Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: The best music from the 60s to today.
IPL Radio.
[00:00:06] Speaker B: Welcome to IPL Radio podcasting room. You're with Mish on Good Vibrations here this morning, and I have a wonderful guest with me, George. Hi, George.
[00:00:15] Speaker A: Hi, Mish.
[00:00:16] Speaker B: How are you?
[00:00:16] Speaker A: Yeah, very good, thank you.
[00:00:17] Speaker B: Lovely to meet you. And I know we've already chatted this morning, so it seems a bit strange having to go back into it again.
We are here to discuss your story.
Your story is a journey of mental health, but it goes deeper than that. How far do you want to. Before we start, I want to let people know that there could be a trigger moment. So this could be triggering.
So if you're uncomfortable with talking about suicide or listening to suicide or alcoholism, please switch off now, but come back to us at another time.
For those who are staying with us, thank you for staying with us. And George is going to talk about his mental health journey today, which does cover suicide and alcoholism.
If I ask you, George, anything you're uncomfortable with, please just let me know. I don't want to delve into anything you're uncomfortable to do.
We're here just having a chat and that sort of thing. So how far do you want to go back with your story? Where does it start?
[00:01:16] Speaker A: Well, it started when I was late, probably 38, 39. And alcoholism kicked in.
[00:01:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:01:23] Speaker A: Which My whole family of my parents were alcoholics.
[00:01:26] Speaker B: Okay. So do you think that's. Do you think that's a DNA thing?
[00:01:31] Speaker A: Partly, yeah. Well, it is definitely a DNA, but you need something to trigger it.
[00:01:36] Speaker B: Yeah. So. Oh, so it needs a trigger.
[00:01:38] Speaker A: You need a trigger.
[00:01:38] Speaker B: Do you want to talk about your trigger?
[00:01:40] Speaker A: That's fine. Mine was a marriage breakup. I lost my. My children. I couldn't find them.
And I was absolutely devastated because we were so close.
[00:01:49] Speaker B: Did she leave with the children?
She took off.
[00:01:53] Speaker A: Yeah.
She was a pretty bad lady, you know, and. But anyway, I see my oldest daughter now. Oh, that's the best relationship in the world.
[00:02:02] Speaker B: How did you find her?
[00:02:03] Speaker A: She found me.
[00:02:04] Speaker B: Oh, wow.
[00:02:05] Speaker A: Because we were very close.
[00:02:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: She found me.
[00:02:08] Speaker B: Oh, that's terrific.
[00:02:10] Speaker A: Beautiful.
[00:02:10] Speaker B: What about your other kids?
[00:02:12] Speaker A: No, she's gone and mum's way, and they're pretty nasty people.
[00:02:15] Speaker B: Oh, right.
[00:02:16] Speaker A: So I don't want to bring it into my family now.
[00:02:18] Speaker B: No. And you get to a point in your life where you just want the positivity in your life. You just want the love and the support and the confidence. You just don't want that negativity because it sounds like you've been through enough of that anyway.
[00:02:29] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:02:30] Speaker B: And you're trying to avoid that. So you've got a beautiful relationship with your daughter.
[00:02:33] Speaker A: Oh yeah. Is she close by in Forestfield area.
[00:02:37] Speaker B: Oh, that's okay. That's still drive.
[00:02:39] Speaker A: She drives big trucks.
[00:02:40] Speaker B: Oh, okay.
Awesome.
[00:02:43] Speaker A: She does a great job.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: That's really good.
[00:02:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:46] Speaker B: So grandkids.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: Yeah, got quite a few grandkids. About 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
[00:02:52] Speaker B: Oh my God, I love them to death. From that one family, that one daughter?
[00:02:56] Speaker A: Oh no, from. From my. My second marriage.
[00:02:59] Speaker B: Oh, sorry. Okay. So how many, how many has your daughter got?
[00:03:02] Speaker A: Two girls.
[00:03:03] Speaker B: Two girls. Okay.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: One's just under graduation.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: Oh wow.
[00:03:07] Speaker A: She was struggling and she got through.
[00:03:09] Speaker B: Oh, good for her.
That's terrific. So you've got two granddaughters. Granddaughters from you. From you. Okay. So that's. That's awesome that you've got that relationship. And do you have a lot to do with the girl?
[00:03:20] Speaker A: As much as we can.
[00:03:21] Speaker B: But yeah.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: Because where we live.
[00:03:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:03:23] Speaker A: It's so far apart.
[00:03:24] Speaker B: Yeah. And they're probably at the age where they get a little bit. They're doing their own thing. Yeah, that's exactly right. They'll come back in the fold. Don't worry about.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: That's fine. No, yeah. They always ring me to see if I'm still. Alright.
[00:03:34] Speaker B: That's cool. That's so cool. So that's. That's a positive thing that's come out of all this. You've got your daughter back and you've got grandkids to do with that.
[00:03:40] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:03:41] Speaker B: So let's go back. So you had a marriage breakdown. She took the kids away from you.
Did you. Were you. Did you still have a home at that point?
[00:03:51] Speaker A: Yes, I did. Yeah. I was actually living with my mother and father. Okay.
Probably for me that was a bad thing because I drank a lot.
[00:03:58] Speaker B: Oh, okay. Yes. So I forgot about that. Okay. So that was.
[00:04:02] Speaker A: That was the trigger.
[00:04:03] Speaker B: That was it. So they sort of encouraged.
Was a role model.
[00:04:08] Speaker A: My choice wasn't there.
[00:04:09] Speaker B: It was. Yeah. Of course it is always your choice, but role model situation you're seeing and you're in a very dark and low point in your life anyway.
[00:04:18] Speaker A: Yes, that's right.
[00:04:19] Speaker B: What can I ask you?
What was it in your mind? I know you were very low at that point. Point.
What makes having alcohol better for you at that point?
[00:04:34] Speaker A: At that time when you're drinking the world, you're a happy man. Your world's a good place.
[00:04:40] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:04:41] Speaker A: You get to that point when you're drinking and it reverses and you go down, you go into.
[00:04:46] Speaker B: Because I always was under the.
[00:04:48] Speaker A: Under.
[00:04:48] Speaker B: Under the impression that alcohol was a depressive.
[00:04:52] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:04:53] Speaker B: So. So you get to a point of drinking so much that it. You're happy.
[00:04:57] Speaker A: That's right. And then you come to a peak.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:00] Speaker A: And then it reverses.
[00:05:02] Speaker B: So how do you don't know when that peak's going to be?
[00:05:04] Speaker A: No, not really.
[00:05:05] Speaker B: That's the point, isn't it?
[00:05:06] Speaker A: Drinking. That's.
[00:05:07] Speaker B: So you just keep drinking and hope that. That. That happiness comes back again. Is that why you keep drinking?
[00:05:13] Speaker A: No, it's. It's also the urge because you've got the herbs.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: It is a. So powerful. Yeah, yeah.
[00:05:20] Speaker A: And it's very hard to give it up.
[00:05:22] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:05:22] Speaker A: And so next morning you've got to have a drink.
[00:05:26] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:05:26] Speaker A: Because you're shaking for the stuff.
[00:05:28] Speaker B: All right.
[00:05:29] Speaker A: You can't have a cup of coffee because you spill it.
[00:05:31] Speaker B: Oh, is that. Is that how bad it gets?
[00:05:32] Speaker A: Oh, it's shocking.
[00:05:33] Speaker B: Really.
[00:05:33] Speaker A: Yeah. Very bad.
[00:05:34] Speaker B: That's the DTS.
[00:05:35] Speaker A: DTs. Oh, yeah. It's really bad.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: What is the chem. What is the reason for that?
[00:05:40] Speaker A: Oh, just a nerve. I'm not sure.
[00:05:42] Speaker B: Okay. I don't know the reason behind that. Yeah, I don't know about that one.
[00:05:44] Speaker A: You need a drink to calm it down.
[00:05:46] Speaker B: Do you get sweaty? Sweat. You sweat a lot as well.
Wow. Okay. So going back, your marriage has lost. Your children have just gone with her and you don't know where they've gone. You're living with your parents who are alcoholics anyway.
You're in a really low stage of your life, really bad stage of your life where alcohol is your only escape.
[00:06:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:06:08] Speaker B: Were you working?
[00:06:09] Speaker A: I always seemed to keep a job.
[00:06:11] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:06:11] Speaker A: But when I thought I was getting close to getting sacked because I was having days off with hangovers or I was drunk, they could smell the alcohol on me.
[00:06:20] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:06:21] Speaker A: I would quit and get another job because.
[00:06:23] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:06:23] Speaker A: Like, I was a worlder so I could get work anyway.
[00:06:25] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, fine. So you. So you maintain a job, which is great.
[00:06:29] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:06:30] Speaker B: That. That's a positive.
Although you're. And you were aware of the fact that people are going to judge you on the fact that they could smell the alcohol. You're having too much time off work. So you are still cognitively understanding that part of it.
[00:06:45] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:06:46] Speaker B: Still living with your parents.
[00:06:47] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:06:48] Speaker B: How long did this process go for?
[00:06:51] Speaker A: Oh, quite a few years.
[00:06:52] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:06:53] Speaker A: Yeah. Before. Yeah.
I didn't always live with my parents and sometimes I lived in the Street.
[00:06:58] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:06:59] Speaker A: Yeah, because I just couldn't go home. I couldn't drive. I was too drunk.
[00:07:02] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:07:03] Speaker A: You know, so I used to sleep in the tree or really, I'll sleep in a tree so people couldn't get you.
[00:07:08] Speaker B: Can you talk about that a bit more?
[00:07:10] Speaker A: Okay, I can talk about that. Yeah. Yeah. I used to go up to Russell Square in Perth a lot because I could sleep there. But then you get attacked by people.
[00:07:19] Speaker B: You know, Are they usually people that.
[00:07:21] Speaker A: Are alcoholics and drug addicts?
[00:07:23] Speaker B: Okay. That's what I'm trying to get more money. Okay.
[00:07:25] Speaker A: You know, so.
[00:07:27] Speaker B: Which, which really, you're not gonna have a lot of money on you anyway. They're literally taking coins off of you.
[00:07:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:32] Speaker B: Do they beat you up?
[00:07:33] Speaker A: Oh, all the time.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: Really?
[00:07:34] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We. We get a beating when you're on a bench and they wanted that bench.
[00:07:39] Speaker B: Is that right?
[00:07:39] Speaker A: They drag you off and kick you and whatever. Wow. So I used to cross climbing a tree and sleeping.
[00:07:45] Speaker B: I'm in a tree. Oh, my Lord.
[00:07:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:07:48] Speaker B: What about. What? Can I ask you about the.
How do I put it without using a word? Well, I'm going to have to use a word. How are the police with you in that situation?
[00:08:00] Speaker A: I've got a couple of DD charges.
[00:08:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:04] Speaker A: Drunk driving.
[00:08:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:05] Speaker A: But I was never violent or agro or that.
[00:08:09] Speaker B: And what about when you were on the street? Did they hassle you and you on the street?
[00:08:12] Speaker A: Not really.
[00:08:13] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:08:13] Speaker A: No, because I didn't do anything in a tree.
[00:08:15] Speaker B: They wouldn't even know you were there.
[00:08:17] Speaker A: One time they were looking for me. Now we're right underneath me and I was in the pantry.
[00:08:23] Speaker B: That would be hilarious.
[00:08:24] Speaker A: I had to say something. I could. I was laughing and I just said, george, get down here now.
[00:08:31] Speaker B: Oh, wow. That would have been hilarious to watch.
Okay, so at this point, you're in and out of the home.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:08:38] Speaker B: Your parents are still drinking and they got no support at all?
[00:08:41] Speaker A: Not really. My parents, the most beautiful people, don't get me wrong.
[00:08:44] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. The alcohol doesn't mean anything.
[00:08:46] Speaker A: They were the best parents you could possibly imagine.
[00:08:47] Speaker B: Yeah, they went. They were going through their own struggles.
[00:08:50] Speaker A: Well, dad had World War II issues.
[00:08:52] Speaker B: There you go. They're going through their own struggles, which is understandable. You know, and people have their own stories. We all have our own journeys and our own stories.
So in and out of the home, still drinking, keeping a job.
This went on for a few years. When you say a few years, how many years did you think this is?
[00:09:09] Speaker A: Probably about three years.
[00:09:11] Speaker B: Oh, okay. All right. Three years.
What.
What was your. I know you've got a brother here that's actually doing a mural for us at the front. And I've interviewed a couple of times. What was his support like during this moment of the three years?
[00:09:27] Speaker A: Well, for sometimes I used to go around to him drunken and he was always there for me all the time.
My sister was over in Sydney. He couldn't really do anything, but my brother was my guardian, I suppose you can call it.
[00:09:42] Speaker B: Good.
That's great that you had support from your parents, support from your brother and from your sister. But he wasn't able to be.
The location wise was limited.
So you still had the love and support of family because a lot of the time when there's alcohol involved, people that don't understand mental health can push you under the carpet or sweep you under the carpet and just not want anything to do with you. Yeah. Were you. I know you're working, so you had an income coming in. You weren't stealing, anything like that?
No stealing, nothing like that. Because alcohol, alcohol can make, you know, alcohol, Drugs can do that. So no drugs at all?
[00:10:21] Speaker A: No.
[00:10:22] Speaker B: Okay, cool.
So.
So you. This, this happened for about three years.
What turned you around? Where was your turning point?
[00:10:31] Speaker A: I got done for drunk driving and the judge looked at me, said, look, if you come in here again, I'm going to put you in jail.
[00:10:38] Speaker B: Good. Okay.
[00:10:39] Speaker A: And the Salvation army were there, our major.
And he says, george, you come with me.
[00:10:44] Speaker B: Oh.
[00:10:45] Speaker A: And from there on, that was my journey of starting the sober up.
[00:10:51] Speaker B: What. What did that process?
[00:10:52] Speaker A: That was. I went to a place called Bridge House. In Mount Lawley.
[00:10:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:10:56] Speaker A: And that's where you start off your process.
[00:10:58] Speaker B: It's a rehabilitation center.
[00:10:59] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:11:00] Speaker B: For drugs and alcohol.
[00:11:02] Speaker A: Just drugs and alcohol?
[00:11:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:04] Speaker A: Yeah. Pretty. In those days. It was a pretty scary place.
[00:11:07] Speaker B: So you're living there?
[00:11:09] Speaker A: Well, you stay there. You get benefits from the government.
[00:11:12] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:12] Speaker A: They take a big percentage of it.
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:11:14] Speaker A: To cover your food.
[00:11:15] Speaker B: Yeah, of course. Yep.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: But you're sleeping and you start off detoxing in a big giant room.
12 beds of K pop mattresses.
[00:11:23] Speaker B: Oh, wow.
[00:11:24] Speaker A: A table in the middle with a cup of coffee.
[00:11:26] Speaker B: So you're in with other people while you're detoxing.
[00:11:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:28] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:11:28] Speaker A: Yeah. No, it was terrible.
[00:11:30] Speaker B: That would be quite horrific.
[00:11:31] Speaker A: That was the hard part, getting through that.
[00:11:33] Speaker B: Yeah. How long does that take, that process?
[00:11:35] Speaker A: Well, realistically, probably to get through the first stage, about a month.
[00:11:40] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: We're there for about a month and then we get transportation, food to Harry Hunters.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:45] Speaker A: Which is in Goswell's.
[00:11:46] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:11:46] Speaker A: Big place. And we stay up there for three months.
[00:11:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: And that's you only just cracking the surface.
[00:11:52] Speaker B: What. What. What happens during that time in that. In that next three months?
Do you do what. What do they give you? What are they offering?
[00:12:03] Speaker A: Counseling.
[00:12:04] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:04] Speaker A: Lots of counseling. You have set chores to do when you're up at Harry.
[00:12:08] Speaker B: Good.
[00:12:08] Speaker A: And same in. In bridge, you've got to do cooking.
[00:12:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:10] Speaker A: Cleaning and all that.
[00:12:11] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:13] Speaker A: You know, if you're capable of walking after the start. Oh, wow.
I end up in Mount Lawley Hospital. They transferred me for a couple of days because then I came back and just kept pushing through.
[00:12:24] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: It was hard. Very hard. But when we're up at Harry's. It was the major from the Salvation army took a shine to me.
[00:12:34] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: And he really quieted me a lot.
[00:12:36] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:12:37] Speaker A: I'm not a religious person.
[00:12:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:38] Speaker A: I believe in God, but I'm not over religious from there because the welder. They put me in a welding shop.
[00:12:45] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:12:46] Speaker A: Fix the machines up right. Things like that.
[00:12:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:49] Speaker A: And then I tended to. When we had time out, I would go out into the community.
[00:12:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:55] Speaker A: Because I didn't want to isolate myself.
[00:12:57] Speaker B: Good. That's great.
Yeah.
[00:12:59] Speaker A: I had to face my. My enemy. The alcohol.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: Yeah. Oh, gee. That would be hard.
[00:13:04] Speaker A: It was. Because not many of us got through doing that by doing that.
[00:13:08] Speaker B: But why do you think you're different from everybody else who didn't make it?
What to happen.
[00:13:12] Speaker A: Strong enough. And they weren't ready. A lot of them.
[00:13:14] Speaker B: That's the thing.
[00:13:15] Speaker A: Got to be ready.
[00:13:15] Speaker B: Yeah. You've got to be.
[00:13:18] Speaker A: Go bottom. Go to the bottom.
[00:13:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: Realize how bad it is.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:21] Speaker A: And then come out of it.
[00:13:22] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:13:23] Speaker A: Because it is. It's not a good world.
[00:13:25] Speaker B: Do you know what that you have. You going through this process.
[00:13:29] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:13:30] Speaker B: Of absolute rock bottom just sitting here in front of me today. To be able to tell your story is so. So damn courageous. And you should be 40 years. So proud of yourself.
[00:13:39] Speaker A: 40 plus years. Try.
[00:13:40] Speaker B: You should be so proud of yourself.
[00:13:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I am. And. And all the people that have helped me.
[00:13:44] Speaker B: It's a massive. A massive thing you've gone through.
And that's so strong.
[00:13:50] Speaker A: I will never go back. Not for my family.
[00:13:52] Speaker B: No.
[00:13:53] Speaker A: I wouldn't do it to my family. Never.
[00:13:54] Speaker B: Good.
[00:13:55] Speaker A: In this lifetime.
[00:13:56] Speaker B: That's so good.
[00:13:56] Speaker A: No.
[00:13:57] Speaker B: Okay, so we're doing the. We're talking about the three months. Where is it at?
[00:14:02] Speaker A: Harry Hunters.
[00:14:03] Speaker B: Harry Hunters. In Gosnells.
[00:14:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:14:05] Speaker B: Is that.
Do you have your own room.
[00:14:09] Speaker A: You start off in a room with about.
I think it's seven beds.
[00:14:13] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:14:14] Speaker A: And when you slowly. As you go through your month.
[00:14:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:17] Speaker A: You get your own room.
[00:14:18] Speaker B: Oh, wow.
[00:14:18] Speaker A: But you've got to earn it. You've got to work and then go up to it.
[00:14:22] Speaker B: What's the staff like?
[00:14:23] Speaker A: They're all volunteers.
[00:14:25] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:14:25] Speaker A: A lot of Salvation army people.
[00:14:26] Speaker B: A lot of the. Have. Have the staff been through your processes as well?
Right. So they're understanding completely about what you're going through.
It's all very well, us sitting here and just going from the medical book on. This is what you should do. That's what you should do. But you really do need someone who's actually physically felt the pain.
Not only physical pain, but mental pain as well, because they're the only ones that really understand.
[00:14:52] Speaker A: Yeah. You can't. They used to give us counselors, but they were kids and I. Yeah.
[00:14:57] Speaker B: See. Yeah.
[00:14:58] Speaker A: I say, look, you're a kid.
[00:14:59] Speaker B: You're not.
[00:15:00] Speaker A: When you've been where I've been, come back, then.
[00:15:02] Speaker B: Come back. Yeah, I. I totally understand that.
[00:15:04] Speaker A: I always get in trouble over that.
[00:15:05] Speaker B: But. But it's understandable to me from my. My opinion is you can't talk to someone about your issues and your pains.
Someone who really does not understand.
[00:15:17] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:17] Speaker B: And never been there.
[00:15:18] Speaker A: It's a horrible, scary place.
[00:15:20] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:20] Speaker A: But you just got to stay strong and get through it.
[00:15:23] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:15:24] Speaker A: The light at the end of the tunnel is a beautiful. Absolutely.
[00:15:27] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: Best life.
[00:15:30] Speaker B: So after the three months of being in the Gosnells facility, then where do you go?
[00:15:35] Speaker A: I left. But I was lucky.
[00:15:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:36] Speaker A: I got a job straight away. Within two days.
[00:15:38] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:15:39] Speaker A: Well, I went to a. Sorry, no, that's more than two days. I went to a place where we had a house.
[00:15:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:44] Speaker A: In Cloverdale. A couple of houses.
[00:15:46] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:46] Speaker A: Where we could slowly adjust in the community.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: So you went through the process quite quickly then.
[00:15:52] Speaker A: Well, three months. So then it's probably another two months there.
[00:15:55] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:15:56] Speaker A: So, you know. So it took a while.
[00:15:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:58] Speaker A: And then I got a job. Since I got a job, I had to leave.
[00:16:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:01] Speaker A: And then I. Did. I go then. I can't remember where I went. Is that long ago?
[00:16:06] Speaker B: You must have had some. They must have assisted you with some accommodations somewhere.
[00:16:09] Speaker A: No, you're on your own. Once you.
[00:16:11] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:16:12] Speaker A: Pull out, that's it. You've done the time.
[00:16:14] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:16:14] Speaker A: You're on your own. I think I stayed Mum and Dad's for a little bit.
[00:16:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:18] Speaker A: And then I met my beautiful wife and life turned around 100. My angel.
[00:16:25] Speaker B: Isn't that funny?
[00:16:25] Speaker A: Turned around.
[00:16:26] Speaker B: Yeah. How did you. Can you ask how you met her?
[00:16:29] Speaker A: We went to one of those single dudes and there was a lady in red coming the door.
[00:16:34] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:34] Speaker A: I went, oh, that's her. And she looked at me and she goes, that's him.
[00:16:39] Speaker B: Oh, how gorgeous is that?
So beautiful.
[00:16:42] Speaker A: We got talking and then from there on, 40 plus years.
[00:16:45] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:16:46] Speaker A: Still madly in love.
[00:16:47] Speaker B: That's so gorgeous. That's so cute. That's beautiful.
And. And. And life.
And she had. Obviously she understands the process. Your life. Yeah.
[00:16:57] Speaker A: Her parents were our comics.
[00:16:59] Speaker B: So she. She knows your story.
[00:17:01] Speaker A: Yes. Oh, yes.
[00:17:02] Speaker B: And very accepting of it. And understanding.
[00:17:05] Speaker A: Yeah. Voluntarily.
[00:17:06] Speaker B: Which is brilliant.
[00:17:06] Speaker A: She was good. It was.
Life is still hard.
[00:17:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:10] Speaker A: Even though it'd be a dream, because you still got to get through the pressures of life.
[00:17:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:14] Speaker A: And like, we had our own business.
[00:17:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:17] Speaker A: We lost it. Lost our house. We lost everything. Wow.
[00:17:19] Speaker B: So that could have been a pivotal moment of you going back to alcohol.
[00:17:23] Speaker A: What most people do, but. Yeah, I didn't do it.
[00:17:25] Speaker B: Good.
[00:17:25] Speaker A: I wouldn't do it.
[00:17:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:26] Speaker A: It's my kids and my wife.
[00:17:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:29] Speaker A: But life is still harsh. But you can't use alcohol as an excuse.
Make you feel better and go back to it.
[00:17:35] Speaker B: Yeah. You're right.
[00:17:36] Speaker A: Because you'd be a very sick person.
[00:17:39] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:17:40] Speaker A: If you survive.
[00:17:41] Speaker B: If you survive. That's right. That's so inspirational. And it's just an amazing.
It's almost like you. I always use this. I think every blooming interview I use. It's almost like a rebirth.
You're reborn.
[00:17:54] Speaker A: Well and truly. Yeah. You've got a second chance.
[00:17:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:17:56] Speaker A: Yeah. Look, any people got a drinking problem, please give it a go.
[00:18:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:01] Speaker A: Because there is a light at the end of the tunnel and one hell of a life after.
[00:18:05] Speaker B: I think you were very lucky, or it was faked, that that Salvation army man was there at the courts at that moment. At that moment.
[00:18:14] Speaker A: Well, that Major actually married us.
[00:18:16] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:18:17] Speaker A: When it comes to my wedding, he married us. And it wasn't a draw.
[00:18:21] Speaker B: Beautiful.
[00:18:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:18:23] Speaker B: But let's. If he wasn't there at that pivotal moment, your journey may be totally different.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: No, I think I was strong enough to get ready.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: You were ready.
[00:18:32] Speaker A: I didn't use him all that much.
[00:18:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:34] Speaker A: I just battled on the mind he gave you.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: He gave you a direction, though.
[00:18:38] Speaker A: When I needed it, he'd pull me over and ask me how I was.
[00:18:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
But he assisted you in your first point in accommodation rehab, right?
[00:18:46] Speaker A: Yes. Okay.
[00:18:49] Speaker B: I've had dealings with Sebastian army in the past, and they're amazing.
[00:18:53] Speaker A: They are.
[00:18:55] Speaker B: And I'm a support worker, so I sometimes take some of my clients to Salvation army just because they have a wonderful situation where you can just go in for a coffee or breakfast and just sit and relax and. But they're not heavy on the religion. They don't pump it into you. They're not.
[00:19:11] Speaker A: They don't either.
[00:19:12] Speaker B: It's not. It's not. Oh, you know, now we've given you a coffee, you need to come to a session on a Sunday. I've never had that.
[00:19:18] Speaker A: No.
[00:19:19] Speaker B: My grandfather was in the world in one of the wars. It must have been one First World War.
Yeah. And he said that he. The thing he remembers about the Salvation army, they were always on the front line handing out soups and teas and stuff. Yeah, my dad said that too. Yeah. Always there. He said they were always there.
No questions asked, not handing you a Bible every five minutes. They were just there to support the people that needed to be supported.
[00:19:45] Speaker A: Well, my dad was in the jungle in New guinea and they were there in the jungle.
[00:19:48] Speaker B: Yeah, that's what my grandfather said. They were always there. And you could always rely on the fact that they would be there. Except that's what he remembers. Sabbath Army. And from what I've had with my clients and stuff going out, I've had the same thing. They're always wonderfully wanting to help you out. I don't mean to.
We probably shouldn't be talking about the names, but I mean, there's plenty of places out there that will help you in the same way. Don't get me wrong, I've actually noticed a lot of places here in the Rockingham area that will assist homeless in many, many ways. There's food, hampers everywhere you look, which is just.
[00:20:28] Speaker A: If you're an alcoholic and you want to go to Bridge House, it's not an easy process to get into. Ah, okay. It's because it's so busy.
[00:20:35] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: It takes quite a while to get in, which.
[00:20:38] Speaker B: That. That time to take to get in might be.
[00:20:40] Speaker A: Could be months, could be.
[00:20:41] Speaker B: It could be your doing, if you know what I mean. It could be too late, you know what I'm saying?
[00:20:47] Speaker A: Could be too late. It's. It's very hard. And when you do get in there, it's a tough trick. Tough piece of your life.
[00:20:56] Speaker B: When you're in there for the. Let's say for the first month, which is the hardest part, could you walk out at any time?
[00:21:03] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:21:04] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:21:05] Speaker A: Yeah. And if you. They find that you've been drinking it.
[00:21:08] Speaker B: All the time, you can't come back.
[00:21:09] Speaker A: Suitcases on the road, is that right?
[00:21:11] Speaker B: So they're quite strict on that.
[00:21:12] Speaker A: Yeah. No mucking around.
Wow. Coming back.
[00:21:16] Speaker B: How hard would it. The temptations were obviously.
[00:21:19] Speaker A: All the time.
[00:21:19] Speaker B: All the time.
[00:21:20] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, yeah, you've got to go out sometimes out of there to say. Go to the doll office to.
[00:21:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:26] Speaker A: Sign something.
[00:21:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: Go to court for something you've done.
[00:21:30] Speaker B: Do you get any. Do you get anyone to come with you or you're on your own?
[00:21:32] Speaker A: On my own.
[00:21:33] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:35] Speaker B: Bit temptation. You walk.
[00:21:37] Speaker A: I was pretty stubborn. Bugger.
[00:21:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:38] Speaker A: I like to do my own thing and hold my own.
[00:21:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:21:41] Speaker A: But, Yeah, I can't believe you've got lawyers, police officers, all sorts of. All sorts of people, you know, Unbelievable engineers.
[00:21:51] Speaker B: And that's why people shouldn't judge. Because you see an alcoholic on the street or someone homeless on the street.
[00:21:58] Speaker A: No, never judge them.
[00:22:00] Speaker B: Don't judge them. We're all human beings, we're all equals.
[00:22:03] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:22:05] Speaker B: Because I don't like titling people judges, whatever, that. We're all human beings, we all have struggles. Doesn't matter how much money you've got, doesn't matter how much support you have when it comes to mental health, you're on your own. You Are you really much on your own.
And I used to find night times.
[00:22:23] Speaker A: Yeah. To be more for worse times.
[00:22:25] Speaker B: I think that's probably for. For most people. Yeah.
[00:22:27] Speaker A: Obviously, if I wake. Even now, if I wake up, I'll go down and have a cup of tea.
[00:22:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:32] Speaker A: I won't turn TV on because that's.
[00:22:34] Speaker B: This is. It's a stimulant. Yeah.
[00:22:36] Speaker A: I'll just sit there, be quiet, have a cup of tea.
[00:22:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:39] Speaker A: Go back.
[00:22:40] Speaker B: And has it affected your.
Health in any way?
[00:22:47] Speaker A: No, I was lucky long term.
[00:22:49] Speaker B: No, you were lucky.
[00:22:50] Speaker A: I've got diabetes. But that's.
Yeah, No, I was very. When I was drawing out, I nearly. I would have. If I've kept drinking, I would have only had three months to live.
[00:23:03] Speaker B: Is that right?
[00:23:04] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:23:05] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:23:05] Speaker A: Yeah. And then that came good. And.
Yeah, I was very, very.
[00:23:10] Speaker B: So they helped you out medically as well?
[00:23:12] Speaker A: Well, I didn't. Well, I went to the hospital once because of my oxygen levels all dropped while I was drawing it.
[00:23:19] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:23:20] Speaker A: And they got me back. My feet there and then put me back in.
[00:23:22] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:23] Speaker A: But medically we didn't really do too much for me after that.
[00:23:26] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:23:26] Speaker A: They feed us very well, yeah. Good food all the time.
[00:23:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
And routine. I've noticed that routine is very, very important.
[00:23:35] Speaker A: It is.
[00:23:35] Speaker B: I've actually spoken to somebody else who's gone through the rehab situation and it's. They're very strict on the routine because. And they need you to have your day completely full of something.
[00:23:44] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:23:45] Speaker B: You haven't got any time to think about anything else. But what's next? What's next on my list? What's. What time of. You know, it's 10 o', clock, but.
[00:23:50] Speaker A: I've got all courses.
[00:23:51] Speaker B: Yeah, it's something on all the time.
[00:23:54] Speaker A: Working, doing the garden.
[00:23:55] Speaker B: That's right. There's always something on which is. Which is great. And that's. That's really good for your mental health as well.
[00:24:00] Speaker A: It is, yes.
[00:24:01] Speaker B: Because I find. Because I suffer from issues as well with my mental health. If I'm busy, I'm happier.
[00:24:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:24:08] Speaker B: If. If I've got too much time on my hands, I overthink everything you do and start questioning everything. Which is a bad thing.
[00:24:15] Speaker A: Well, I don't think that. I think everybody's got that problem.
[00:24:18] Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. So. But I think when someone has a mental health issue, it's tenfold.
[00:24:22] Speaker A: Tenfold.
[00:24:24] Speaker B: So.
So you've gone from alcoholic parents to living with your parents.
Well, before that, losing your. Your partner and your children to start with, to going into a rehab situation through army helped you out with that.
To then finding your beautiful angel of a wife, having the beautiful support of your brother and your sister in whatever capacity they're able to help you out in. I think you're very lucky with that as well.
A lot of people lose family.
[00:24:57] Speaker A: Well, they burn the bridges.
[00:24:58] Speaker B: They burn bridges, yeah. Correct. So I think it's wonderful that you still have that and you still have a wonderful relationship with your brother and sister.
[00:25:05] Speaker A: Yes. Oh, yeah.
[00:25:06] Speaker B: Which is terrific.
How's your mum and dad doing?
[00:25:08] Speaker A: They're gone.
[00:25:09] Speaker B: Oh, have they?
[00:25:10] Speaker A: Yeah, they died at an early age. 63.
[00:25:13] Speaker B: Oh, okay.
[00:25:14] Speaker A: The wall got him in the end.
[00:25:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:16] Speaker A: With the alcohol. And Mum, were you nursed her with cancer?
[00:25:19] Speaker B: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
[00:25:21] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:25:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:22] Speaker A: They would have been 90 odd now.
[00:25:25] Speaker B: Wow. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's one thing they were guaranteed. We're going to die.
[00:25:29] Speaker A: Something straight, I'm afraid. Yeah.
[00:25:31] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm not. I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid of suffering.
[00:25:35] Speaker A: Yeah. I'm. I'm afraid of birding. Bird. Putting a burden on my family.
[00:25:40] Speaker B: Yeah, that's what I don't. Yeah, that's true.
[00:25:41] Speaker A: That's my defense issue.
[00:25:43] Speaker B: Yeah, that's true.
[00:25:44] Speaker A: I'll put in my will. But if I'm terminally ill, I'm allowed to have the needle.
[00:25:48] Speaker B: Just let me go. Yeah.
[00:25:49] Speaker A: I don't want to put that burden on them.
[00:25:50] Speaker B: Yeah. That's fair enough. That's a fair call too.
[00:25:52] Speaker A: But that. That next part of the journey.
[00:25:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:56] Speaker A: At the moment, I'm a rustic artist now.
[00:25:58] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:59] Speaker A: I'm a welder.
[00:26:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:01] Speaker A: I've got a workshop and I can make rustic artwork and. Lovely.
[00:26:04] Speaker B: That's awesome. Do you want to talk about that a bit more?
[00:26:07] Speaker A: Yeah. It was. I've always done it. My dad was a. Did blacksmithing, shear metal. And I worked with him most long period of my life as a welder.
And.
And then when, basically, I suppose. When did I do it? After I met the wife, I. I started making stuff to make ends meet because things were pretty tough.
[00:26:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:28] Speaker A: And then finally we had our own business for quite a long. For 16 years.
[00:26:32] Speaker B: What business was that?
[00:26:34] Speaker A: Building service stations.
[00:26:35] Speaker B: Oh, really?
[00:26:36] Speaker A: Putting tanks in the ground.
[00:26:37] Speaker B: Wow. That's huge.
[00:26:39] Speaker A: Yeah. It was a big job. Big one. And we lost that.
And we lost everything.
But we had each other.
[00:26:46] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:26:48] Speaker A: That's all that mattered. Wow. And we had our health.
[00:26:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:51] Speaker A: So we got back on the bike and off we went again.
[00:26:52] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:26:53] Speaker A: And now we're.
Were retired.
[00:26:56] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:26:56] Speaker A: So when I retired, I got my art work going, as my brother does with his painting.
[00:27:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:02] Speaker A: And I do the steel work. Like garden.
[00:27:04] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:05] Speaker A: Bird feeders and.
[00:27:06] Speaker B: That's so cool.
[00:27:09] Speaker A: Tanks.
[00:27:09] Speaker B: I love that. I love that.
[00:27:11] Speaker A: Some weird stuff come out of that workshop.
[00:27:13] Speaker B: I. I'm quite a creative person.
[00:27:17] Speaker A: Very important.
[00:27:18] Speaker B: And I. And I've only realized this in the last.
Probably about four years that I. I know.
Look, art is in the eye of the beholder. I don't know. I don't care whether I'm good or not. I. I'm not. But I enjoy doing it.
[00:27:32] Speaker A: That's the main thing.
[00:27:33] Speaker B: And. And I find that when I'm creating something.
[00:27:36] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:27:37] Speaker B: I'm in the moment.
[00:27:38] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:27:39] Speaker B: Totally in the moment. I'm not thinking about what's happened yesterday. I'm not thinking about what's happening tomorrow. I'm totally in the moment. And it's so good for your mental health.
[00:27:47] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:27:48] Speaker B: And today I've noticed that they've got coloring books for people for their mental health. It can be as simple as that. They've got a picture and you color it in.
[00:27:56] Speaker A: Well, that gets your art coloured in.
[00:27:57] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:27:58] Speaker A: Open that little avenue.
[00:28:00] Speaker B: It does, and it's been really good for me. And when I'm in a difficult stage of my mental health, I need to create something. At the moment, I'm in the process of making a Christmas tree out of dead branches.
[00:28:15] Speaker A: Beautiful.
[00:28:16] Speaker B: Because I just have. I have a vision.
[00:28:18] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:19] Speaker B: I can see it, but whether it's going to be any good or not, I don't. I don't know and I don't really care.
[00:28:23] Speaker A: You're painting the branches or.
[00:28:25] Speaker B: No. So what I'm doing is. So I've got an old trunk. A tree trunk.
[00:28:29] Speaker A: Yes. Oh, beautiful.
[00:28:30] Speaker B: A piece of dowel straight up and down.
[00:28:32] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:28:33] Speaker B: Then I've got all this. This wood that I've come across and it's all in sort of that angle.
[00:28:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:28:38] Speaker B: With a hole in the middle. And they'll go over the dowel and then you twist them around so they've got branches. It looks like branches. But I've also got, on collectors, a heap of dried gum nuts.
[00:28:49] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:28:49] Speaker B: So I'm going to put a hole in the top of the gum nut so I can put a bit of string on it and then dip the gum nut in some tinsel. Not tinsel, glitter. Glitter, yeah. So they'll be my, like, Christmas ball things, you know. So that's my vision. Whether it works out, I don't know.
[00:29:05] Speaker A: Doesn't matter.
[00:29:05] Speaker B: But the thing is, with me, I don't spend time. I'm a bull in a china shop. I have to have it done now.
[00:29:13] Speaker A: Well, the other day we broke down our car, you know, and cost a lot of money.
[00:29:16] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:29:17] Speaker A: And we were in a bad. I was in a bad space. Everything was going wrong. Like, I got these magpies that come into my workshop, you know, and I just finished a clock and they knocked that over. And it was just one of those.
[00:29:28] Speaker B: One of those days.
[00:29:29] Speaker A: And I thought, well, what? I walked out and I went. No, I walked back in my workshop and I made a new piece of artwork.
[00:29:35] Speaker B: Good on you. I was all right and you felt fine. Yeah.
[00:29:38] Speaker A: I was in the. Like, sit in the space.
[00:29:39] Speaker B: You're in a zone. It's like a zone.
You're in a zone, a creative zone.
[00:29:42] Speaker A: But if you're not. If you're not into it.
[00:29:44] Speaker B: No, you've got to walk away. You've got to walk away. And that's exactly what I did. Because I've never used a drill before. So with this thing, I'm using a drill, Right. I've never used a drill before. I had to ring My dad three times to find out what I'm doing wrong.
And when I first used the drill, it was. Wasn't going in the wood for some reason. All this smoke coming out.
It's like I was starting a fire. And I rang my dad up. He said, you've got it going the wrong way. It's got to go clockwise.
Crying out loud. That's how bad I was. And then I found out that there's a kick. The kickback when it gets stuck and the bloody.
[00:30:15] Speaker A: Very dangerous.
[00:30:16] Speaker B: I thought I was going to break my arm.
I couldn't blooming out use my arm the next day. So I said, I'm not doing any. I'm not touching it today.
[00:30:23] Speaker A: Use a battery drill. A lot safer.
[00:30:25] Speaker B: It is a battery drill.
[00:30:26] Speaker A: Was it?
[00:30:26] Speaker B: Yeah. Bloody kickback on it was awful. I never heard of it before, but bloody hurt three times it happened. So yesterday I said, no, I'm not touching it today. I just haven't got it today. I'm not with it.
[00:30:36] Speaker A: Another way to get around that too is to drill a pilot hole. They call it a small hole and bend the bigger drill.
[00:30:42] Speaker B: I know I did try that, but my branches are about that thick and I'm trying to go in 16 mil. So I don't have a lot of. A lot of play with it. But anyway, it's creative and I'll go back to it this afternoon. Yeah, no, but I needed that day off just to get over me aches and pains. And literally I was. I. I was swearing under my breath. No, I wasn't actually swearing under my breath. I actually screamed out the F word because I got so frustrated with it.
But I was fine after that. So there's a wonder next door didn't ring the police to find out what was going on.
But I do love to create and I don't do it often enough, but I should do it more. I like making things out of other old stuff. Like you with your metal.
[00:31:24] Speaker A: Mine's all old. It's all recycled.
[00:31:26] Speaker B: Yes, I love that.
[00:31:28] Speaker A: Like, I've just finished making a table out of an old engine block. Oh, I love it with the pistons in there. Table.
But alcoholics are very artistic.
[00:31:37] Speaker B: Why is that?
[00:31:38] Speaker A: I don't know. But a lot of we know up in the farm drawing out there was some really artistic people up there doing.
[00:31:46] Speaker B: Were they artistic beforehand?
[00:31:48] Speaker A: I don't think so. I don't think they realized until they started sobering up and realized their brain sort of went to a different channel.
[00:31:56] Speaker B: It's funny, isn't it?
[00:31:57] Speaker A: But they were quite clever, some of them.
[00:31:59] Speaker B: Bizarre.
Absolutely bizarre.
[00:32:01] Speaker A: Yeah. But you're just going to unlock your brain.
[00:32:04] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:32:05] Speaker A: Because you've got time. So you start trying something new then suddenly bang.
[00:32:10] Speaker B: I just, I love creating out of something, out of anything. Well, I just.
To see something being created and to see the end product is, is it gives you confidence.
[00:32:24] Speaker A: What are you doing that. I don't follow any YouTuber. I do my own, my own art.
[00:32:29] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:32:30] Speaker A: No, nothing's the same.
[00:32:32] Speaker B: Yeah, that's good. That's really good.
[00:32:34] Speaker A: Like I've got old cutting boards and put a clock in there.
[00:32:37] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:32:37] Speaker A: Clean it all up with the wood and varnish it and then put in there.
[00:32:40] Speaker B: I had all my, my dad's old tools cuz he was a fitter turner from England and they were just rusted in a toolbox and he gave me the toolbox and I thought what the hell am I going to do with that?
So I had a, he had a whole heap of Allen keys but the really chunky ones and they're all rusted. Yeah. So I joined them up so they look like flower petals.
[00:32:59] Speaker A: Oh yeah.
[00:33:00] Speaker B: They're all joined up.
[00:33:01] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:02] Speaker B: And then I had a whole heap of marbles. I put them. Stuck the marbles in there.
Yeah. So it just stuck, stuck inside this, this picture and it just looks like a flower. It's just gorgeous.
[00:33:11] Speaker A: I make like car springs. I make dogs out of car springs.
[00:33:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:33:14] Speaker A: And then I put a big nut for eyes. But I put a marble in there.
[00:33:18] Speaker B: Big marbles. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:33:20] Speaker A: They look fantastic.
[00:33:21] Speaker B: I just love.
[00:33:24] Speaker A: They'Re looking at your eyes.
It's good. It's just.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: You just make something out of nothing.
[00:33:30] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:33:32] Speaker B: I want to say nothing. There's something will be discarded normally but you may bring it back to life again.
[00:33:37] Speaker A: I'll teach you how to weld if you ever want to.
[00:33:39] Speaker B: I've looked. You know what, there's actually a, a ladies group out there. This is women on tool on the tools.
[00:33:44] Speaker A: I teach women how to weld.
[00:33:45] Speaker B: Do you?
[00:33:46] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:46] Speaker B: Because I've, I mean I've. This is the first time I've used a drill before.
[00:33:49] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:50] Speaker B: I've. Last year I, I, this first time I've used a drop saw.
[00:33:54] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:33:55] Speaker B: And I'm no instruction. I just get into it. I mean we've got all, my husband's got all the tools but, but yeah, I've, I've always wanted to be able to. Yeah, I think I would.
[00:34:03] Speaker A: I can teach you enough.
[00:34:04] Speaker B: Yeah. Really? I'm scared to Use power tools.
[00:34:08] Speaker A: Well, that's. That's a big no.
[00:34:09] Speaker B: No, that's. I'm scared.
[00:34:10] Speaker A: Don't do that. That's dangerous. I'm scared when you're scared to use it.
[00:34:13] Speaker B: I am scared.
[00:34:14] Speaker A: But I'll teach them how to. Like a lot of them are elderly women.
[00:34:17] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:17] Speaker A: Husbands have passed away in the workshop.
[00:34:19] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:19] Speaker A: Now they're making animals going in competition with me.
[00:34:23] Speaker B: I love that.
[00:34:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:34:25] Speaker B: And I think that it just brings that independence in a woman as well.
[00:34:28] Speaker A: Because it does. Yeah.
[00:34:30] Speaker B: I mean my husband's there to help me out whenever I ask him to, but I want to do it myself. I might ask him a question, but I want a hands on. I want to do it myself. I want to say I made that with no help.
[00:34:39] Speaker A: Oh, well and truly.
[00:34:40] Speaker B: Yeah. You know what I mean? And it just makes you feel independent.
[00:34:43] Speaker A: Have you got a welder?
[00:34:45] Speaker B: He probably does have one stick.
[00:34:48] Speaker A: Probably.
[00:34:48] Speaker B: And I'll.
[00:34:49] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay.
[00:34:49] Speaker B: Bloody old great buggy thing.
[00:34:51] Speaker A: Yeah. Okay.
They're still alright.
[00:34:54] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:34:55] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:34:55] Speaker B: I mean it does the job. I guess it does. I'm scared. I am a bit scared. But. You like. It took me two days to get the courage up to use a drill.
And when I did, I wish I hadn't.
[00:35:05] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't like drilling in the best of times. I've got the one where you bench one. That's not so bad.
[00:35:09] Speaker B: Oh, that's all right.
[00:35:10] Speaker A: Clamp it all down.
[00:35:11] Speaker B: Oh, that's a good idea. See, I could have done that. Couldn't. But we don't have one of those. But that would have been easier.
But yeah, it was.
And we've got security cameras around the house so I can actually watch. Go back and watch me getting all frustrated and pissed off.
[00:35:25] Speaker A: And I've got people come down the workshop all the time and have a talk. So I can't get much work done.
[00:35:29] Speaker B: Oh, no.
[00:35:29] Speaker A: I've got people come around a bit of a man shed coffee.
[00:35:33] Speaker B: I love that though.
[00:35:34] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't mind. I enjoy the company.
[00:35:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:35:36] Speaker A: But sometimes it gets too much.
[00:35:38] Speaker B: Maybe you should do a man shed and just have a specific time.
[00:35:40] Speaker A: I'm not into all that.
[00:35:41] Speaker B: You're not into that?
[00:35:42] Speaker A: No, I just. I just want to do my artwork.
[00:35:44] Speaker B: Fair enough.
[00:35:45] Speaker A: You know, and. And I enjoy having it. And they bring me junk too, so. Bring your junkies.
[00:35:51] Speaker B: Oh, that's a really good one. Because sometimes buying it's expensive.
[00:35:54] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, you have to sometimes.
[00:35:56] Speaker B: I know.
[00:35:56] Speaker A: We can't get into rubbish tips anymore. They're shutting them down.
[00:35:59] Speaker B: We Used to have a property out in Queriding and it was a very old farming. We had 102 acres out there and they used to have. Obviously used to have a.
A tip area in the past. So that. All this.
[00:36:12] Speaker A: That's heaven.
[00:36:12] Speaker B: My. Yeah, my husband absolutely adored that. We've got. We've got glass jars, other bottles, we've got all that. We've got rabbit traps, we've got, you know, the circular.
Where they have them all lined up and they cut the grass.
[00:36:30] Speaker A: Oh, player.
[00:36:31] Speaker B: The proud heaps of power discs.
[00:36:33] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:36:34] Speaker B: But we've got. He's got an area outside, but it's just all that stuff, all antique stuff that he's found on from this tip.
[00:36:40] Speaker A: Well, when we were building, when we had the business, we used to go all outback.
[00:36:43] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:36:44] Speaker A: Working the outback.
[00:36:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:36:45] Speaker A: And I used to come home, the wife would be at the front shaking her finger and my truck would be dragging junk on the back.
[00:36:52] Speaker B: I know, but it was. It was heaven. He absolutely adored doing that.
[00:36:55] Speaker A: It's good.
[00:36:55] Speaker B: But you can. People do that now. But they sell it for such a high price.
[00:37:01] Speaker A: Well, I don't. I don't sell it. My stuff's too cheap. Because I want people like yourself and normal people to be able to. Just.
[00:37:07] Speaker B: To be able to do it. Yeah, yeah, that's right.
[00:37:09] Speaker A: I'll never make a living out of it because I'm too cheap.
[00:37:12] Speaker B: But your living is not dollar worth. No, living is in a different way.
It means something else.
[00:37:18] Speaker A: See, that's what happens when you. When you try it out.
[00:37:20] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:21] Speaker A: Your outlook in life is so different.
[00:37:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:23] Speaker A: And when you look back.
Put it, put it this way. See how bad it was. I used to drink in a pub near the railway station. I'll be sitting at the bar and I watch some people coming home from work, getting off the train. I laugh and I said, they're mentally ill.
Getting drunk.
[00:37:39] Speaker B: Yeah, that's.
[00:37:40] Speaker A: That's how bad where you are. Yeah, that's how bad a place.
[00:37:44] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:37:44] Speaker A: Because you can't face reality. They're coming home to go to their families. They're feeding their families.
[00:37:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:51] Speaker A: And you're sitting in the pub getting drunk.
[00:37:52] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:53] Speaker A: Feeling sorry for yourself.
[00:37:54] Speaker B: Yeah, that's. That's funny, isn't it? Can we quickly touch on AI and I don't.
[00:37:59] Speaker A: Yep, probably.
[00:38:00] Speaker B: Maybe we shouldn't. But I know that it didn't work. Did you try it?
[00:38:03] Speaker A: Oh, it didn't work for me because I'm not a talker or window or anything like that.
[00:38:08] Speaker B: That's What I find, because even with my mental health, I've been into group therapies and I just. I don't open up. Like, they'll say, how you going? I go, I'm fine. You know what I mean? You put that mask on and it's fake. Yeah.
What's the point?
[00:38:21] Speaker A: You're not fine.
[00:38:22] Speaker B: No, you're not.
[00:38:22] Speaker A: That's why you're there.
[00:38:23] Speaker B: That's why I think one on one is better for me. It's not for everyone. I'm not saying it's not. It's not a bad thing either, because it can be an absolute best thing someone's ever done.
[00:38:33] Speaker A: They use it as a crutch. Too many people use the crutches. Breaking away and doing their own.
[00:38:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:38:38] Speaker A: I used to walk out because I get up and I'd say, I'm Georgia, I'm an alcoholic and I'm going back to the farm.
[00:38:44] Speaker B: Yeah. And walk out.
[00:38:46] Speaker A: Yeah. I'm not Georgia. Oh, I'm sorry.
[00:38:50] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:38:51] Speaker A: It's just not me. And they do a great job.
[00:38:55] Speaker B: Oh, look, I'm not saying I'm not. This is just a personal opinion and. Yeah, it's your personal opinion.
[00:39:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:00] Speaker B: It's not for everybody. And I think you have to find what's right for you with every process, with anything to do with mental health. There's so many things out there for people to help you out, but you've got to find what's right.
Yeah. You've got to find that. And. Yeah. And you might try five things that won't work until you find the right thing. So you really got to keep.
[00:39:21] Speaker A: At the end of the day, it's still up to you. You're responsible.
[00:39:23] Speaker B: Absolutely. Absolutely.
And you have a choice.
[00:39:27] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:39:28] Speaker B: You have a choice in life to do the right or wrong thing, whatever that may be. In your life. You have a choice. You have a choice to take that drink. I have a choice to eat that donut.
[00:39:38] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:39:38] Speaker B: I have a choice to step outside. I have a choice to ride a motorbike.
[00:39:42] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:39:42] Speaker B: I have a choice.
It's no one's fault but your own, because you're the one that's doing that action.
[00:39:52] Speaker A: Well, I'll put it after three months, you'll notice a big difference in your life. If you've been offered for that three months, you'll see a huge difference in your health.
[00:40:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:01] Speaker A: And in your way of thinking.
[00:40:02] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:40:03] Speaker A: It's so different.
And if you can hang in there, they got to fingers one day at A time? Yeah.
[00:40:09] Speaker B: It's almost one hour at a time. I think at that point, isn't it Pretty much even a day is a long time.
[00:40:14] Speaker A: Just your night times. Your worst enemy.
[00:40:17] Speaker B: Why is that?
[00:40:18] Speaker A: I don't know. I think it because your brains.
[00:40:20] Speaker B: You're relaxed and you're trying to relax.
[00:40:22] Speaker A: You're not. You're not. Haven't got things happening around.
[00:40:24] Speaker B: I think loneliness is.
[00:40:26] Speaker A: That's another thing as well.
Yeah. But it's also hard for alcoholics to go out and talk to people because they're ashamed of themselves.
[00:40:36] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:40:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:40:37] Speaker B: I was judgment.
[00:40:38] Speaker A: I still am.
[00:40:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Are you?
[00:40:40] Speaker A: Yeah. I heard a lot of people. I heard my mum and dad with stupid things. Healthy.
[00:40:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:45] Speaker A: But. And.
[00:40:46] Speaker B: But look at the person you've become. No, but look at the person you've become.
[00:40:49] Speaker A: That's right. That's why. And that's why you're the first person I've talked to for probably 40 years. Wow. I've never really talk about it. It's like being in a war. And you're a veteran.
[00:41:00] Speaker B: Yeah, I guess so. And. And, And. And people don't want to talk about the negativities and in their life because it's almost bringing it back to life.
And you want to bury that part.
[00:41:14] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:41:15] Speaker B: But you know what? You've had to go through all that to get to the person you are today.
[00:41:20] Speaker A: But you also, you've got to remember that too. So you won't do it again.
[00:41:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:41:25] Speaker A: And move on.
[00:41:26] Speaker B: That's right. So don't forget what you. Who you were.
[00:41:28] Speaker A: Yeah. You. Who you were.
[00:41:29] Speaker B: Yeah. Don't forget who you were. Don't forget how bad you were in that time. Because that's what's made you the man you are today.
[00:41:35] Speaker A: Well, I've got beer in my fridge in my workshop.
[00:41:36] Speaker B: Yeah. Wow.
[00:41:37] Speaker A: I wouldn't touch it.
Wouldn't touch it. It's been sitting there for two years. Wow. Just sitting a couple of.
[00:41:43] Speaker B: Because you've got Christmas coming up. How's that for you? Like no worries at all.
[00:41:46] Speaker A: No. No problem at all.
[00:41:47] Speaker B: That's amazing.
[00:41:48] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't have any issues now.
[00:41:50] Speaker B: That's true.
[00:41:51] Speaker A: Now and again you might get the urge. So you just have a cup of coffee.
[00:41:53] Speaker B: Okay.
All right.
[00:41:56] Speaker A: It's not enough to make me go.
[00:41:58] Speaker B: Back again because you know how bad it was.
[00:42:00] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:42:01] Speaker B: And you know how good you were.
[00:42:02] Speaker A: Now to my family anyway.
[00:42:03] Speaker B: No. No.
[00:42:04] Speaker A: Crippled my kids if I did that.
[00:42:05] Speaker B: Oh, yeah.
[00:42:06] Speaker A: And my grandkids. Yeah.
[00:42:07] Speaker B: They all know your story.
[00:42:09] Speaker A: Oh, Yeah, I don't talk to them too much about it.
[00:42:11] Speaker B: No. Because it's not something you talk about every day.
[00:42:13] Speaker A: But I don't like to preach it either.
[00:42:16] Speaker B: But I also. You said you don't want to scare them, but I think it's good to scare them just to know that how bad you can be.
[00:42:23] Speaker A: They know they can come and talk to me if I had in trouble.
[00:42:25] Speaker B: Good.
[00:42:26] Speaker A: You know, they know I'm. I'm there if I need me.
[00:42:28] Speaker B: Yeah. That's good. That's all you can do. That's all you can do.
[00:42:31] Speaker A: You can't. If you.
I think you find. If you preach them too much, I'll go against you.
[00:42:36] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:42:36] Speaker A: And have a go.
[00:42:38] Speaker B: Maybe so.
[00:42:39] Speaker A: So far so good.
[00:42:40] Speaker B: If it's working for you, then that's perfectly fine.
[00:42:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:43] Speaker B: Don't change it.
[00:42:44] Speaker A: No, no, that's terrific. Good.
[00:42:46] Speaker B: Anything else you want to bring up before we say goodbye?
[00:42:50] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:42:52] Speaker B: Words of wisdom.
[00:42:53] Speaker A: No, I'm not a real wise person when it comes to that, I think.
[00:42:57] Speaker B: Yeah, I think you're wiser than you think.
I think. It wasn't anything I wish.
[00:43:00] Speaker A: You know, if there is alcoholics listening to me now, I want them to get out there and have a go, live life, you know, go to the salvation. Don't have to be Salvation Army.
[00:43:10] Speaker B: There's plenty of places.
[00:43:11] Speaker A: There's a lot of all sorts, but get in there, have a go and don't give up.
[00:43:17] Speaker B: And don't feel less of a person because.
Because of what you do. No, there's thousands and hundreds of thousands of people out there doing the same thing.
[00:43:28] Speaker A: Huge amounts.
[00:43:30] Speaker B: And if it's time for you to change, make that change.
[00:43:33] Speaker A: But life after alcoholism, you're always the alcoholic, so you've got to be aware of that because one drink and that's it. Your history. Yeah, but after alcoholism, life is beautiful.
[00:43:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:43:45] Speaker A: It's amazing.
[00:43:46] Speaker B: It can be beautiful.
[00:43:47] Speaker A: You still have your hard times. Naturally.
[00:43:49] Speaker B: Naturally. That's life. That's life. We all have hard times. Doesn't matter who you are. We're human. And life can hit you in the balls or whatever it does at any moment in. In time.
It's how you get over that.
[00:44:01] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:44:02] Speaker B: Defines you.
[00:44:02] Speaker A: Yeah. You need to get up, keep one day at a time.
[00:44:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:44:06] Speaker A: Or one hour.
[00:44:07] Speaker B: Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. Just whatever.
And if you do need any assistance.
[00:44:13] Speaker A: Then it's all out here for you.
[00:44:15] Speaker B: It's there. It's ask and ask.
[00:44:17] Speaker A: Don't be scared.
[00:44:18] Speaker B: Don't be scared to ask. Google it if you have to Google it. Speak to your gp if you need to speak to your gp.
There's communities out there everywhere.
[00:44:25] Speaker A: But don't take drugs to help you come off the alcohol.
[00:44:28] Speaker B: Do people do that?
[00:44:29] Speaker A: There is drugs you can take.
[00:44:31] Speaker B: Oh, I see. Oh, medical drugs.
[00:44:34] Speaker A: Okay. Don't take.
[00:44:35] Speaker B: Because that's a different addiction.
[00:44:36] Speaker A: That's just another one you've got to get over.
[00:44:38] Speaker B: Correct.
[00:44:38] Speaker A: Just go cold turkey. It's hard. Yeah, but go cold. We call it cold turkey.
[00:44:43] Speaker B: Yeah, Cold turkey.
[00:44:44] Speaker A: You go through the sweats and urges, all that gear and you'd be very sick for quite a while.
But.
[00:44:51] Speaker B: But it's all worth it in the end.
[00:44:53] Speaker A: Just. Just shaking. Once the alcohol's out of your system, it gets easier.
[00:44:58] Speaker B: Did you.
I know when, when people get off cigarettes, they can smell better, taste better. Did you. All that come back for you? Wow.
[00:45:06] Speaker A: Your taste, you smell. That's bizarre, your way of thinking.
[00:45:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:45:10] Speaker A: It's huge difference.
[00:45:11] Speaker B: Isn't it amazing?
[00:45:12] Speaker A: It's amazing you can cope with issues better.
[00:45:16] Speaker B: You're clearer in your mind to make.
[00:45:18] Speaker A: The right decisions because when you, well, you're not had a drink, your brain's all fogged up.
[00:45:23] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:45:23] Speaker A: And you can't think straight for yourself.
[00:45:25] Speaker B: So you make wrong decisions at the time.
[00:45:27] Speaker A: You wait for people to help make that decision for you, which is. It could be the wrong. Normally wrong.
[00:45:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:45:33] Speaker A: Because they're alcoholics.
[00:45:34] Speaker B: Oh, there you go.
[00:45:35] Speaker A: You know.
[00:45:36] Speaker B: Yeah. Have another drink.
[00:45:37] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, come on, let's go to the pub. Yeah, all right. And then.
[00:45:40] Speaker B: And then you're off again.
Look, George, all I can say is thank you so much for coming in. It's very courageous of you to bring your story.
Be proud of yourself because it's a massive courageous thing that you've achieved and you've come out on the other side.
[00:45:55] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:45:56] Speaker B: You seem like a very, I'm not gonna say normal because none of us are normal. Level headed, you know where you want to be, you know what's right for you. You know you've got love in your family. You've got wife, children, extended family that love you and care for you dearly.
And the sun's shining, you're standing on your feet every day, you wake up every morning. What else could you could you want? And you're happy with what you do on a day to day basis. That's life. That's life?
[00:46:24] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:46:24] Speaker B: That's life.
[00:46:25] Speaker A: I want a special thanks to my brother because he's the one who saved me on my suicide.
[00:46:29] Speaker B: All right. And we didn't talk about that.
[00:46:31] Speaker A: No. Yeah, well, what I did, I, I was drunk and I, I filled up the medications.
[00:46:37] Speaker B: Oh, okay.
[00:46:38] Speaker A: You know, so I wanted to die.
[00:46:39] Speaker B: You wanted to finish it.
[00:46:40] Speaker A: I couldn't do it anymore. And my, I rang my brother up to say goodbye to him and he got me into the hospital. That's the last I remember. Basically I woke up in the hospital.
Wow. And a good old friend of mine, he was normally in the.
[00:46:54] Speaker B: Oh, wow.
[00:46:54] Speaker A: Royal Perth Hospital.
[00:46:55] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:46:56] Speaker A: They come up and goes, what are you. Yeah, you idiot.
[00:46:58] Speaker B: Oh, no, I'm sorry, we didn't touch on this suicide.
I, I, I find it difficult to talk about because I've had people in my life that have suicided. So I, I didn't, I didn't, I didn't skip over it for any reason. I totally forgot about that. I apologize for that.
[00:47:11] Speaker A: No, that's all right.
[00:47:12] Speaker B: Did you want to talk about it any further? Yeah, yeah, go for it.
[00:47:15] Speaker A: I just, I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel with my alcohol because I was drunk.
[00:47:21] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:22] Speaker A: And I was devastated. Broken, absolutely broken hearted with my kids.
[00:47:25] Speaker B: My, See my kids was this early on in the piece.
[00:47:28] Speaker A: Yeah, very, at the very start.
[00:47:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:29] Speaker A: Before the alcohol and really bad.
And then one day I just, I've had enough, you know, and I took a heap of blood pressure tablets and Panadol and you name it, they pumped me out with charcoal.
[00:47:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:41] Speaker A: Charcoal in me and clean me out.
[00:47:43] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:47:43] Speaker A: But yeah, I just remember ringing my brother and say my goodbye and that's what I remember after that.
[00:47:52] Speaker B: I wonder what John remembers of that. I mean, that would have been difficult for, for him.
[00:47:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I was, yeah.
[00:47:58] Speaker B: So he was obviously immediately out. Just.
[00:48:00] Speaker A: He was always there for me. Yeah, he was. You know, I could be drunk and ring him and he'd listen.
[00:48:06] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:06] Speaker A: Or go to his house because I've had a drama.
[00:48:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:09] Speaker A: You know, and, but yeah, I was never a suicidal person. I didn't think I was.
[00:48:15] Speaker B: I don't think anyone thinks they are until, until it's, it's at that point.
[00:48:20] Speaker A: My dad used to say, that's a cows wire.
[00:48:22] Speaker B: A lot of people say that. I don't really like that.
[00:48:24] Speaker A: You can't say that.
[00:48:25] Speaker B: I don't like that.
[00:48:26] Speaker A: You don't know where it's coming from.
[00:48:28] Speaker B: No, you don't. You know what? I think I've spoken to many people about suicide and at that moment in time, when you make a decision, you're not thinking about anybody else apart from your issues.
[00:48:39] Speaker A: That's Right.
[00:48:40] Speaker B: Because if you, if you were thinking about anybody else at that time, you'd be cognitively clear in your mind and you wouldn't be doing what you're doing.
[00:48:46] Speaker A: When you become an alcoholic, you become the most self centered, rude, arrogant person you can possibly imagine.
[00:48:52] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:48:52] Speaker A: Yeah.
Your world is right in front of you.
[00:48:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:48:55] Speaker A: In that bottle. In that bottle and nothing else. With Kiss.
[00:48:57] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:48:58] Speaker A: Yeah. You can hurt people around you who.
[00:49:00] Speaker B: Couldn'T give a stuff and hence, hence you can commit suicide because you don't think of anybody else around. And as I said, I've spoken to other people about it and at that moment in time, you're not thinking about anybody else because if you were, if you're a cognitive in your mind, if you were clear of your mind, you wouldn't commit suicide because you were, you would be thinking about other people.
[00:49:20] Speaker A: Well, I thought that was rock bottom, but the alcoholism was still to follow.
[00:49:23] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:23] Speaker A: On top. I was already in there. Yeah, but it get worse. Yeah, but I never went down that road again.
[00:49:28] Speaker B: Okay, so you've never been at that point. That's the next question I was going to ask you. So that. But that was a quite a pivotal.
[00:49:33] Speaker A: Fortune in my mind. But I never went there.
[00:49:35] Speaker B: No.
[00:49:35] Speaker A: No. But.
Well, not that I can remember anyway. No.
[00:49:40] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:49:40] Speaker A: You don't remember too much when you're drunk. You blackout, you blackout, do you? Oh, yeah. Yeah. You couldn't.
[00:49:46] Speaker B: That's why you do it though, right? To forget?
[00:49:48] Speaker A: Yeah, sometimes.
[00:49:49] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:49] Speaker A: But sometimes you get that drunk, you can't remember anything whatsoever from the night before.
[00:49:54] Speaker B: That's probably a good thing.
[00:49:55] Speaker A: Yeah, sometimes. Yeah.
[00:49:57] Speaker B: Yeah, probably is a good thing.
[00:49:59] Speaker A: How did I get here?
[00:50:01] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. Wake up.
[00:50:02] Speaker A: Wake up in the tree.
[00:50:03] Speaker B: I can't believe you lived in a tree. How the hell did you come comfortable in a tree?
[00:50:08] Speaker A: Oh, I used to tie myself to the branch.
[00:50:11] Speaker B: You're kidding me.
[00:50:12] Speaker A: I used to talk about my arms on my belt.
[00:50:13] Speaker B: That's so clever.
[00:50:14] Speaker A: Wouldn't hurt.
[00:50:15] Speaker B: Oh my God.
[00:50:16] Speaker A: I'd hang there and wake me up.
[00:50:19] Speaker B: That's hilarious.
That's clever.
[00:50:22] Speaker A: The problem is it used to get quite drafty because you're in the branches.
[00:50:24] Speaker B: Oh, God. Yeah.
Oh, my Lord. You have to pick the right tree, wouldn't you? Wow. Okay. Again, thank you so, so much for sharing your courageous story today and hope one person, ten people, a thousand people listen to your story and can.
Can relate to what you've said and see the outcome is a positive outcome.
[00:50:45] Speaker A: Very, very positive.
[00:50:47] Speaker B: And it's worth going through the, the Pain.
[00:50:49] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:50:50] Speaker B: Physical and mental. To get to the place where you.
[00:50:53] Speaker A: Like to go back. If you've dried out, please don't go back.
[00:50:56] Speaker B: Don't go back because you've gone through that.
[00:50:58] Speaker A: Once you go back, you will die.
[00:51:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:51:01] Speaker A: That's how bad it is.
[00:51:02] Speaker B: And why would you want to go back when life can be such a positive thing?
[00:51:06] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:51:07] Speaker B: Thank you again.
I love the fact that people can share their stories with me. And if anybody else has a story they'd like to share, please contact me on mishiploutlook.com or contact IPL radio, which would be great because I'm here non judgmental. I just want to have a chat with people and allow people just to. To share their stories. How difficult they may be, how fun they are, how inspiring they may be. It doesn't matter what the story is. I just want people to be able to have a voice.
Everyone has a voice, that you're entitled to have a voice and this is a safe environment to do so. So thanks, George. Have a great day.
[00:51:44] Speaker A: You've done a great job, mate.
[00:51:45] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:51:47] Speaker A: Oh really?
[00:51:48] Speaker B: That's so sweet. Thank you so much.
[00:51:49] Speaker A: It's been sitting there brewing for a long time.
[00:51:51] Speaker B: Let's go out and have a drink. No, I'm kidding. Coffee. Let's go for a coffee. Let's go for a coffee. Thank you so much. Have a great day everybody and thanks for listening.
[00:51:58] Speaker A: Thank you.
[00:51:58] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:52:00] Speaker A: The best music from the 60s to today.
IPL radio.
