loving reading your updates! you will get a shock when you come here its suddely got freezing and wet! like 13 degrees today!!

Oh Sam!! You are on your trip! Lucky girl, enjoy every day, it must be amazing! Love you much, aaaand I have missed you a lot!!

Hey girlie. Thinking of you.

Checking in, dear girl. We just crossed the state line into Vermont. Tinges of colour in the trees. How are you doing? Hugs.

Hey guys thanks so much for checking in on me. Still very much enjoying my trip, I'm in Munich and celebrating Oktoberfest at the moment! Our last stop was grindelwald in the Swiss alps. Gorgeous. But CRAP Internet access hence lack of communication.

Hmm ok so I had a rocky couple of weeks, hair wise. Was pulling 2-3 sine days, then none for a day or two. Then for two days I pulled heaps, 20 hairs each day roughly. Feck!!!! Ok but now I'm on day 3 pull free. I'm determined to get my count really high. I was so positive I'd make it to a year but traveling really knocked me for a 6!! (familiar with that saying? Prob not, it's Australian) and relates to cricket. Means it took me by surprise and blew me over. I have to admit I'm both hungry and apathetic about remaining pull free. I know with your help I can do it. Ps my hair is still great. I'm so sorry i haven't posted pics but I'm wary of posting photos on DS. I can't photoshop over my face as I don't gave my laptop with me.

Ok so DAY 3! 2 days pull free. :) I'm going to go comment on all your threads now xoxo

I just tried to upload some pics but it wouldn't let me do it from my phone. The. "choose file"button was greyed out.

Some great hair moments on my trip include: running into the ocean with my hair out and diving under a wave, not worried about bald spots showing. Walking around with wet hair, diving off a boat into the ocean, diving into a pool with my hair out, my hair blowing around in the crazy winds of Mykonos without a care. Also, standing in the pouring rain at Oktoberfest, laughing and enjoying not worrying about my hair!!

It's been amazing, and I have to stay strong if I want to keep my hair and freedom.

Cheers! I'm glad you explained the 6. I have heard it, just not connected it to a saying. Hurrah for you to enjoy the freedom of natural hair movement! You sound wonderful, and so happy your holiday is going well!

You are actually doing great, considering all the quick changes you're seeing with your urges. This will pass, and you will make it through!

You can do this, and you are doing it! Stay strong, hands down, hugs!

What a great feeling it must be, diving into a pool/off a boat!!! That's my next goal!! I am so happy for you and and soooo jealous of your trip. I haven't been to Europe since 1980!! You are doing so much!

A friend was just in Italy, and she said the fact that she knew very little Italian was exausting. The constant struggle to communicate and remember the few words/phrases she knew were draining. I know I have more urges and less control when I am tired, perhaps this is happening to you. Of course I'm assuming you don't speak German, Greek and ...where else have you been? Istambul? Just a thought.

Meanwhile, you have been soooo successful, this little relapse will pass and you'll be back in control. We're here for you, even when you don't have internet access!! Enjoy your vacation!

Sounds like a great trip! And wet Hair?? That is amazing. Keep strong! Sometimes a new venue/routine can really throw you for a loop. I've totally found myself in the same situation when travelling for work or whatever.. out of the blue I pull when my routine is changed. You are doing awesome though! Loved your list of great hair moments!

Travelling is tiring and tired people are more vulnerable to pulling its easy to lose focus. Last autumn I was in france and pulled more than I have in my life.

Now thankfully I have found my travels distract me and help me not thikn about pulling - but its those momens of being offguard where it sneaks in. When its worst - tie your hair back (you can do this in a nice style!)

Constant Vigilence!

Yes, I second that - constant vigilance.

Oh I am loving that you can dive into a wave & not worry about bald spots. Keep that image securly in your mind, so you CAN retain your freedom from trich.

It is so hard to stick to your commitment when your schedule is changing all around you. But you know what you need to do. Awareness, BARRIERS, Commitment. You can do it.

I know how easy it is to keep stumbling once you have come off of a major PF. Aim small. One day, one week at a time. You'll get back on track. HUGS!!!!!

also... remember, of all of us, you have such a keen awareness that this is a lifelong battle. You know you can't get complacent. There is no such thing as just one hair. xo

Thanks mid!! :) I will make it through. Thanks so much.

Accepting - Ah yes I don't blame you for being jealous, my trip is awesomely awesome. I'm always jealous when others travel, it's the best. Hm languages I've been around so far are Spanish, Turkish, and German. Everyone in Greece spoke English. Hmm no it's not that stressful. I think I was just TOO relaxed and unfocused?I just stopped CARING about not pulling.

Thanks mrs kolo! The annoying thing is my hair is kinda too short to tie back. I think that's another factor in my "relapse".

Phoebe - yes, constant vigilance. Jeez I don't know what happened, yet I do. When other people speak of a relapse they say they "can't" stop. Well that would have been easy to say but it wasn't true. I could stop I just didn't care to. Yep no such thing as just one hair that's for sure. Thanks for always being the voice of reason :)

Well... 3 days pf and at the end of day 4. Feeling pretty good. Making s conscious effort not to play with my hair, and my bf is helping out with that. Such a cutie.

Xx I've just had the BEST night ever at Oktoberfest. Who ever saidvdrink

Damn iPhone. Ok, so, whoever said drinking and going on rides was a bad idea!? So fun. My favourite was the Olympic roller coaster; 5 loops! I screamed sooooo much, throat going to be sore tomorrow.