk I think we'd all agree that we wouldn't be so close in our home countries as we are all so different.

It's funny as our group includes someone from England, Scotland, USA (east and west: California and Pennsylvania) Australia, New Zealand, Canada. Our family backgrounds, hobbies, interests, personalities and jobs are all so diverse than each person is totally different from each other. We have nothing in common except where we live.

The people here work (more accurately spend long hours at work) long hours, us too. My wife leaves home at 7:30 am gets back at 8pm. for example. Then there are all the social responsibilities that this country heaps on its residents. We're all too exhausted to socialise much.

I've been saving up my time and going to my home country each year and letting loose.

Syd, where in Northern Europe are you from? Your English is fluent so I thought maybe the tip of the U.K. but Santa doesn't come from there. I always thought Santa came from Finland.

Midton

One other thing about my expat group.

We always meet in a bar. Now there are two who don't drink at all. When asked, ie pressured, they demur, uttering things about work. I know one of then has a family history of alcoholism and I remember drinking with him years ago when he got very disorientated and then upset at something he saw on tv, he thought it was real. It knocked me sober at the time.

The other wanted insurance and the doctor after a health check said he couldn't sign off on his health. I don't know the ins and outs but he quit drinking sharpish after that.

sydneyman

Spot in Midton.. Finland is my home country but actually born in Sweden so half half..
Yes I can imagine what is is like. I had a friend from Sweden who worked for Ericsson in Tokyo. He felt the same. Bunch of non japanese hanging out together as an escapism from daily Japanese life. Would they have been friends outside of Tokyo, no..yes work comes first there. I work for an asian airline and work comes first here as well. So not me!!!
Not only are you living in a non english speaking country but the culture is so different.. I envy you for the food though!!!! Been in Sydney for close to 25 yrs so english is my mother tongue now.. I enjoy your posts, keep on writing often..

Midton

Yes, the food is excellent and fresh. Even most of the local Italian and French restaurants are quite high quality.

Normally on a Friday I go to the local supermarket and buy the discounted sashimi for dinner. I'm right by the sea so it's as good as you can get.

I've been to Finland once but only on a Moomin decorated plane and for a short layover.

looking4awagon

Syd, congrats on the clean bill of health, that must feel so good. I'm looking forward to my check up this Spring to compare my labs.

Midton, 90 days is amazing, that was my original goal, so happy for you. You are an inspiration, hope to be there soon one day, I'm a little more than half way.

I love how so many of us are from so many different places, very cool, love the insight into other places and cultures.

Another super busy day at work, getting to me a little, really looking forward to Friday. Was inspired by another alcoholic today, unfortunately it's not looking good for this person, very sick, jaundice with ascites, and not a very nice person. Seeing what can happen if you stay down that path is a real eye opener, it's a horrible way to die. Seeing people this first hand is a constant reminder of how lucky we all are to have found each other in this thread. I appreciate every one of you for what you bring to this conversation and how you keep me motivated.

sydneyman

Well back home after visiting my drinking buddy. So weird, I associate my visit STRAIGHT away with wine. The brain is a funny thing.. He was not drinking, was not offered a glass but it was on my mind from the minute I walked in to the minute I walked out. I felt tense, like I had to hold my breath. It was good to make my visit brief and it was nice to see him again after 2 weeks. Remember this is when I had my last relapse 2 weeks ago with him involved. I think we need to meet outside his apartment somewhere at least for the near future. So got our take out chinese for dinner after the visit and decided to get on here as nothing interesting on the telly. Washing machine is going in the background and will hang out washing and go to bed and read instead. Tomorrow as you know painters are here at 730am so no sleep in and have to do my walk before they come or it wont happen. So my sleep in is now on Sunday, even though a sleep in for me is to about 7.30am only!..
Oh and my new drink is sugar free Ginger Ale with ice and lemon, yumm...Really nice and refreshing! In case you want any ideas for booze alternatives. Ok, see you gang, happy Friday, last working day for the week for you. Stay sober and speak soon !!

Winslow

Hello all,Midton congrats on 3 months! It does suck to feel so bad when we quit for awhile, I just try to look at it as my body/brain repairing, plus I always gave into the horrendous feelings and drank,so I really don't know what kind of changes to expect,good things are my sinuses have cleared,iI'm not so tired anymore,my moods more stable(usually) chronic hheadaches have eased,stomach getting back to normal,anxiety is still there but easing off,I really want to heal,I won't go back! I woke up thinking of drinking, who the F does that?not like I want to,it was just on my mind,maybe I had a drinkin dream during the night and forgot it,gotta get my positive head on,hope everyone has a nice Friday😊

Midton

Had a bit of a crisis at work yesterday which led me to almost say "feckit" and reach for the drink. The problem, which isn't over yet and I'll have to try and deal with more today, ruined my sleep and has left me with a low grade fever.

This is the kind of thing that crops up when you're self-employed. Due to someone else's error I have to work the phones last night until I deemed it too late to call anyone else. And now my Saturday will be, at least partly, destroyed. And all for no recompense. I feel so angry and run down, basically jaded.

After the gym and after I've resolved this I'm going to buy so much chocolate and marshmallows you wouldn't believe it. Health kick on hold temporarily.

Juno11

Just checking in. Long day. Just slowing down now at 8:50 pm and I've been going since early this morning. I'll write more tomorrow. I had a reasonable day but it was very draining and long, so I took a hot bath and will watch a favorite show on TV and hopefully get to sleep early. I forgot to take my mid-day dose of Campral and also had a brief wine craving between 4:00 and 5:00 pm, but I got through okay. Too busy to really drink, anyway! Okay, more tomorrow.

grizzlybearblue

I'm just checking in real quick too. I had a good day at work then I went to my 5:30 meeting. Now I'm going to take my kiddo to see Krumpus, the "scary" Christmas movie that will be probably be so bad but maybe mildly entertaining. I love cheesy scary movies! I hope everyone is having a nice start to their weekend!

sydneyman

saturday turned out as planned. painters got their stuff done so glad to have these workmen out of our place finally. its been going on soon 3 months so finally garden is going to get back to normal.. saw a great play called Orlandonby Virginia Woolf. great cast with a famous australian actress Jaqueline Mckenzie.. she was great in it . before the play we went to the quaint Oyster bar overlooking Sydney Harbour bridge and had lunch , oysters of course!!!! delicious, and you can never beat the view, superb.. anyway, most people were drinking we both settled for water. I was fine about it. saw champagne glasses float by and thought about how we usually would order drinks and wine... not this time ... i must say I admire my partner as he simply doesnt drink now either respecting my effort and supporting me so well. He doesnt have to do this but he at the same time knows that he can if he wants to...got home and cleaned up garden and got it looking decent.. and now dinner followed by early night .. wish you all a great weekend..

stuff yourself Midton- its almost xmas anyway!!!!

wi

Winslow- is it getting easier for you?? have you replaced your drinking behaviour with something ? new?
Juno good going there!!!

Grizzly,, hope movie was good!i like movies too but not scary more drama and comedy....
Looking- are you an ER nurse! I could never do a nurse job, so hard and challenging. good for you helping people..
ok enough exhausted and going to read!!! good night from me , speak tomorrow..

Midton

Watching movies and eating pizza for the second Saturday night in a row. As I haven't watched movies in years I have a lot to choose from. This week I got a Liam Neeson movie, a Phillip Seymour Hoffmann movies and a Brad Pitt movie. Two down one to go.

In the middle of the Brad Pitt movie Fury and stopping for food break. All in all quite content with my choices.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Midton

Syd,

Regarding your partner not drinking. My wife basically never drinks. Sometimes she might ask me for a small, short sized, glass of wine, which I grudgingly give. She then might take and sip and lo and behold the next morning it's still lying there, much to my pain.

We really are wired differently.