Jazee's Diary

Jazee

Thanks HB.

Jazee

So more than a month since my last update.



DH - still going to alcohol recovery thingy. I think HB is right about their approach. Anyway, he's not really sticking fully to their suggestions and is now on tablets too and I'm supposed to be going to a session with him. Injuries from the cycle accident are still giving him jip.


DS & DH - Banged their heads together (metaphorically), left them alone in a room for 3 hours and they've now sorted their differences and we're back to normal family interactions which is a blooming relief.


Finances - DH (and me a little) overspending so I've reduce our emergency funds from £2k to £1k for now. Lets hope nothing drastic happens although we do have our other savings to fall back on if need be.


Didn't get as much sponsorship as hoped for for 10k tomorrow, so will be making that up myself to the charity so it meets their minimum, and DD is now organising a holiday for the family later in the year so that's another unexpected expense.


Onwards and upwards. I have 3 weeks off work!

Jazee

Still almost a week off work to go! We're back from our short break away, didn't really spend very much at all. Have managed to squirrel over £500 away this month, helped in part by repayment from HMRC.


Have planned ahead and can now stay part time for at least another year, hopefully for good. Have cancelled a short break we planned for next year and will be doing the event as a one day trip only, saving about £900 which can be put towards another trip.


Still stocking up on bits ahead of Brexit and winter. I think the shops have cottoned on that people are stocking up and their prices are already going up accordingly.


Anyway, next job is to get some quotes for contents insurance.

Jazee

I have got as far as going around the house valuing our possessions but have yet to do on line comparisons and don't really fancy that job today. Maybe tomorrow.

I weigh too much and am really feeling the excess in this heat so I am throwing out the last of the snack food in the house, only a few biscuits, and am planning to be healthier from today, and report back here.

Have just had fresh fruit for breakfast. Unfortunately I added some cream and meringues that also need using up and I couldn't bring myself to throw them away.

Yesterday was a NSD for me, today and tomorrow should be the same. Can't say that it applies to DH.

Honey_Bear

I'm sorry that your OH's alcohol-related journey isn't going smoothly but from experience I knew for about five years that I had a problem before I stopped. The only practical thing I did in all that time was posting once on the Cutting Down/Giving Up Thread on MSE, and after that post I went back to trying different drinks to see if the problem was just wine, or G&T or whatever. (Hint: It never is.) I stopped drinking completely just over five years ago.

We hosted a big annual party on this Sunday for our Residents' Association and I was responsible for the food. That took a bit of time but the astonishing moment was on Sunday morning, at about 11.00 am, when OH and our neighbour were setting up the garden. For some reason I had totally forgotten that booze is part of everyday socialising for other people, and I cannot tell you how much that realisation shocked me. (My realisation, not that other people want to drink!)

After five years of not drinking I had forgotten completely that other people need booze in order to be able to think they've had a good time. It's a pervasive attitude in modern day life for a massive chunk of our adult population and your OH is faced with living without that prop that most people now think is a necessity, although, obviously everyone says they don't actually need it.

The only way I can describe what it felt like to me when I was considering stopping altogether was that it was like mountaineering. I'm terrified of heights. I even get vertigo standing on a chair, and just remembering the poster from Man on Wire. No matter how many tell me that mountaineering is fine, step ladders are safe, leaning out of a window on the first floor really isn't going to kill me - I feel really sick with fear at the thought of doing all of those things. (I used to be able to climb rigging and happily work aloft for hours at sea on square riggers, so this is all a bit strange to me, too.) There is no amount of hill walking that makes mountaineering look attractive to me, and no matter how much people like Chris Bonnington extol the virtues of climbing - it's far too terrifying for me to even be able to contemplate.

Looking ahead at life without booze feels that frightening to anyone who has a problem with booze.


I'd hazard a guess that the actual habit and the physical dependency are relatively easy for most people to deal with - it's that mindset that's stopping anyone from giving up the booze.

Jazee

Thanks for your post HB. I don't think it helps that I hardly ever drink at all so am probably not all that understanding. DH had a good day on Tuesday when he actually kept to the program and didn't drink until 6pm.


My healthy eating plan is going ok. I have lost 4lbs this week but have this morning discovered a stash of cakes I'd forgotten about and they are now calling out to me. Might just have them for lunch and be done with it.


Squirrelling £22.32 to savings today. Insurance still not sorted (renewal that is.)

Jazee

Ok, so household admin done. Insurance renewal still not sorted as I don't have time now before getting back to the paid stuff, but I have applied for the marriage allowance.

Jazee

What a week. Started really well with birthday celebrations for DD but then my dad was taken ill very suddenly and died on Wednesday. So most of normal life is cancelled for a while.

Financially I still haven't sorted out insurance renewal and emergency savings have taken a dip again. From £2k at the beginning of the year to £500 now.

[Deleted User]

Oh Jazee, I'm delurking to offer my condolences - so sorry to hear your sad news, how devastating. Take care of yourself x

Honey_Bear

I'm so sorry to hear about your father, Jazee, and can only apologise for not offering my condolences sooner because of my absence recently.