silky fox

By Xmas I was so into my fitness routine that I almost forgot about the festive celebrations going on around me and by the time December 31st rolled up I couldn't wait for my ultimate New Year's resolution.I would never drink again!

For a couple of months I had cut my drinking down to one birthday weekend but I had the ultimate test....Xmas.

The only area I had not experienced in life up until then was the after work drinking and being a single bloke with money in his pocket I found myself frequenting the pub to pass the time and it seemed harmless enough .......after a few months it turned into a few pints every other night but the problem was that I was quite a loner and I didn't enjoy the pub.But alcohol seemed acceptable and almost encouraged in society and I was by that time addicted.My problem was binge drinking.I began with eight cans of Stella a night which would last between 2-3 hours and 15 years later it was eight cans of K-Cider.I would start drinking as soon as I got home and by six or seven o'clock it was all gone and I was asleep.On the weekends I would wake up before closing time and go to the Pub to have a few Japanese Whiskies/Scrumpy and Jaegermeisters before they closed and if I had any money left i would take a couple of bottles of Stella as a night cap.....(Cut to 2016) I always knew I had an addictive personality and that my consumption and frequency of drinking was out of control but i never had a hangover (sign of an alcoholic) and I could function perfectly well in life.But it was just this groundhog day that seemed to run from working Monday to Friday living for the weekends then doing it all again that had gone on for 20 years.I tried to remember a time before then and it was the lad who enjoyed rowing and lived without drink.I realised that if I could only be that person if I gave up completely and the sooner the better....I joined the gym in October 2016 or there abouts and instead of cracking open that first tinnie....I exercised.My best attribute is that I am extremely determined and highly motivated in everything I do (Which unfortunately included being a professional drinker) but this time I would take my life back.I only need to see the very slightest glimmer of hope to focus on my goal and by the first week I was once again hooked on this healthy lifestyle.I went to the Gym everyday and already I had replaced a very bad habit with a very good one.By the second month I felt more and more in control although I had two obstacles in my way.I had arranged a few weeks before to meet Annalize,Graham Bird and a friend to meet up in the Lakes to celebrate her Birthday for the weekend and avoiding the bar was going to be impossible.Already though I felt in control and we had a few drinks and plenty of great food and I had no craving to binge.Most of the weekend was spent outdoors enjoying the scenery and the most significant thing was our last day.We had set or minds on climbing Scafel Pike.The weather was atrocious and although two of the group decided to stay at ground level Me and Annie were determined to reach the top.The thing with Annalize is she is the most determined person I have ever met and she even tells me to this day that we both encouraged each other to climb that mountain.You couldn't see much further than a couple of metres and the wind and rain were howling,driving down......but we made it.As we came down Scafel the must cleared and the sun came out.It was at that point that I realised something.I was the real me again.And more importantly I had spent quality time with a friend without alcohol.A first for two decades! I will never forget that moment and I remind her everytime I see her.......I continued my sessions in the gym and with one last test looming I was embracing my new life.

Moving swiftly on.......

A couple of years later the Acid House scene started and then the rave scene and I said goodbye to drink and moved on to recreational delights up until 1996 when I discovered Arboriculture and I left the partying scene for good.Oddly enough those days were easy to say goodbye to and had no effect on my life in fact I rather enjoyed them.

Then I met my first girlfriend.She was a bonny lass but she was a nightmare and I adored her or at least I thought I did.I would do anything for her.She loved to get drunk at weekends and smoked like a chimney and if I wanted her attention I had to meet her with a carry out from the off license and a box of cancer sticks....my own fault but I was slowly weaned into a world I didn't enjoy and to cut a long story short by the time the relationship ended two years later I was in the routine of living for the weekend when the drinking would start and continue to Sunday.

To answer that I need to go back to the beginning or more specifically to before I drank around about the early 80's.....I was a healthy youth,I rowed for Durham was in a band which I loved and hadn't a care in the world.I didn't enjoy the taste or effect of alcohol and hated smoke😁

With Arctic conditions forecast it was great to get the job done before.Still very wet and Muddy.My Boots have been well tested.My favourites so far since I bought them.Climbing,Dragging or generally plodging about they are real quality.

Thanks for the work Chopsdaily! And nice to meet you Mark.Some great ideas😁💡

Not sure if this will upload in HD. 20210206_135155.mp4

Everything arriving where it should👍

Time to get the timber out as Mark ascended.Still the rain continued to bucket down.I rather work in snow than rain but either way it was a very enjoyable job.No drama.Just very productive.

Less than 5 minutes from site too.

Or two.

Beautiful chip and for the first time ever I was able to provide my friends at my local allotment with a load.

The tighter tree done....Coffee time!

Plenty of Huskys.I believe the two larger models had to be sourced from Italy.

And the heavy rain dampened nobody's spirits.

No discussion needed.Everyone working well as a team.

Mark had mentioned that he had worked for Matty and learned a lot from him and it showed.Two days of consistent and safe work.

Stripped the whole side in about 20 Zips

I am staying put in the City through lockdown and a personal choice to be close to my folks.No intention to travel for work but Chopsdaily had kindly said he would bear me in mind for anything local to me and sure enough I got a call.Only a stones throw from my home."Popodopolis" (Mark) up and Me and Chops rigging and Clearing.It was clear to see that the first Tree was perfect for some Zipline action over the Garage straight to the Chipper.

Nice to hear from you all.Over the course of this last year I have moved further away from the internet and back to a more organic life.I have always been quite a private person.So lurking in the background more as I used to.I have only Facebook to delete which I intend to I shall always keep Arbtalk.It fits into my life so well and I am such a big fan of this platform.Okay...to continue......

The Size of the map and the Vistas in this game are extraordinary!

I could keep up with the extremely fast paced gaming in Fortnite until my Grandson reached 8 and now I have no chance ...Vallhalla is a bit slower paced but a lot more Gory...