Hi there,

Great day today. Attended a 7am meeting followed by coffee with fellows. Lots of laughs. I felt happy.

Then home to do some work (I don’t go into the office on Fridays).

Found time to do some step 4 work. My new sponsor sure goes fast, which I think I need right now.

Then went for a swim and did some reading.

I met a fellow late afternoon for coffee and talked for hours. Great catch up.

Then I got a call from a fellow who relapsed, he was drunk. It really helped me to listen to him, and I felt honored that he called me and I could listen to him without judgement. I’ve been where he is many times. I suggested trying not to drink anymore, get some sleep and I’m happy to meet him tomorrow.

Grateful to be sober today.

Love and peace,

Noddy

Hi, I’m back. A lot has happened since my last post.

Life got better and better initially. 2017 & 2018 were magical. Lots of traveling, adventures and promotions at work.

Continued with my recovery, lots of AA service, sponsoring, chairing meetings.

2019 was also a special year, plus we had a baby boy! I have never been so happy. Then came 2020……

Lockdowns started kicking in, work and AA meetings moved to zoom. I felt trapped in my apartment.

Then my 23 year old son caused a fatal car accident and was arrested, prosecuted and found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

Then I lost my job…this also meant leaving my adopted country.

I didn’t pick up a drink for 6 months, but I knew it was coming. I distanced myself from AA, told my sponsees to find a new sponsor, I told my sponsor I would find a new one.

I picked up the day before flying to my home country. The beer tasted terrible, and as soon as I sipped it I regretted it. 5 years sobriety gone. Of course I kept drinking, hoping to stop the noise in my head and to try to get some euphoria, which never came.

The next day was horrible. My problems were amplified.

The last 3 years I have been trying to get sober again. Maybe racking up a few months, then relapsing again. It gets worse every time.

However 7 days ago I found a new sponsor. He’s been a friend & fellow for some time, we meet often to discuss spirituality. It suddenly clicked, I want what he has.

He is amazing. We really connect. I feel I’ve finally nailed step 1. No desire to drink today.

Take care,

Noddy.

Hi everyone! Apologies for not posting for a while! I have been very busy working and enjoying my sober life.

I’m 400 days sober today, so I thought I’d check in and let you know what’s been going on.

I’ve done a lot of traveling the last month, I’ve been to a wedding in NYC,

I’ve worked in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi:

And I’ve just got back from Casablanca, Morocco:

I still attend AA meetings, and I have 3 sponsees.

One has recently slipped and is drinking again, the other two are doing really well.

I felt upset when my sponsee went back out, but I know I did my best to pass on the message.

I spoke to him today and he really wants to break the daily drinking cycle again. It’s heartbreaking, but he has to really want this for himself. Try as I might yo talk him around, he will only stop drinking and come back to AA when he’s ready. 

My career is going great. I now save and pay extra off my mortgage, instead of blowing it all on booze and getting into debt. 

My marriage is very happy, my sons are coming to visit me next month. I can’t wait. 

I have never felt or looked so healthy.

I used to think a life beyond your wildest dreams was cars, houses, boats etc. but now I know it’s serenity, peace and hope.

I feel so blessed to have this gift of sobriety.

Peace. Love. Noddy. X

Hi everyone, I’m 1 year sober today.

I’ve just got back from an AA speaker meeting in my home city. I was one of the 2 speakers!

I shared for 25 mins, my experience, strength and hope. I really hope I helped someone.

I picked up my 1 year chip, I love it.

I’m so grateful to AA and you guys for helping me get here. 

I’m starting to realize what ‘a life beyond your wildest dreams’ is. It’s not having material things like cars, houses, or lots of money. It is having peace, serenity, loving relationships, honesty, true happiness and hope for the future.

I’m blessed to have these gifts today. 

Alcohol robbed me of these gifts for many years, I’m so grateful to be free of that poison.

Peace. Love. Noddy x

Hi everyone. Well I’m 350 days sober and have absolutely no desire to drink alcohol today. 

I can’t remember the last time I wanted to drink, it was many months ago.

The thought of drinking poison that destroys lives and stifles happiness and growth repulses me now.

Life is so much better sober, but it is so hard to believe that when you’re stuck in the alcohol trap. 

When you’re in the trap you genuinely believe that you’ll be missing out if you stop drinking. That life will not be as sweet without alcohol.

I promise you that this is an illusion. I absolutely love my self and my life without alcohol. We don’t need it, and life is better without it. The desire to drink has totally left me. 

I’ve been eating healthier and exercising since my last post. I purchased a blood sugar monitor and my levels have already reduced since cutting out the cakes every evening!

I am now working step 9 of the AA program, and with my sponsors blessing and guidance I am sponsoring 2 guys myself.

Helping these 2 guys has made a huge difference to my recovery and well being.

I chat to them daily, they are doing everything I suggest of them. It’s a pleasure to see them get better. Seeing their fear, anxiety and sickness be replaced with calmness, happiness and to see a sparkle return to their eyes has been a miracle to watch.

I feel so serene, calm and happy these days. I feel a buzz and excitement to be alive, which I last felt when I was a child. 

Alcohol robbed me of this feeling for 25 years…..

It may sound crazy, but I’ ve seen it time and time again – the secret to success happiness in your life, is to simply help others. 

Take care all of you!! Thank you for all your amazing support this last year. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Here’s a picture of the sun setting over Abu Dhabi yesterday evening.

Peace. Love. Noddy X 

350 beautiful days.

Hi everyone.

I had a check up with my GP last week and had blood tests done.

The good news is that my liver and kidneys are good and my blood pressure is the best it’s ever been 120/74!

The bad news is my blood sugar raised and I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes! My fasting blood glucose level is 6.2 (110 US).

I was honest with the doc, I have been eating chocolate and/or cake almost every evening for the last 11 months since I got sober. (I just crave sweet things now I’m sober) And I have been doing very little exercise.

The good news is, this condition can be reversed or slowed down before type 2 diabetes develops, simply by eating healthy and exercising.

This is what I must do. 

Peace. Love. Noddy

334 beautiful days 

Hi there everyone!! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Everything is good and positive in my life at the moment…almost.

My AA sponsor has been traveling a lot recently and I’ve had little contact with him.

One of my friends in the AA rooms, who has a similar sobriety time to me, has started sponsoring a newcomer. I though to myself that I’m also ready for this, and duly raised my hand at one or two meetings early last week, when the secretary asked if anyone was available to sponsor!

On Wednesday in my morning prayers (the keys are I the knees) I prayed for a sponsee to come my way……..by lunchtime I had not 1, but 2 sponsees! 2 different newcomers called me, and asked me if I’d sponsor them, I was humbled and honored.

I immediately got them into the work, passing on the actions my sponsor suggested for me to do.

Here’s the dilemma, I finally caught up with my sponsor on Saturday, he’s not too happy. He says I shouldn’t take sponsees before I’m half way through step 9. He says I could continue to help them as much as can, but they should both find another sponsor.

I told my sponsees this and that maybe they should find another sponsor, but they both said they’d rather wait for me until I’m half way through step 9!!

I did step 7 on Saturday and I’m working my step 8 around the clock.

What shall I do? I’ve built up a pretty good relationship with both these guys. I don’t want to tell them they must find a new sponsor. And equally I don’t want to defy my sponsor! Help.

Peace.Love.Noddy

Day 328

What an amazing week I’ve had. I am 10 months sober today and I feel fantastic!!

I’m so humbled and grateful for everything in my life right now.

Earlier this week I was working in Jordan in the Middle East. It was a short trip, just 2 nights. After work on Thursday, I went with a colleague to visit the Dead Sea. What an amazing place. It’s shores are the lowest dry land on earth, some 400 meters below sea level. 

The lights on the opposite shore are in Israel:

Driving down to the water your ears pop and it gets very hot. It was 56 degrees C (133 deg F) !!! 

I stripped to my underwear and jumped in!! I instantly regretted it!!! The stones were razor sharp with salt crystals and I grazed my feet, arms and backside. The water is 10x saltier than normal sea water and is so dense you float! Water went in my eyes and they stung like hell along with the grazes!! Ouch. 

The hour drive back to the hotel was torture, I was wet, covered in itchy sand and salt and had stinging grazes and eyeballs.

The shower in the hotel was absolute bliss though!

I then joined my colleague in the hotel bar for food and whilst he drank beer, I ordered Perrier sparkling water. 

Half way through the meal I realized, I was in a bar, laughing and joking with my colleague, enjoying my food my water and   For the first time I didn’t think about drinking alcohol at all. 

Not drinking alcohol is now absolutely normal for me. I don’t feel awkward of deprived in any way.

I’m so grateful.

Peace.love.Noddy 

Day 305

Good morning friends.

Not the film. It’s been 300 days since I last drank alcohol. My life has improved dramatically. I am so grateful.

My blogging has changed dramatically too. The first 90 days of my recovery were all about me posting daily, getting relief about writing all my feelings and experiences down and eagerly accepting your support.

Now I post less but comment more on other people’s blogs, hoping to help them from my ecperience.

I recently got back home from a holiday in the Philipines. The last 2 nights we spent in a rainforest retreat. It was amazing. We are vegan food every meal, which was skillfully prepared and delicious!

There were meditation and yoga classes which were amazing, they were outdoors in this building:

The view from the building:

The teacher was a bhuddist called Yogi Francis. He took my mind to a place of calm and serenity that I’ve never experienced before.

I feel so alive, happy and refreshed after this experience.

Thank you for all your love and support.

Noddy. X

Hi everyone!! I’m still in the Philippines. I’ve had a great day. We went to the capital, Manila today and had a great lunch with my in-laws. There were 30 of us in total. 

The venue was an all you can eat buffet place. Being an alcoholic, I quickly noticed that draft beer was included. The beer tap was next to the Pepsi tap. 

I found myself glancing at the beer tap and other tables and noticed hardly anyone had the beer!!

My brother in law had one, maybe 2. And that’s it!

I didn’t feel tempted in any way, and realized Filipinos have not got a drinking culture like us in the west. 

After lunch, 7 of us drove South to a healthy retreat. We’re staying here for 2 nights. There is daily activities like yoga, meditation and a spa to use.

I just had dinner. Only vegan food is served here:

It was delicious!! I was surprised to see wine available though!! I commented on this to my wife, ‘that’s not very healthy!’ I said.

She pointed out though that most people will only have one glass with dinner – I forgot about that weird type of drinking!

My wife asked me would I mind if she had a glass with her sister. She hasn’t drunk anything since I stopped, bless her. I said of course I don’t mind.

I was amazed to watch her drink 1 glass of red wine over the whole dinner and didn’t want another. Baffling.

Anyway, early night tonight, up at 6am for meditation!!

Will let you know how it goes.

Peace.love.Noddy X

Day 296.