There's no RIGHT way....
Conflicting Sober Strategy Advice
WBxx
Showing posts with label AF beer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AF beer. Show all posts
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
Monday, 24 August 2015
The "In" Crowd
I'm back on dry land!
The boat floated. The engine purred beautifully. And the weather was clear and sunny, and the water was calm.
It was exactly the couple of days we both needed. No phones, no computer, no wifi, no social media.
We tied up for a couple of nights at Silva Bay, a little dock on one of the Gulf Islands.
There were other couples that we knew, so we gathered together on the dock, and barbequed the fish we caught.
One lady offered me a beer.
I was just about to refuse, but she interrupted me, apologizing...
"I'm sorry, I only have alcohol free beer, is that OK?"
"Of course it is, that would be lovely!" said I, delighted that I didn't have to explain myself.
"We gave up drinking about two years ago" she went on to say.
"Oh I gave up about three months ago" I said casually.
And that was that.
The boat floated. The engine purred beautifully. And the weather was clear and sunny, and the water was calm.
It was exactly the couple of days we both needed. No phones, no computer, no wifi, no social media.
We tied up for a couple of nights at Silva Bay, a little dock on one of the Gulf Islands.
There were other couples that we knew, so we gathered together on the dock, and barbequed the fish we caught.
One lady offered me a beer.
I was just about to refuse, but she interrupted me, apologizing...
"I'm sorry, I only have alcohol free beer, is that OK?"
"Of course it is, that would be lovely!" said I, delighted that I didn't have to explain myself.
"We gave up drinking about two years ago" she went on to say.
"Oh I gave up about three months ago" I said casually.
And that was that.
Friday, 21 August 2015
The Shake Down
I never thought it would happen - Oh cynical me!
The boat that has rested in our driveway - looking as if it had found it's final resting place, is now in the water! And it floats!
And as a reward for my patience (no one has been reading my blog then!) I get to go on a boat trip for a couple of days.
It's a "shake down" cruise.
I was very patient (again) as my husband explained that a "shake down" cruise is not where we go out to sea and someone extorts money from me, it is a boat trip where we assess what we need on the boat, and what we don't - a "house keeping" cruise.
He is only concerned about what fishing gear he has on the boat.
I am only concerned with the coffee pot, book and bacon. And some AF beer.
Apparently I am the high maintenance one (but you should see the sheer volume of fishing gear!)
Anyhoo, I'm off to get "shaken down" for a couple of days, and as I am assuming no wifi - I dare not ask - high maintenance - so have a great weekend!
WB xx
The boat that has rested in our driveway - looking as if it had found it's final resting place, is now in the water! And it floats!
And as a reward for my patience (no one has been reading my blog then!) I get to go on a boat trip for a couple of days.
It's a "shake down" cruise.
I was very patient (again) as my husband explained that a "shake down" cruise is not where we go out to sea and someone extorts money from me, it is a boat trip where we assess what we need on the boat, and what we don't - a "house keeping" cruise.
He is only concerned about what fishing gear he has on the boat.
I am only concerned with the coffee pot, book and bacon. And some AF beer.
Apparently I am the high maintenance one (but you should see the sheer volume of fishing gear!)
Anyhoo, I'm off to get "shaken down" for a couple of days, and as I am assuming no wifi - I dare not ask - high maintenance - so have a great weekend!
WB xx
Monday, 3 August 2015
Should I Jump off a Bridge?
As this heat wave continues, I am relying heavily on chilled AF beer and a daily swim in the river.
This would never have happen when drinking wine. Last year, it was just as hot, but because I was half way down a chilled bottle of wine most afternoons, I couldn't be bothered to move from my deckchair in the shade. A swim would have cut into my drinking time.
This year, as the drought has continued, we've moved farther and farther up the river to find more refreshing water holes, where the river is still running fast from the top of the mountain.
To get to the river each day, we have to pass the Bungee Zone.
Years ago, local Island people started the Bungee Zone - hurling themselves off a old trestle bridge for fun - and very soon, it became a local attraction. People would actually pay to do this.
This "attraction" is literally a five minute walk from our driveway, and yet I have never bothered to investigate.
In my mind, I have had this image of three or four guys with a rope on top of a bridge - "Here, hold my beer, watch this...."
Last year, a large American company took over operations - and the Bungee Zone became "Wild Play"
And if there is one thing that Americans do superbly (there are many things of course, my lovely American friends) it's Theme Parks.
Five minutes from my home - just a short walk - is the most amazing outdoor theme park....and I never knew!
After our swim today, my unexpected guest (see yesterday's post) asked to stop in at Wild Play, because she wanted to do a bungee jump. She had done a lot of research and was really excited that we lived right next door to this world class attraction!!
Very soon my embarrassment turned to awe, as we walked through a beautifully coiffured park, and high up in the trees, people were ziplining and whooping with excitement.
Wild play has an assortment of attractions for all age groups. Rock climbing, Zip Lining, Bungee Jumping, obstacle courses......who knew?
I didn't. And last year I didn't care. 87 days ago I didn't care.
As I watched my guest drop off a bridge into the chasm over the river - screaming with excitement - I was so grateful that I have finally emerged from my self-imposed cocoon.
And maybe, I thought......just maybe......I might jump off the bridge myself.
xx.
This would never have happen when drinking wine. Last year, it was just as hot, but because I was half way down a chilled bottle of wine most afternoons, I couldn't be bothered to move from my deckchair in the shade. A swim would have cut into my drinking time.
This year, as the drought has continued, we've moved farther and farther up the river to find more refreshing water holes, where the river is still running fast from the top of the mountain.
To get to the river each day, we have to pass the Bungee Zone.
Years ago, local Island people started the Bungee Zone - hurling themselves off a old trestle bridge for fun - and very soon, it became a local attraction. People would actually pay to do this.
This "attraction" is literally a five minute walk from our driveway, and yet I have never bothered to investigate.
In my mind, I have had this image of three or four guys with a rope on top of a bridge - "Here, hold my beer, watch this...."
Last year, a large American company took over operations - and the Bungee Zone became "Wild Play"
And if there is one thing that Americans do superbly (there are many things of course, my lovely American friends) it's Theme Parks.
Five minutes from my home - just a short walk - is the most amazing outdoor theme park....and I never knew!
After our swim today, my unexpected guest (see yesterday's post) asked to stop in at Wild Play, because she wanted to do a bungee jump. She had done a lot of research and was really excited that we lived right next door to this world class attraction!!
Very soon my embarrassment turned to awe, as we walked through a beautifully coiffured park, and high up in the trees, people were ziplining and whooping with excitement.
Wild play has an assortment of attractions for all age groups. Rock climbing, Zip Lining, Bungee Jumping, obstacle courses......who knew?
I didn't. And last year I didn't care. 87 days ago I didn't care.
As I watched my guest drop off a bridge into the chasm over the river - screaming with excitement - I was so grateful that I have finally emerged from my self-imposed cocoon.
And maybe, I thought......just maybe......I might jump off the bridge myself.
xx.
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Day 61
After a few "down" days, the fog seems to have lifted - from my spirits, anyway! We are still in a smoky fog from wild fires that are alight in BC. Very thankful for the firefighters who are working 24/7, mostly dealing with the results of stupid actions by humans that have sparked the worst of the blazes.
This week,my hubby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary, and I also made 60 days AF! Yay!
After my brief brush with PAWS, I thought I would remind myself, and any reader who may be on the start of their journey, or going through PAWS themselves, some stuff I have discovered.
1. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
I read Jason Vales' book at the beginning, and for a while I was getting my knickers in a bunch about not following his advice to the letter. For example, he tells us not to count days. I completely understand why - we are supposed to be embracing a whole new wonderful lifestyle, not counting the days of denial - yet I still count, because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. It makes me feel good, and it also keep me on this path .....'how could you drink wine when you've come so far? I tell myself.
It may be different for other people, I may feel differently when I get to 100 days, or 200, but until then, I will continue to count.
2. I drink AF beer and wine.
Again, may people advise against this, in case it is a trigger to drink the 'real" stuff. But firstly, I like it, and secondly, it is a tool to use in situations when I don't want to talk about not drinking. I may give this up also, but for now, AF beer especially works for me.
3. I've stopped worrying about my weight and my sugar intake.
Sugar is bad. I get it. One vice at a time. As for my weight, I lost quite a bit to start with, I started juicing, and I even attempted to run a bit. It didn't last. Again, one lifestyle change at a time. I just stopped putting poison in my body. That's a good thing. These extra 30 pounds I carry? That happened over a decade. I don't need to deal with it all at once, it can wait for another month.
4. I am much more productive. I can take a day off occasionally.
To start with, I was paranoid about catching up all that lost time in the wine years. I can't make up for that. Day to day, my work is so much better than it was, I've got my passion back; my house is cleaner; I take care of admin stuff on time......if I have a couple of down days, (like my recent PAWS days) I don't need to beat myself up.
5. I am not consumed with Guilt for my bad wine behaviour on a constant basis.
Did I behave badly? Yes. Do I regret every incident? No. Some incidents would have occurred anyway, the same words would have been said (less slurry), the same results would have occurred.
I am not the same person I was 60 days ago. Maybe I am more like the person I was 20 years ago. It doesn't really matter.....to quote something I saw on social media ...
"I love the smell of possibility in the morning"
WB xx
This week,my hubby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary, and I also made 60 days AF! Yay!
After my brief brush with PAWS, I thought I would remind myself, and any reader who may be on the start of their journey, or going through PAWS themselves, some stuff I have discovered.
1. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
I read Jason Vales' book at the beginning, and for a while I was getting my knickers in a bunch about not following his advice to the letter. For example, he tells us not to count days. I completely understand why - we are supposed to be embracing a whole new wonderful lifestyle, not counting the days of denial - yet I still count, because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. It makes me feel good, and it also keep me on this path .....'how could you drink wine when you've come so far? I tell myself.
It may be different for other people, I may feel differently when I get to 100 days, or 200, but until then, I will continue to count.
2. I drink AF beer and wine.
Again, may people advise against this, in case it is a trigger to drink the 'real" stuff. But firstly, I like it, and secondly, it is a tool to use in situations when I don't want to talk about not drinking. I may give this up also, but for now, AF beer especially works for me.
3. I've stopped worrying about my weight and my sugar intake.
Sugar is bad. I get it. One vice at a time. As for my weight, I lost quite a bit to start with, I started juicing, and I even attempted to run a bit. It didn't last. Again, one lifestyle change at a time. I just stopped putting poison in my body. That's a good thing. These extra 30 pounds I carry? That happened over a decade. I don't need to deal with it all at once, it can wait for another month.
4. I am much more productive. I can take a day off occasionally.
To start with, I was paranoid about catching up all that lost time in the wine years. I can't make up for that. Day to day, my work is so much better than it was, I've got my passion back; my house is cleaner; I take care of admin stuff on time......if I have a couple of down days, (like my recent PAWS days) I don't need to beat myself up.
5. I am not consumed with Guilt for my bad wine behaviour on a constant basis.
Did I behave badly? Yes. Do I regret every incident? No. Some incidents would have occurred anyway, the same words would have been said (less slurry), the same results would have occurred.
I am not the same person I was 60 days ago. Maybe I am more like the person I was 20 years ago. It doesn't really matter.....to quote something I saw on social media ...
"I love the smell of possibility in the morning"
WB xx
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