Where in the table will we be on 2nd Jan...

And the winner is @Didcot Red

 

ever the optimist.

 

The realist as it turns out

 

Spot on!

 

Got plenty of clog iron thee.

 

Nostradamusesque!

 

After the run of games and injuries we’ve had it’s a great effort to still be in the playoff positions

 

Now for Euro-Millions.

 

Absolutely love it when these threads are bumped up.
Cue Jon Russel thread when he was gash.

 

You da man!

 

I always said I know my stuff. I should work in football.

 

Tell us about going teetotal. That's a massive thing. Did summat happen, did you just decide? Sorry for prying, but you brought that to this BBS and I think a lot of us would appreciate listening to you and learning how you did it.

We're supposed to support each other and 'kin 'ell mate that's an immense thing.

I'd apologise for calling you out but I actually think you should talk about this...

 

You'll regret asking...

I feel like I've always been a drinker. Even though there were childhood years where clearly, I didn't. But by my teenage years I was at it on a weekend. It's something I've always done. It's never been a daily thing. But it's been a weekend thing. Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday days for many years, when I used to go watch Barnsley home and away. However, in my last job that obviously lessened. Because as much as I'd have loved to have been drunk watching some of the games over the last eight years, I wasn't allowed.
Then, because of the job and the amount of hours you do, my opportunities to go out with mates decreased over the years. I became older, and especially these last few years, even if I had the chance to go out, I was feeling too knackered to bother. So I began to grab a few cans on my way home on a Friday/Saturday night instead. I wasn't out having fun with people, I was using it as a way to unwind after work. Nothing wrong with that I guess.

Then, in the last couple of years I fell out of love with the job. It's a full-on role. You're working every day, it's very difficult to find time for yourself. I felt physically tired, mentally drained. I'm in my forties by now in fairness. Only natural. But people I really respected, colleagues who had become friends, they were no longer there either. People always come and go. That's life. But it was as though my little circle completely disintegrated in the space of about 15 months. You're talking about a handful of people who I was really close to. So I struggled to enjoy the environment in the same way, struggled to cope with the various stresses to my physical and mental wellbeing. And so if I'd had a bad Monday in the office, I'd drive up the motorway, make sure I passed an off license, and grab some beers on the way home...

In the summer of last year, having spoken with those in charge at the club, I made the decision to move on. They were absolutely spot on with me. I can't thank them enough. Because almost immediately, I felt like a weight had been lifted. I then made a conscious decision to take some 'me' time. Don't look for another job. Just relax, spend time with those you love, take the dogs on long walks in the country, really unwind and enjoy a completely stress-free existence for a few weeks. In doing that, I remembered the hobbies I used to have. I remembered how much I loved my missus. And I was no longer getting angry, stressed, or dreading an email/text. I started going to the gym. I helped out at a foodbank, worked the family farm. I saw mates I'd not seen in years. One of them tipped me off about a job doing charity work, raising money for people in desperate need. By now, I've had six weeks of getting my life back. But older now, wiser, more appreciative. And I'd not been to the off license. The only drinks I'd had were back in Barnsley on a 'farewell' evening with colleagues/former colleagues (two pints, then drove home). And a couple of pints with a meal for my birthday. Then I started the new role mid-September, and it's a lot less stressful, I don't take the work home with me and I have more free time.

At the end of September, I bought the Anthony Joshua fight on box office. I asked the missus to bring me four cans of lager home with her. I was halfway into the first can and just had this random moment where I realised I wasn't enjoying it. So I put the rest down the sink and got an orange juice. The other three cans remained in the fridge until mid-December. The missus later said: "Are you drinking these cans, because if not, I'm getting rid of them as I need the space for all the Christmas food." I told her to throw them.

And that's that. Over time, I got out of the habit of going 'out'. Then I began to have a few beers on an evening, to relieve stress. Then the stress disappeared, so the drink went with it. I think I've tied alcohol in with the last couple of years, as a bad thing, something I had to change. And a couple of months later, I feel much better in mind and body. And going back to my first point - I'd always been a drinker. I was keen to see what life was like without it. But yeah, it's a couple of months. I'm not ruling out alcohol forever. It's just where I'm currently at!

I hope that makes some form of sense, and sorry for banging on. I've even been toying with the idea of starting a new BFC blog, such is my freedom these days. But we'll see.

Happy New Year, pal.

 

Thank you

 

Bet you wished you never asked

 

I'll go for 6th.