Meenzer

I'm aiming for a future with less counselling, not more!

THIS IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF RECURSIVE SOCIAL AWKWARDNESS I'M TRYING TO AVOID Anyway, I fancy plenty of things I can't have, so what's one more?

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If I could be a moderate drinker I would be. Fuck that straight-edge shit.

It is a proper mental leap to make, and it'd be wrong to play that down, just like there's no point in denying the simple facts that (for most people anyway) alcohol is A Nice Thing and social drinking is fun. The mere act of being on the wagon doesn't stop that from being true, and not being willing or able to embrace the abstinence option (yet) isn't something to self-flagellate over - none of us have any control over the way we're wired, after all, we just have to deal with it. For me at least, every time I tried to kick the habit myself or own up to it to others, this big "OMG YOU'LL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO DRINK AGAIN"-shaped monster kept looming and that wasn't something I was prepared to fight with at the time. Partly from a fear of missing out on the pub culture/social drinking thing - which, of course, has proved to be absolutely fine*, even if I'll probably become a diabetic from all the sugary drinks I'm consuming - and partly the aforementioned English embarrassment of not wanting to make a fuss about something that you feel you "ought to" be able to control, e.g. (in my case) "secret" drinking. And if your alcohol consumption is excessive from a medical advice point of view but it isn't having a practical impact on the cornerstones of your life yet - your ability to work, your relationships, your ability to look after yourself, whatever - then you tend to think you're doing fine with it. If you really do want to make a change, it might be the case that circumstances collide and something happens to flick the switch - that's what happened with me - or you might just get to that point gradually, as it sounds like you've been doing for a while now anyway. As you say, blood tests and the like are often the real eye-opener. My liver function's only started properly deteriorating in the last year or two, and of course I'd been deflecting the questions at the doctor's every time - why no, I'm not consuming any more alcohol than usual, I wonder what the problem could possibly be? All I can say is, if nothing else, it's a relief to have the simple facts on my medical record and to be able to actually talk about it with people, and you might find that too. Or you might not! That all being said, I have no intention of becoming an evangelist for sobriety - I think booze is brilliant, I'm just not allowed it myself right now, but that isn't going to stop me from buying my dad an indulgently expensive bottle of whisky for his birthday or getting the beers in on a night out. Except when the Fish takes us to some wanky place in Clapham where they "appreciate his presence at the bar", in which case he's on his own. * it helps, of course, that none of my good friends are of the 'normal blokes drink, non drinkers are a bit odd' breed described by the esteemed poster above

I will never again ask a barmaid the question "Do you have any interesting soft drinks?". Lesson firmly learned.

Oi, fuckface, you were one of the first people I told. You're just jealous I've taken the shine off your dry January "heroics". Hindered, massively. Everyone's a pisshead when the Belarusian embassy's dishing out free vodka. Oh, and thanks to everyone else for the support.

Varies from person to person, I guess. When I first went to the clinic they asked straight away what I was looking to achieve there and then - total abstinence, controlled drinking, "just" a reduction in consumption to start with, etc. I'm a stubborn bastard so it was abstinence or nothing. But no, in all seriousness, I've tried to kick it on my own often enough to know I'm not capable of drinking in moderation any more, it's excess or nothing at all - so while there might be a time in the future when I feel I can control it again, that's not really on my mind right now. That said, I've been fortunate enough (if that's the right phrase) to catch this while it's still in mild-to-medium dependency territory, so I haven't needed to do a regimented detox, any withdrawal symptoms have been controllable and so on. I've got to know people who've been in and out of community and inpatient detox for years and are still struggling with it every day, so while I wouldn't downplay my drinking past by any means, I think I can count myself lucky to have got this far, with the help of friends and obviously the fella too (I'd been hiding it from him - with varying degrees of success - for years and he's still standing by me, the silly bugger). It's actually kind of embarrassing more than anything. I feel all socially awkward and English about making any kind of deal about it, like I've just served up a bad salmon mousse at the end of a Monty Python film, but you've got to get over yourself before you fuck yourself up too badly I guess. And not that this wasn't my view already, but gawd bless the NHS and all who make her go round, really.

Why d'you think I didn't mention it sooner? But aye, very much serious. Been wanting to get on top of it for a long time (obviously) but things have actually fallen into place this time, touch wood. *raps Fish on his ample forehead*

At the risk of prompting the following: ...I'm finally dealing with being an alcoholic. Seven weeks clean and getting the help and support I should have done years ago. Sobriety is a peach of a weight loss technique too. Anyway, as you were.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm4IPVz7-WE

They could at least have the decency to say hello. Bloody freeloaders.

KAGAWA VELLEE ANGLEE That'll be 250,000 followers please

That's cleared it up nicely, ta.

Speaking of which, is there any real reason we hang on to the April-April convention? It seems odd.

Ah, so it is the seasonal business thing. Ta.

Pretty sure the French tax year is the calendar year, so that's a bit odd. As you say though, he doesn't exactly appear to be the full shilling. Maybe it's different for seasonal business like football clubs....

This thread is amazing: http://www.toontastic.net/board/topic/22679-gemmil-to-get-a-10-bonus-this-friday/

Oh christ, I've just remembered "Rention" and "manc-foplite".

Bit harsh on Renton.

...is what you meant to say

"The fact that we can't see aliens is precisely what proves they exist." That's such a watertight argument it's practically... religious.

A massive inferiority complex, maybe