Daffy's 'a nice cup of tea cheers you up' diary

MrsMoo2U

Of course it will happen, you have said it will

Pippilongstocking

I hope you get it all done - the meetings sound helpful I've heard you mention it alot - do you go a listen or go and help (sorry if I'm being nosey) I'm on the alcohol thread here quite alot and hear that meetings can be very calming - some swear by them and others are scared of them. I don't want to be very nosey but its nice to hear your opinion....:) If the post is too nosey I'll delete it later

Anything that makes your head less mangly - is fine - I'm sat here thinking - OK got alot of 'chores' done this am - not alot of 'work' - kids now home and I'm sagging at the thought of all of that I *should* have done before they got back and in reality its not alot. I think I've a head like a washing machine.

I *will* finish my data input for that other contract today before I go and I won't distract you anymore.

Cheery_Daff

Not at all nosey Pippi, more than happy to answer questions, but it'll have to be later, just off out the door in a sec

Haven't *quite* finished chapter, but I'm far enough along that I'm happy to go to the meeting and just do a last 40 minutes when I get in :T Which given what I would have been like for the past several years is a significant improvement! :T :T So a success there I say, even if not entirely done before I go... I did consider not going to meeting, but think I need to today

Back later, then I'll answer your questions Pippi! xx

Cheery_Daff

How did you get on with the data entry pippi? I know what you mean about feeling like head is like a washing machine! :rotfl:

First things first - I came back from meeting (ok, so second things first :rotfl:), finished and sent chapter to supervisors :j :j It's not brilliant, but it's finished (for now). Which means I can meet my lovely friend and her lovely children (visiting from Bristol) at the museum in the morning with a clear conscience :j :j :j I'm Sooooo pleased! I've worked SO hard this week, been so focused and positive, and it's made all the difference! :j :j Remind me of this in a couple of weeks when I'm all hormonal and grumpy agagin and can't do anything! :rotfl:

So then, these meetings. I think I said some stuff about them last week, so apologies if I'm repeating myself (I think it was when you were away pippi). I don't go to watch or help - it's not like that - everybody joins in. It's basically run along the same lines as AA, but it's to support people who are affected by other people's drinking (in the past, or now, or whenever). There's a set thing we read out, then there's a few readings from some of the books, then you go round the room, each person speaking for a few minutes, with nobody else talking, interrupting, answering, or saying anything at all.

I've been going for over 6 years now :eek: - my last partner had rather a serious drink problem that landed him in intensive care a couple of times before we met, and caused all manner of chaos when we were together. Al Anon saved my sanity, and I will be forever grateful. I don't see him much any more even though he lives round the corner - I do know he stopped drinking when I left (literally - I got a phone call from the hospital a couple of days after I left asking if I knew him, he'd walked into A&E saying he had stomach pains, and they kept him in because he'd been so ill before) - as far as I know he hasn't had a drink since - something else I'm also grateful for :T

Anyway, I still go, because the meetings have had such a profound effect on me, sorting my own life out. Very calming indeed, so supportive, so lovely to be in a room with others who have been through similar things, so accepting, and teaches you such a good way of dealing with anything life throws up, not just alcoholism. Tonight someone (quite rightly) asked me why I hadn't phoned anyone when I was in such a state over the lodger business - do you know I have no idea?! Somehow I'd just lost the plot so much I forgot they were there - even though I'd been going to my regular meeting So a reminder for me there

Tonight was a bit weird, lots of people I haven't seen for months, and it actually brought up all kinds of strange emotions (we were talking about guilt tonight). So felt a bit teary and vulnerable when I got home But I finished off the chapter, Mr Daffs made pancakes and tea, and now I'm all snuggled up in bed with several blankets and a hot water bottle and I feel a bit better I suppose that's the price you pay for being honest with yourself about what you're feeling!

Sorry, waffled on for far too long as usual Does that answer what you were asking? Feel free to ask more, on here or off, I'm always happy to talk about it if people are happy to listen

And on that note, I should probably switch the computer off since it's midnight! :eek: Hospital at 8.45 <yawn> - just a thyroid checkup, hopefully the pesky thing will still be behaving itself. Then meeting friend and her kids for a morning of frivolity at the museum :T :j :j :j Then more PhDing

Night all xx

MrsMoo2U

Morning Cheery,
Hope that the appointment brings good news for you. Sounds like you have a lovely day planned at the museum and seeing friends. Enjoy

Karmacat

Thanks for the long post about Al-Anon, cheery. It sounds wonderful, and a real life saver for you - so much a part of your life, perhaps, that you just "forgot" about it when you really needed it! Ouch - don't let that happen again :kisses3:

Pippilongstocking

Brilliant about the chapter!!!!! Data um, all done except the last tiny bit which I'll do when I'm sorting (dyeing) my hair this am.

Thank you for sharing that - our father was an alcoholic - its sadly how he died in his 50's it had a profound effect on our lives growing up - I have to be very careful with drinking - its one of the reason I've been trying to really stop - I just don't want to *go* there.

I'm so glad it helps you (()) - I've often wondered about it for you when you've mentioned it but didn't really want to pry - OK I did pry but only because I was very interested.

Lemon_Tree

hope the blood test goes well and you enjoy your visit with your friend Cheery

Cheery_Daff

Sorry to hear about your father Fay And don't you worry about prying, I have very few secrets I'd not be willing to share And there's certainly no harm in asking The whole thing was a while ago for me now - and having wished I'd found Al Anon earlier, I often think that if just one more person hears about it and thinks it might do them good, then me sharing my story is a good thing :T So I'm quite open about it, and will always tell people if they ask. Good on you for keeping an eye on yourself :T

Thanks for the good wishes. Hospital visit was fine. I've been off the tablets since March, and thyroid levels are now behaving themselves (I was overactive). Normally they'd have me back in for another visit, but as (so the consultant told me) they have to make £1 million worth of cuts in the dept, and as each (4 minute) visit carries a nominal cost of £90, they're not going to see me again (!). So I'm now on the Thyroid Register for life :rotfl: Which just means I pop in for a blood test in 4 months, and then every year after that, and if there's something wrong with me, they'll ring me up :rotfl: Good all round really! :T

Lovely to see friend and her cheery kids :T And we managed a cuppa in the museum cafe, which is £1 for a pot of tea before 11am :T Very MSE

Oooh, and I found out there's a (free!) exhibition on in town called TEATOPIA! :j How did I miss that one??? Finishes on Sunday, so I'll be dragging my mother there when she visits :rotfl:

Lunch with Mr Daffs (homemade bread and soup), watched a bit of the gymnastics (I'd LOVE to be able to do those somersaults!), and now up in the attic preparing for a couple of hours of work :T

Sun's shining, so I might pop out for a plod when my couple of hours is up! :T

redsquirrel80

Hi Daff - you sound really cheery this afternoon

The Teatopia thing looks brilliant!