May, 2001, I drank 6 cans of half strength beer, and the hangover lasted a week. Bedridden for 2 days, so, so ill.
My live was so far gone that it could not handle any more alcohol abuse. I had been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver through too much alcohol at least 9 years earlier. It took me that long to finally kick the habit. Two failed attempts, first one I stopped for circa 2 years, went back on it.
Second time I stopped for 3 years, went back on it.
Until the final terrible hangover.
Lying in bed, I said I am sick of this lifestyle so made the decision to not drink again.
Never did drink again, never wanted to drink again.
The hardest part was completely changing my lifestyle because every hour of free time (after work and the weekends) involved being around booze. I realised to make it easier I needed to reinvent myself.
So I decided to go into the Aussie bush and enjoy the peace and tranquility, watching, and being a part of nature going about its business.
That is the time when my love for nature and the Aussie bush really grew and grew.
Growing up in Tasmania I was blessed with an abundance of nature and was there every weekend, so I grew up in the rainforest, alongside the Gordon and Franklin Rivers with a stubby ever present.
Time flies, its been forty years since I gave up chain smoking.
Forty three years for me.
But I ain’t giving up drinking for anybody.
That is nothing. I have not had a drink since the last one. on smoking I stopped the cold turkey way, just stopped and it took a couple of years to get even thinking about it out of my system
Same here Bruce, as yet, strangers can’t complain about secondhand Beer
Same here RS, how many a day were you on? me 60-70
I used to get through 20+ a day,.at least. How I stopped was because i had a very bad cold for several days when smoking was out of the question.As the cold passed I thought to myself “I have stopped smoking for the last few days so why start again?”
from then on it was a mental fight minute by minute, then hour by hour . this went on for weeks but not giving in. slowly very slowly food started tasting better -hating anyone smoking near me. It took around 2+ years to stop even thinking about wanting to smoke.
But stop you did. Congratulations.
We do not realise how bad smoking is, and how the smell permeates everything.
I think one of the worse odours is cigarette smoke.
Congrats on your Silver Jubilee Bretrick.
I stopped drinking completely 2 and a half years ago. Health was the motivating factor. Drinking only at social / special occasions didn’t really achieve the same benefits as stopping completely. Alcohol is a poison. It’s ok when you are young but our bods were not designed to be boozing regularly.
As for smoking that was back in 2002 which is the best decision I could have ever made for my health.
Thank you Annie.
Congratulations to you for giving away the drink and cigarettes.
I too stopped smoking. Smoked a packet a day for more than 40 years. Also gave up pot about a decade ago. Stoned every day for more than 30 years.
I am none the worse for having given up my addictions
I was a welder for many years before health and safety came into being and breathed in a lot of nasty fumes. It doesn’t seem to have had a bad effect on my health. I still drink beer in the evenings but I have cut back on the whisky.
We all look for a better life and think we have to give things up to achieve it, is that really the case?
It’s great you found healing through nature and of course we get the benefit of your fabulous videos
Good song. I look back with nostalgia at the era of the “Rachel cut”. I remember asking to have my hair cut exactly like these ladies and ending up with various interpretations of something else close to having a run in with a lawnmower.
In terms of addictions and addictive substances, I think we give up a great deal when we are in the grip of such nonsense including a whole heap of health and wealth, but also not dealing with the real issues that make us feel the need to reach for something toxic.
I was on 20 plus a day - sometimes 30 in times of stress.
One day i decided to test myself and see how long i could go without a cigarette. There were two cigarettes left in the pack, so i put them away in a drawer.
That was 18 years ago - i still haven’t had one, and the two cigarettes i put in the drawer are probably still there!
just realised it’s 50+ years since I started drinking, we still have love hate relationship 
Be and end all’s, that is what needs discussing 
Phuff
Phuff? 