desigol1979

On Sunday Morning’s Intergroup meeting I put forward my proposal to design a website for the Northern Ireland group; which will be hosted via http://oagroups.org ; and it was decided they would contact their respective Group Consciences about the proposal. I am already in contact with a Web Admin in the US who is also a member of OA and we are finalising terms.

I have started with a few basic ‘Building Blocks’ for the site, with pages outlining the Steps, Traditions, How it works and Our Invitation to you. I have asked World Service for permission to use those pieces of text on the Website (US Intergroups already have those on their sites).

Not only that, but I have added a page of Links for Websites talking about eating disorders; as well as MRN itself; as well as the Twitter Account I hope to incorporate with it.

Hopefully this will be good for me. Not only will I get Web Design experience, but will also provide service. This is an exciting time ahead.

That’s what I’ve learned; the hard way; in this program. I had a rough weekend, relapsing on Saturday. No excuses for it.

Robin Williams once said, “Cocaine is God’s way of telling you you’re earning too much money!” Well, this is God’s way of telling me to modify my Food Plan. I have been too liberal with my choice of Lunches; particularly portion sizes; but the Shop I bought Food from has now been taken over by those who run the Chinese Restaurant in the Store. This is God’s way of telling me to stop buying Dinners from the store.

On the positive side, I am down to 18 Stone and 3/4 Pound when I weighed myself on Saturday Morning prior to heading to the Derry Meeting.

And it has done the trick. My Liver Cell Count is normal once more, having rang the Doctors whilst waiting for Cookstown Library to open. It is a huge weight off my Shoulders.

It is another blessing for OA, for it was an OA mate who told me that the Liver repairs itself normally. Hopefully Gran won’t throw a wobbly this Sunday when I head to Armagh.

Today I had taken my Gran and Brother to An Creggan Visitor Centre today. Gran was like a Bear throughout the entire Car journey. However we did enjoy our time there, heading to Tesco in Cookstown on the way home. She was still on at me about driving at 50 MPH. It was unbearable at times.

Then I eventually got to Armagh, in spite of her protestations, and at the Cathedral met a Couple from Ardboe there. The Husband runs the local Chip Shop. Even though they didn’t stay for the 5:30 Mass it was refreshing to see them. Funny, I met a few Ardboe people at An Creggan as well. Small World, eh?

After Mass, when getting ready for the meeting, I rang Gran to tell her about who I met at the Cathedral She seemed to mellow. The meeting itself was great, with the reading about Spirituality (an OA member losing weight but still not Spiritually well). Also, one of the sharers mentioned defiance being common with addicts. Coming to think of it, I have been too defiant. I need to pray for my Gran rather than get on her Back.

When I returned home she was content, watching Heartbeat on the TV. I feel vindicated that I have to attend the meetings. Pray for me and Gran, we are Spiritually Ill.

Usually when I hear a Reading at a Meeting I read that story again when I get home.

I got up at 6:30 in the Morning in order to drive to Ballymoney for the Train to Derry; for attending the Saturday Morning Meeting; having a few drinks of water, as well as Flavhan’s Porridge for Breakfast. The meeting was a reading from the www.oabigbook.info Workbook about Resentments and Step 4. The story reminds me of the resentments I had pre-OA.

When I noticed the Post lying on the floor, there was one unusual Letter. That happened to be my Irish Passport. I had an application for an Irish Passport rejected two Years Ago; when I was 6 Stone heavier than now; now it is a successful application with my Birth Certificate also returned. My previous application was rejected because my face’s ‘Boundaries’ didn’t fit. Now my face is thinner and I now have the Passport.

If I’m not thankful to Terri for this, then I’d never be. But for her, I would still be struggling with BS Diets. OA has proved a life saver.

I am forever grateful for Terri, the Internet (where I discovered TRN), listening to the Radio (I discovered TRN through Radio 1) and for my other recovery partners.

When I was having my Lunch I had felt light-headed. In the end we had to call for an Ambulance. They discovered that my Blood Pressure was low.

The Doctor who examined me in Craigavon Hospital said I haven’t been eating enough. Afterwards I phoned my Sponsor about this and we will discuss a Food Plan on Sunday prior to the Armagh Meeting. Maybe I need to take 4 Meals rather than 3? I also need to revise my portion sizes. But this will be discussed with my Sponsor.

I’ve now bought Flahvan’s Porridge; or Oatmeal as Terri calls it; in order to help reduce my Cholesterol Levels. I’m not gonna end up like Homer Simpson and say, “Ah, there’s a bug in it!” as an excuse to get a Fry-Up. Changes have, once again, been thrust upon me. One good thing is that my Blood Pressure is fine; I had high Blood Pressure prior to registering with TRN.

The Porridge only took 2 Minutes in the Microwave, along with Milk. Fortunately the packet came with a small measuring cup. It said two cupfuls of Milk is needed along with the Porridge.

I’m not gonna beat myself up over this Liver melarchy, a Recovery Partner said the Liver can mend itself in time if I stop taking the Painkillers I had taken.

btw, My Counsellor is at a Wedding for her Husband’s Niece so She won’t be working this week.

I received a shock Today, especially as they arrived the following Day. They said my Cholesterol is still high and they said there was something wrong with my Liver. I have to take another Test in a Fortnight’s time.

This has come as a real shock to me, especially considering how much weight I have lost. My Gran said I am taking too many Paracodols, maybe I am dependent on them too.

I had to take my Brother to the Out of Hours Surgery this Morning as he has what is known as a ‘Strep Throat’. He couldn’t speak, so he had to write it all down for me. The Doctor gave him Penicillin and told him to take Paracetamol Tablets as well. As usual, Gran is making Mountains out of Molehills. But at least he didn’t have to go to Antrim A & E (which is stretched to breaking point after the closure of A & E services at Magherafelt and Whiteabbey).

I’m now 25% lighter than what I was 2 Years ago. OA has really been a blessing for me. On Thursday I made my Step 9 amends to my Gran and Brother and will continue to show my amends by doing what I can for them.

Earlier this Morning I went to SuperValu in Coalisland; which opens at 7AM on a Sunday; to get stuff for my Brother. I’m not sure I’ll be at the Armagh meeting Today due to my preoccupation with my Family; at least it’s not a preoccupation with food; but I’ll do my best Today.

I enjoyed my time in Manchester. Good to get away from the July madness. lol

When on the Sunday Evening Coach to Manchester I was talking to two Women from Belfast who are keen Camogie (Female Equivalent of Hurling) players. They were heading to Carlisle looking Teaching Jobs (They study at the Catholic Teacher training College in Belfast). Funny enough, one of them knew an ex-Workmate of mine as he went out with her Sister once. Small world.

I arrived in Manchester at Half 1 on Monday Morning. On the Monday I went to HMV to buy a few CDs and also head to a Leisure Suite in a Hotel close to where I stayed. There was an OA meeting in the City; which I managed to attend; on Monday Evening. It was a Big Book study. Another funny thing was that a Medical Student from near Stewartstown lives in Manchester and I met her at Last Tuesday’s Dungannon Meeting when She was visiting her Family. She arrived by bike as her house in Manchester was only a Mile away from the Meeting place. Once the Meeting was over I was offered a lift and was able to get off close to my Hotel; I already have a fair idea of where places are in Manchester City Centre.

On the way Home the Coach didn’t Terminate at Stranraer as it normally does. It went to Cairnryan and boarded the Ferry to Larne. That meant I was able to arrive in Belfast in time for the Final Bus to Derry that Night. I got off at Castledawson Roundabout and got a lift home from there.

Funny how things work out, eh?