Excuse my language. Richard tells me that I’ve got to get a grip on it, he also says that I’ve been cursing more since I quit drinking.
He was very sneaky yesterday, he said we were going for a walk, yeah, right into the middle of an AA meeting. Which is why I didn’t write my travel log yesterday.
How was AA, Interestingly they said its the first drink that gets you drunk. I shan’t tell you my initial response as it involves more swearing. I always thought that it was the 10th or 11th that got me drunk. But apparently if you can’t stop drinking once you’ve started then it’s the first that gets you drunk.
They said it’s a spiritual program, and the word God was used. Richard’s the one who believes in some spiritual energetic mumbo jumbo, I’m an atheist, so I was adamant that I can’t believe in a power greater than me. How can an atheist work a spiritual program? Well, apparently I can trust the power of the group, a bunch of sober people who most definitely drank like I did, and who are now living sober. Someone even said that I could use G O D as an acronym for Group Of Drunks. I can promise you I’ve turned my life over to many groups of drunks down the pub, in the army, at the football, so I guess I can turn it over to a sober group of drunks.
The crazy buggers even said keep coming back, there’s a turn up for the books. In my drinking most people (not Richard) told me exactly where to go.
Maybe I’ll do just that – go back to another meeting.
Today Richard and I went for an early walk to the Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where Cork play a game called Hurling.
On the way I took a photo of a dawn scene. I like the sky and the reflection, Richard liked the light on the building.
We were going to take photos of birds on the pond, especially the little grebe (those are on Richard’s camera), and the pond is next to the stadium.
I’ve had to look up the sport of Hurling, cos neither Richard nor me, knew what it was.
Hurling is a traditional Gaelic game that has been played in Ireland for over 4000 years. Players have a stick, and they can use that to hit the ball (on the ground or in the air), and they can also balance the ball on the stick and run with it. It’s possible to hold the ball and run with it, for a maximum of four steps, before they bounce it or pass it. The objective is to hit the ball between the posts, over the cross-bar for 1 point, below the bar for 3.
Quite a tough game to play and can get a bit rough from time to time. You have to wear protective head-gear as well. Maybe I’ll get to watch it one day. Sounds like a lot of fun. Here’s a link to the Cork GAA website.
The pond was dead relaxing. Mostly black headed gulls, a few swans, mallards, tufted duck and 4 little grebe. There were a couple of Herons nesting in the tree, and also what were either cormorant or shag. The colours suggested they were shag, but I’m no expert on spotting the difference.
Behind the pond is the River Lee, which runs into Lough Mahon and then out into the Irish Sea, Muir Cheilteach if you’re Irish. The River is vast and from dawn till dusk you will find people rowing on the river or jogging down the path. People on bikes cycle at the pace of the boats and shout at the rowers. That’s a job I must apply for. I didn’t get a photo of the rowers, but Richard took a final photo of me. Catch you tomorrow.
I like that first photo – especially the reflection in the water puddled on the road…
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Thanks. Me too.
How are you Saint Grace?
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I am well – just hiding out and laying low during the ‘holiday’ season. I’ll be back in the new year.
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Much love to you and your family. May you be blessed with peace love and joy.
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Ok, so is the AA story real?
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I am the alcoholic rather than action Man, so yes, it is real, in a way.
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Do you still drink? If that’s too personal ignore me.
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I stopped drinking in 2002, and AA was the thing that helped me to stay sober. Since then I have had a drink on 4or5 occasions. Mostly when I’ve been in a mental health relapse.
How about you? Do you drink?
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I don’t drink, was always afraid of it because what I watched happen to my mom.
I have the kind of personality though, that if I did drink I’d probably just keep on and on and on.
I’m not opposed to the way one drink makes me feel, it’s just that after that, for me anyway, the liquor thinks for me.
“If one is good, imagine how nice 8 would be!”
So I pretty much avoid it.
I did have one glass of Cabernet this year and regret it.
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I have exactly that mindset set as well. I’m sorry to hear of your experiences with your mum, and of her experience. Well done on staying strong enough not to go down the same route.
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I think with age I’ve developed a sympathy for my mom that as a child I lacked.
The more I learned of her family, and what she went through, the more I understood.
She died at 39, and I was still angry with her.
Now I’m past 39, and I just miss her.
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I bet you do. I’m so sorry that she died so young. Life must have been very hard and challenging for you.
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🙌🏻🤩
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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We all thought like you in our first meeting. 😃
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It’s nice to carry a message via Action Man. He’s become quite a popular character.
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He has. Anything that keeps the message going is a good thing.
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love the photo with the platform in the background. just lovely. as to hurling, i watched a game a few years back. it’s the bomb, and totally vicious. enjoy your adventures.
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Now a photograph of AM curling would be fun…,,,,wonderful post as ever, and using AM for messages is a very good approach.
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He does is best. I think he’s exhausted. He’s stayed in his rucksack today.
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