He gets "depressed" and turns to alcohol, stops going to work, claims he is sick (usually a virus or a bug) and turns against everyone. He then has a huge row with as many of us are there at the time(Mam and kids), claims we are all turned against him, takes to bed full time for a couple of days and eventually stops drinking for a couple of months. The drinking phase can last from a week to a couple of months before the bed stage. During the drinking phase I beg my mother to leave him and take the kids out of that environment. He is not violent at all, just abusive and difficult.
His last binge was in August and because I was so sick with IBS and getting the tests done etc my Mam didn't tell me. She only let on to me when I was on hols with her in November.
This is what happened this morning-
I phoned home to talk to Mam but Dad answered the phone at 9.50am.
ME>Hi HIM>(sorrowfully) Hi ME>(surprised)..OH I was looking for Mam, is she not there? HIM> She's at work (sigh) ME>Oh. (lightheartedly) well, you'd want to get up and go to work too, why aren't you there? HIM>(defiantly)I'm not going to work today ME> Why? HIM>(Aggressively)I don't ask you when you don't go to work why you don't go ME>(upset at outburst)Sorry, was just trying to show some concern....BYE..(Hangs up)
This may sound like a short, uncontroversial exchange but this really lays down what my Christmas is going to be like.
I want to scream and shout and call him every name under the sun, or maybe cry, I am just so tired of all of this now. WONDERFUL!