Nothing spectacular to report, still chugging along stringing together sober days. Next milestones will be 100,000 cigarettes not smoked and 2,000 days sober.

One thing though... we had 26°C weather 2 days ago, and a whole week of 21°C+ Usually around this time it's 14 - 15... So a great opportunity so attack a few trees there were growing way too big. I don't trust myself with a chain saw - I would not keep an even number of limbs for very long - but found this incredible hand saw that makes it easy to cut through 10 inch+ branches.

There is something about working with my hands that is deeply satisfying.

DB & his sister doing well.
DB 795 days sober. He is providing strong mentoring support to the young lady who has adopted us, it has given him purpose, she is currently 3 days mull free. Of really super good news DB and his colleague were nominated for the "Pride" award and out of all the Australian nominations they won. They are being flown to NSW for ceremony 23.11.17 & subsequently have been nominated for the "across the world" as well. They will find out at the NSW ceremony who is the "world winner" & if they do will be flown to Britain, its for the work they have done setting up the unit from nothing, sourcing & training the dogs, setting best practice & are now being tasked with training dogs for other divisions. Just to win the Aus & be nominated for the world I believe is a super achievement in itself. I'm so proud of him & his colleague, this is the 2nd time they've been nominated for Aus award (last time for their efforts in saving dogs from euthanasia and turning them into successful DDDogs) you have to win the Aus to be nominated for the world event and they have done it tough for all these years, but they never gave in, they take great pride in their roles. As you can tell I'm really chuffed for him.

SIL G 203 days sober. She's doing it tough with her PN and family issues, but she prevails and I believe in her strength and commitment. The good news on her front is the eldest daughter (1 of my 11 nieces) who lost custody to all 3 children is Day 4 sober, alcohol and mull. This is her first attempt and a huge step forward in terms of this is the first time ever she has acknowledged she has a problem.

I am very proud of them all

I am doing well.

I had a minor flare of the PN/essential tremor in my hands a few weeks ago, which maybe arose from unseasonably warm weather for spring - it has now subsided.

My next mission is to quit ciggies - I am now down to about six per day. OTC nicotine patches have helped.

You can do this, I believe in you

My PN has been very bad and seems to just get worse. I will give it a bit more time but likely will be going the med route to see if I can get the pain level down, though it is the weakness in my limbs that terrifies me most. I would so love to hear some success stories and hope that this condition will improve with sobriety but sadly I am afraid it is too late for me.

I have been in a wheelchair. I have used a walker. I have used a cane. I remember the day I forgot to put my cane in the Rover.

From onset of neuropathy to wheelchair to sobriety to walking again was about 3 years for me. I still can't run, or stand in one spot for more than a few minutes, but I stay active and moving around.

Thank you Icehouse. I needed to hear those words just now.

*Several years ago (2 1/2 pk day cigarettes) managed, with prayer and the aid of the Nicoderm nicotine patches. I used patches for a longer time than usually recommended. Also carried one in my purse for just in case purposes. That was almost 20yrs. ago.

Good job Gerry - that encourages me .

Kiwi, how's the quit going? I am down to 10/day.

So who was it that tried the laser for neuropathy? There is a local chiropractor here that advertises that if at least 85% of the nerves are not damaged he can help a patient recover or improve. I am sure it is a pricey proposition. Who was it that did this? Can you PM me or post here how much you spent, if it helped, how many treatments you had, etc? I have not worked in some time so money is a big concern plus I don't want false hope and get taken advantage of but I am at the point of desperation.