Hello guys and gals, I hope I am OK to post this intro here, I looked for an intro topic, but couldn't see one, so here goes. I am Avril, from Barnsley South Yorkshire, Homegroup Barnsley Romero Centre Thursday lunchtime, which is a Living Sober meeting which attracts clients from the local detox unit, so constantly get newcomers which is great. DOS July 11th 1990
I met my Belgian partner, JC on an online message board 10 years ago, and the joys of sobriety to date are endess. Have been blessed with three wonderful grandkids, and still amazes me how I can face any problem without even thinking about drinking.
I hope to meet some of you in Malta in 4 weeks time at their convention, I know one of you is booked to go, so will look forward to seeing friends I haven't yet met.
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
This is silly, been at work since 6 this morning, it's now 5:25 pm, no meal break, just some stinky brie and oatcakes at my desk. Visited 3 sites this morning for surveys, been on endlesss conference calls since I got back at 2. thank goodness it's not like this every day.
no, enough is enough. Last call just ended and all the stuff that I haven't got done today can wait until tomorrow. Dinner, Meeting, Bed.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Aloha Avril. Good to have you here. Malta would be a dream expecially during these stressful conditions. Today I am aware that drinking is not an alternative for any justification. We have 14 grandchildren and if I drank I'd miss the fun.
Aloha Avril. Good to have you here. Malta would be a dream expecially during these stressful conditions. Today I am aware that drinking is not an alternative for any justification. We have 14 grandchildren and if I drank I'd miss the fun.
14 grandkids??? Woah - as much as I love the three I've got, I hope I don't get many more, Christmas is costly enough as it is!! Having grandkids has made me think I have finaly found my niche in life, I LOVE being a Nannan
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
Welcome to MIP, Avril. I love your bright & breezy gratitude & energy here@MIP! I can see making yourself at home here suits you & I hope you'll stay near & share your wonderful continuous sobriety with us in all your ESH. Godblessings & prayers of love for you & yours, Danielle x
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Progress not perfection.. & Practice makes Progress!
Hi Avril, seconds on Sobrietyspell's post. Glad to see you at MIP-Angela Anyone care to remind this geographically ignorant person where Malta is? I just learned about GSR and an annual in Spokane, Wa in USA. I have a feeling this whole AA thing is sooo big. Really big, like infinite!
-- Edited by angelov8 on Thursday 8th of October 2009 02:34:35 AM
Here is where Malta is, right in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, which was our 'hote swimming pool' when we stayed at the Maltese island of Gozo earlier this year. Called the 'Jewel of the Med'
History lovers will love Malta, as will swimmers and snorkellers. This is where the Robin Williams film Popeye was made, and you can stil go to Popeye Village.
You can also swim with dolphins, which I have done twice already.
It's true that AA is VERY BIG, I say we are all links in one big recovery chain, because I have met people from all over the world who know people who know me, it is very rare for me to go anywhere and not meet someone who knows a friend of a friend.
There are no strangers in AA - just friends I haven't yet met.
-- Edited by Avril G on Thursday 8th of October 2009 06:51:11 AM
-- Edited by Avril G on Thursday 8th of October 2009 06:51:50 AM
__________________
Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
Many thanx for all the welcomes guys, I am enjoying finding my way around this forum. Don't be swayed by length of time people are sober, all that means is that we've been doing it for a while longer than newcomers, sobriety for me is very much a daily gamble - I never know when I go to bed which head I will wake up with next morning.
I stil get all the old negativity stuff, longer sobriety just makes me notice it quicker and deal with it sooner (usually with sponsor's help) My first sponsor taught me how to identify the things I was feelings, you know, those weird feelings that you can't quite put a name to, but you know somethings not quite right?
I still use it today Name It - Claim It - Dump It Don't think that years into recovery you will suddenly not be hit by alcoholic thinking, the programme doesn't work that way, I only TRY to practise these principles in all my affairs, to the best of my ability, and whilst it's nice to be able to say I haven't had a drink for 19+years, it doesn't mean I am 19 years away from a drink - I am just as close to a drink as anyone else, just an arms reach, bt so long as I keep my insrance premium up to date (Meetings, service, sponsorship and 12th step work) There's a good chance I'll stay sober.
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
Yep we are both 19+ years, but when I try to confey to some there is not really a lot of importance to that fact, we have just done the 24 hour a day thing a little longer.
And your last Paragraph in the last note you wrote all made perfect sense to me.
We certainly do not any quarantee or even have a better chances than anyone, with 6 months, 1 years, 6 years or 1 month for that matter. We ONLY have this day we are in.
Reminds me of someone that gets up every morning, and double knots their tennis shoes, that certainly does not mean that someday, that same person might forget and only make one knot, making it easier for the shoe to fall off at some point during the day. (Just a little metaphor, or sorts I suppose)
Thanks for making that such a point. One of the saying in this Program, don't know if it us used over the Pond, is the "RECORD in this Program is 24 hours", so for anyone that wakes up before me, no matter where they are in their recovery, they have for this day, longer sobriety that I do.
So good to see you contributing a lot to our, (now you included too, of course), to this MIP board with so much, and yes, I believe by reading what you have written thus far, that I am indeed getting to know so much more about you.
Just a question, when I am referred to as an Oldtimer, it always makes me wince a little, thought you might share in those little winces??????.
For me keeping a flash photo card in my pocket of the day I walked into AA for good, I had done the swinger door to AA for almost 10 years . But always remember the shape I was in, that incomprehensible demoralization, and that long climb up out of that hole that I had dug for myself, never ever want to forget it. And I never do. Helps keep things "green".
Hope today is a wonderful day over there across the sea.
Toni
-- Edited by Just Toni on Thursday 8th of October 2009 06:56:46 PM
Reminds me of someone that gets up every morning, and double knots their tennis shoes, that certainly does not mean that someday, that same person might forget and only make one knot, making it easier for the shoe to fall off at some point during the day. (Just a little metaphor, or sorts I suppose)
Thanx for your post Toni, I like your little metaphor, mine is 'Sobriety is like learning to ride a bicycle, once you have learnt the ropes, it is dead easy just to get on the bike and ride BUT - all roads have potholes, and the day will come when I am not paying so much attention to how I am riding, and I will end up flat on my back'
Having said that, I never did learn to ride a bike, my mum figured they were too dangerous, so to this day I cannot ride one, but I understand how it can relate to my sobriety.
__________________
Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS