NOTICE BOARD

[chick dip]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TC AND SB....massive well done to you both xx

[Topcat]

Thanks Chick

[squirrel]

Wow truly inspirational So good to hear folk have had this success.

[Rebecca]

Bit congrats to TC and SB!!

[SoberBoots]

Thank you everyone!
BE has been such a huge support to me.
I truly feel that if I can do it, anyone can - never despair.

[pickles]

Happy soberversary Rachel !!

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I thought Basil Brush would add a smile . Hope you have a good day and get some time for yourself:)

[Rachel]

Aw thanks. Yes that did make me smile

[Trojan]

Congratulations, Rachel - have a lovely day

[Mark.]

Congratulations, Rachel!
Excellent work!

[Topcat]

CONGRATULATIONS ON 9 YEARS SOBER RACHEL

Well done to you. Hope you have a lovely day

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[Rachel]

Thank you!

[SoberBoots]

Woohoo Rachel

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[Rachel]

Thanks!

[Topcat]

MASSIVE WELL DONE TO OUR SHEILA ON REACHING 3 YEARS SOBER

What a star A great inspiration, a lovely BE member and Mod and a terrific friend over the years too It's not been an easy ride, but you've valiantly clung on, slipped and got back up again.

I know things are tough right now, but I hope you have a great day and many more to come xx

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Oops - it wasn't mean't to be quite so big

[martha]

Congratulations, Sheila! x

[Jj123]

Congratulations Sheila

[SoberBoots]

Congratulations Sheila!

[Sheila]

TC Thank you for remembering
Love the Border Terrier cake

And thank you Martha, Jj123, and Soberboots for your kind wishes



TC is right, I've slipped and got up again more than once, but this time feels very different.

On previous sober spells, and they were all lengthy spells,
I often had a nagging feeling inside that I was missing out.
I tried to ignore it, pretending to others and myself that I was doing just fine, but at times I honestly felt I was white knuckling it.
On the occasions I slipped/reintroduced it was always a thought out decision, ok a badly thought out one, but it was never spur of the moment.

Now at 3 years into my current spell, I'm dealing with things that in the past would most definitely have driven me to drink.

Last summer we (myself and my husband) were given the news that his cancer had returned. Unfortunately this time we were dealing with multiple brain tumours, too many for any surgery or targeted therapy. It was terminal.

We were told that if he lasted through till last Xmas it would be amazing. He made it.

Then we had the bittersweet news that my son and his girlfriend were expecting their first baby in the spring of this year. Nobody thought he'd ever get to meet his new grandchild. He did.

Life is tough and getting tougher as he deteriorates, but he's a stubborn old bugger and determined to keep fighting till the last.

Throughout the last 12+ months I can honestly say, hand on heart, I haven't come close to drinking, it's just not my default setting now.

I have however, drunk enough tea to sink a battleship

[fresh-start]

Well done Sheila. A great post. You take care.

Nic X

[Sheila]

Thank you Nic