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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

I think DH has 'relapsed', and he's abroad for work. Feel like this is the end but what he's done is so insignificant.

24 replies

odaco · 27/11/2011 08:30

I posted 18 months or so ago under a different name about H's issues with alcohol - or rather the insufferable, obnoxious lying twat he is when drunk. To reiterate briefly, we were both heavy drinkers when we met and had many 'adventures'. After marriage and kids I grew up and drank less. H 'suddenly' began to react very differently to drink and being drunk. Started seeming very drunk on much less alcohol than before, started losing time, being horrible and rude to me etc. His colleagues were mentioning it.

Couple of awful nights - don't want to go into details but it was really bad.

His mantra of 'you are being ridiculous and hypocritical' is what had me on the brink of leaving rather than the alcohol per se. He was never a daily or habitual drinker.

After I gave him a straight ultimatum (I hate ultimatums but it was that or just leave), he went to the doctor to see if there was any underlying cause (no), and started drinking less, being honest about when he was intending to come home (I'd much prefer a 'I'll be back really late, probably after 2am' than 'I'll be back at 11' and then nothing), and generally things improved a lot. He was more aware of how he came across when drunk and the consequences of that at work and home.

He's away for work at the moment, abroad, in a country where the vast majority of citizens do not drink. He has been to this country before on the same project over the past 8/9 months. Because of the time difference we skype very briefly in the morning (he is already at work), and again just before the DCs bedtime (which is his late evening). Then he and I will chat before I go to bed.

It was DS's birthday yesterday. We had a family celebration before DH left but he wanted to see DS opening his presents on the day. That happened in the morning and went well. I took the DCs out for the day, exchanging a couple of texts with DH. H said he was going to watch the football with a colleague (they are working the weekend). We arranged he'd skype us before the DCs went to bed.

At bedtime he texted to say he was staying out 'talking shop'. I said not to worry and to have a nice time. He said he'd skype me when he got back to the hotel.

Needless to say he didn't, nor did he text or call or anything. This is very unusual. I tried to call him at about 5am UK time and it went to voicemail. He relies on his mobile as an alarm and missing work would have serious consequences so I rang his personal mobile, which rang out. Then he called me, obviously out of it.

He said he had tried to call me last night. I don't know why, it's trivial, but that lie (definitely a lie, I had no missed calls, no texts nor emails and he doesn't just try once then give up, ever), just gave me this last-straw feeling. Why not just say he was out of battery? Or forgot. Or whatever.

I asked if he shouldn't be in work and he said he was in his colleague's hotel room 'across town' and they were heading to the office soon.

I didn't ask but there might've been drugs involved, it wouldn't be a massive surprise - unlikely only because of the very strict attitude towards drugs in the country H is in and the improbability of he and his colleague scoring.

Either way, doesn't matter.

I am surprised by how I feel. I am not even angry, just disappointed. Back in the day I'd be calling him to make sure he was up and out, telling him to have a shower and change his clothes, basically taking responsibility. But once I knew he was alive (melodramatic I know, but he has been in some stupid situations in the past one of which nearly did kill him), I just didn't care. Being in a state/missing work/acting like a twat around these colleagues in this country will probably have massive repurcussions for H at work. I am just irritated. Don't feel concerned other than for the impact it would have on the DCs if he lost his job.

And before I 'knew he was alive', I was just pissed off he hasn't sorted out his life insurance yet.

I have had enough.

But - he hasn't really done anything, has he. He's gotten drunk, or whatever. He's a grown-up. He told one insignificant lie. No big deal. So why do I feel like I don't love him anymore, just like that?

OP posts:
Berries · 27/11/2011 08:48

Because it's not really one small insignificant thing. It's an accumulation of things, time after time which has eroded the love until there's just none left.

I suspect you have some serious thinking to do now. Hugs

odaco · 27/11/2011 08:54

Thanks for the reply. Must be more upset than I feel, so good to get it out.

Just a few days ago I was thinking how happy we were and how I was falling in love with him all over again Sad

Right now, here while he is there, it seems very straightforward. I don't care about him (in the way I used to, I mean). I am not sure what that will mean. But it feels like the end of something really significant - yet I'm not sad or angry or emotional at all. Just... annoyed?

OP posts:
TheSecondComing · 27/11/2011 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

odaco · 27/11/2011 08:59

I think - sorry if this makes no sense - that the changes he made (keeping in touch while he was out, telling me how many drinks he'd had, being upfront if he wanted to stay out rather than just disappearing etc - I got a lot of stick back in the day for wanting to 'police' him to that extent but it really did feel necessary if we were going to stay together) - basically acting like a considerate person who gave a shit about me and how I felt. He wasn't doing it because he was a considerate human being who gave a shit about how I felt, he was doing it to shut me up. And now he's reverted to type and is telling stupid unnecessary insignificant lies, so really it means nothing has changed and the last 18 months were just him pretending to give a shit.

OP posts:
odaco · 27/11/2011 09:06

(he did use to do all that stuff. He was a genuinely considerate back in the day, even when drunk out of his mind or on pills at a club. So what has probably happened is that he doesn't give a shit about me as a person and that happened a while ago and the past few months was just a front).

OP posts:
rycooler · 27/11/2011 09:07

You've just had enough haven't you - sounds like you've been putting up with his unreasonable behaviour for a long time.
He's lying to you and putting his job at risk - that's not him 'just getting drunk' is it? Tell him if he doesn't change you'll leave - that might shock him into changing ( it should do if he cares ) - the more excuses you make and the more you forgive him just makes things worse ( personal experience of that )
only tell him you'll leave if you genuinely mean it
you might decide you love him so much you'll put up with anything.

(( hugs ))

TheSecondComing · 27/11/2011 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sprinkles77 · 27/11/2011 09:17

I had an ex who did all the things your H did / does. I stuck it out for 7 years. Luckily not married and no kids. I just don't think they can change. It is a kind of alcoholism and a kind of domestic abuse. You need to decide whether you are prepared to live like this for the rest of his life (and make your kids do so too).

odaco · 27/11/2011 09:25

Yeah, I am not sure what I am going to do with this insight. I feel I 'should' break up with him or whatever, like that would be the normal thing to do, but I can't summon up the emotion to do that even! 18 months ago I was all tearful sleepless nights and tortured deliberations and stuff.

It might be different when he's back in the country and actually here iyswim. Not sure how though. At the moment I am not averse to staying together. But I used to love him like woah - proper gut-punched love, and he loved me too. That's gone I think - maybe, can't know for sure with things as they are. If his first instinct is still to lie then I was falling back in love with a lie too.

Feels like leaving would be an unnecessary inconvenience atm. hah, god, I sound really cold Sad

OP posts:
rycooler · 27/11/2011 09:34

have you spoken to him this morning?

odaco · 27/11/2011 09:35

Not since establishing he was alive. Don't know if he/colleague made it to work. He hasn't replied to the email I sent before I called.

OP posts:
rycooler · 27/11/2011 09:40

Don't contact him again - let him get back to you.
Now go and make yourself a nice hot drink and relax.

odaco · 27/11/2011 09:42

Wasn't planning on it. That's new too. 'Normally' I'd be helicoptering!

Am watching Cars 2 with the DCs (well not DS who is stropping about being made to do his homework) - thankyou Smile

OP posts:
rycooler · 27/11/2011 09:45
Smile
ezzie21 · 27/11/2011 10:00

perhaps its time for you quietly to start working on a plan B

to have an escape route/stash of money for when the past replays itself

put the life insurance top of the list !

odaco · 27/11/2011 10:13

I don't want to escape, if he makes things intolerable then he can fuck off. The DCs would only suffer if I continued to be distraught and angry at his behaviour. H has always prided himself on his ability to take them to football on half an hour's sleep or whatever. Such a great dad, yeah.

He was making noises about job opportunities in the country he's in now. Might just have been (drunken), hot air but TBH that sounds good to me right now.

He just flashed up as online-but-busy on skype so I am guessing he's made it to the office - four hours late. Got a little angry clench at that.

OP posts:
ezzie21 · 27/11/2011 10:19

plan his fuck off route then Grin

odaco · 27/11/2011 10:23

Well he's just messed it up if he's missed four hours of work.

Ach, I dunno. Just not got the energy to work through exit strategies for either of us just at the moment! It would be a hassle to seperate. The main damage his alcohol problem did was to his professional reputation (his lookout, I have decided), and my emotional/mental health (requires a shit to be given). I will think on it though!

OP posts:
rycooler · 27/11/2011 10:39

I wouldn't leave ( or want him to leave ) - I'd accept the situation for what it is and work around it. You can have a happy life with 'issues' going on, you just need to lower expectations and make a bit of a life for yourself outside of the relationship - I'd say that's how most marriages work.

ImperialBlether · 27/11/2011 11:06

At work, he won't be able to hide the fact he was drinking. If alcohol is illegal and virtually nobody drinks, he will smell really strongly of it.

What will be the reaction of his colleagues and boss to that?

Can I ask whether you think this colleague is a woman?

MardyArsedMidlander · 27/11/2011 14:07

I would also consider:
a) if he's drinking/ taking drugs in a country where it's illegal- he's a fking fool and could be looking at a very uncomfortable jail sentence
b) if he's getting drunk on company time and turning up for work 4 hours late, he could easily lose his job.

buzzswellington · 27/11/2011 14:21

That's right, rycooler, aim low. Grin

OnlyForMe · 27/11/2011 15:35

You are still much too worried abut the consequences of his attitude will have on him ie what are his collegies thinking, possible job opportunity that will disappear etc...
You need to look after yourself and your dcs. What sort of life do you want? What are you happy to accept or not to accept.

odaco · 27/11/2011 16:43

Well if it affects him it affects us as he is the main wage-earner. I don't care if he messes up his career progression but losing his job outright would be a bit of a disaster as there's not much in his industry and mud sticks iykwim.

His colleague is a man, I know him fairly well, when I've had to ask H if he's been taking drugs in the past (and been lied to, usually, even when it's obvious), it's been after nights with this guy so that's why I thought drugs were possibly involved last night.

Had a rubbish day with the DCs - we are all ill and cranky, lots of histrionics and fights. If H was here he'd at least be able to take the older ones out for a run around or something. At the moment leaving feels like I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face but I do find it a struggle generally.

He did ring, at around midday UK time - skyped with the DCs and then he called a few minutes ago to say he was going out for dinner. I was polite and stuff. He was surprised I didn't want to talk more but I didn't want to be obviously pissed off in front of the DCs, they've seen enough of that over the years I think.

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