The cutting out/cutting down alcohol thread (part 7)

SimIsOnTheUp

Hiya Ladies and Gents.

Hope this finds you all well.

Paolo - Good Luck with the flathunting. Hope you find a lovely place, where you can enjoy your own space!

I've had a good day.

Had another 'Work Focused Interview' today, at 2.30pm, which went quite well.

The girl there, asked me how things had been since I saw her last, a month ago, and if I'd gone back to the volunteering at the homeless charity.

I told her, that I hadn't felt ready, and that I've been focusing on staying sober and sorting out my finances.

Told her that I'm back in touch with the Substance Misuse Team, for help with staying sober, and that I'm also on the waiting list for CBT at another drop in centre.

I asked her about the 'Permitted Work Scheme', and apparently I can work up to 16 hours a week, while still retaining my ESA, for up to one year.

What I hadn't realised, was that the volunteering would also count towards that 16 hour limit.

So, my aim now is to either go back to the volunteering, and / or combine it with a part time job.

I can then rebuild my self esteem and confidence, and look at longer term goals, and full time work / study at a later date.

What's been getting me down, has been the being out of work. I hate it, as it's really knocked my confidence, and self worth :-/

However, today, after the interview, I felt really good.

Got a taxi back into town, and I asked the lady who was driving, about taxi driving work.

I now have the boss' name, and I'm about to call him now, and ask for all the relevant application forms, as apparently they help you get, and pay for the taxi badge.

Felt really positive, walking through town.

Changed my PIN's on my debit cards (a small, but important thing I'd been meaning to do for ages), picked up some wool for my Girlfriend, which she had asked for, and nipped to get some grub for tonight.

Going to phone up the taxi company now, and ask about the taxi driving

It feels great to be sober (26 days)!

Cheers,

Sim x

maman

Good to hear you sounding so positive SIM

What attracts about taxi driving? It's something I did years ago when I needed a second income. As well as the obvious cash, it helped me find my way around a new town. You do end up carrying loads of drunks but that might be a good thing and put you off drinking:D

But what are you doing taking a taxi :shocked:

P.S. When did this new way of doing bold/smilies start?? Oh and I've got a spell-check - perhaps it's because I signed in through the newsletter instead of favourites???

SimIsOnTheUp

Hiya Maman.

Cheers. I feel positive!

What attracts me about taxi driving?

The money, the social aspect, of being around people all day, and the driving.

I realise, I'll be ferrying a lot of drunken people about, but that doesn't worry me. As you say, it'll only put me off going back to the booze anyway!

I took a taxi, as I didn't want to be walking by my old local pubs. Hardly moneysaving, but there you go.

Re your PS - bold / smilies comment - eh?! I don't understand!

Cheers,

Sim x

Marru

69chick wrote: »

Hope your eyes are better today Marru and good luck with sorting your budget...is the running still going well? I went out yesterday and felt great after.....dh is away now for a job interview down south and then a stag weekend in Ibiza, so don't know if I will get a chance to get out till next week now as he has to be in to look after the kids whilst I am out..

Anyway enough rambling.....catch you all later x

Thanks eyes better as got some drops, legs no good so no running. Got shin splints so need to take it easy. Might not even be able to go and do my dog walking next week if it doesn't get better as today's walk wasn't the most comfortable. Still waiting for the membership to the gym to get sorted so that I can at least do something while I can't run.

Hope everyone is good and well done Sim! You seem to be on the right track.

I was in training at work today and the subject was accountability. It was brilliant and not at all what I had expected. The teacher recommended couple of books: THIS and THIS, I have the second one in my collection so might take it for my bed time reading

7 please Sparkles

fedupandskint

Keep on running!

July Summer AFD Challenge

Can I ask when you post your scores to make them large, bold and in colour to make it easier to track through the posts

Miss P 31 6
December Baby 10 1
Jo TF 1
YM TF 3
Sparkles 31 7
Marru 31 7
69chick 20 3
maman TF 1
SkintScottishGirl 20 6
NewRoadAhead 10 1
Peedie 30 6
DebtMonkey1A 15 2
Lurkio TF
WannaBeeFree 3
StressedOutSue 25 5
Honeybear TF
treepotato1 3
Budgie TF 1

Key
:starmod: daily score
:j10 days
:T 20 days
:happyhear30 days
:happylovetarget reached

The stars are playing up tonight rather than sparkling away so back to numbers it is

DEBTMONKEY1A

Hi Sim...good on you! All great stuff (wish I could do the same....one excuse after another at the mo) & brokepaulo-good to hear you're flat-hunting!!! I know what you mean about not working & self-esteem-I've been off work for over a year (helping partner who had a rather nasty psychotic episode...who funnily enough is 150% now & probably in a better state mentaly than me!)....& am bored senseless! Unfortunately in lots of ways we're caught in the benefit trap but I need to get out & do something soon.....selling & travel is my game...worked in a call centre selling holidays & was taking home £600 a week.....pondering on doing citezans advice volunteer work (which gives you free access to the money advice trust training) with a view to doing debt-counselling with them or others (good money & be nice to help people!) & also doing some part time work from home selling holidays off teletext....but my mind state is not sharp enough at the mo...(could be the booze??!)...you see I'm good at giving advice but not at taking it (!)...oh well tomorrows another day....hi to everyone else too!

jo1972

I love giraffes

115K

Hi Guys!

I haven't been on here in a while because I haven't had any AF days this month yet.

I have been drinking wine, beer and Bacardi Breezers of all things almost every day this month.

I sat down with my counseller the other day and tried to explain why I have been drinking so much. I think the counselling is bringing up a lot of emotions. It doesn't help that she made the comment "Oh so your drinking must be a serious problem then?" ( :shocked: )

I know I don't look or appear like a person that sits in the park drinking meths everyday, but drinking is a serious problem for me.

I hope you guys are all alright anyway, I read back a couple of pages but I haven't the energy to read more.

Hope you are all okay anyway.:A

peedie

Hiya
6 for me today please sparkles thank you

honeybear_2

jo1972 wrote: »

I love girrafes

I love the fact you said that so randomly several posts later! :rotfl:

Anyway, good evening, my kittens

Work was ok, thankfully - did a 13hr stint but good to be back in the thick of it. Did have moments where I almost break down in tears & had to hide to get over it but i guess that's just the way it's going to be for a bit.

Marru, hope your eyes & shins are all better soon

WBF, good luck with your challenge - shall be here cheering you on :T