I'm enjoying a 'dry' Christmas - how about you?

[FindingAManger]

I do love wine & a cocktail or too, but I always find December to be exhausting with all the Christmas parties & alcohol involved. I'm usually ready to collapse by Christmas Day.

I've been loving having a dry Christmas this year (22 weeks PG) - I've had 2 x small glasses of bubbly - one at our Christmas lunch & one at a Christmas party, but apart from that I'm sticking to ginger cordial, herbals teas etc & loving feeling clear of head.

I'm still a bit knackered due to being PG, but feel much better for being largely dry this December.

So what are you drinking for a 'treat' this Christmas?

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

[MrsCratchit]

I must admit there have been a few occasions over the last week when I've been at everyone enjoying delicious mulled wine and Champagne.

I'm the one laughing in the morning though!

I am having two small drinks a week if I fancy them. Last night I thoroughly enjoyed some red wine with dinner at a special restaurant with close friends last night. Not sure whether to go for Champagne or red wine of Christmas Day...

For non-alcoholic tipples, it'll be Becks Blue, Ginger with lime and I'm going to try hot mulled apple juice as suggested by somebody on here a few weeks ago.

Merry Christmas!

[Muser]

If you miss mulled wine, I can heartily recommend the Bottlegreen Spiced Berry cordial. Make it up with hot water and it is just like a non-alcoholic mulled wine, and not sickly sweet like a lot of cordials. Lovely stuff.

[FindingAManger]

I was looking at that in in the supermarket last night muser - will try some if I can pick it up tomorrow. cheers! (Unfortunately due to no car & having to travel across town tomorrow I have to do my Xmas shop on Xmas Eve - what a loon!!!)

[MrsCratchit]

Ooh. Sounds good. Off to Waitrose now so will pop it on the list!

[LDNlady]

I'm sorry but I am not enjoying being dry! Whilst not a massive drinker I do enjoy my red wine, Bailey's, Champagne at this time of year and if I am honest I am getting mightily hacked off knowing that I'll have to sit there and watch while hubby enjoys his beer and so on while I have my odd small glass of whatever. Sorry, whingey, moany I know but that's just how I feel right now! I really didn't plan this whole pregnancy thing well did I?

[piprabbit]

I've been having loads of dry Christmases in the last decade. Either TTC, pregnant of BFing.
Last year was going to be my first tipsy Xmas since the Millenium, but I came down with flu and couldn't face the thought of alcohol.
This year I'm all stocked up with delicious drinks - but a monster cold has struck today, so think it will be dry again.

One day...

[piprabbit]

or Bfing, not of.
Sorry.

[RockChick1984]

Agree with muser the bottlegreen Spiced Berry cordial is gorgeous! Also love their Ginger and lemongrass cordial with some lemonade, it's perfect in a champagne flute and makes quite a good substitute for a real glass of bubbly! Xxx

[MrsCratchit]

Fantastic call on the Bottlegreen spiced berry cordial. Enjoying a mug now with a mince pie! Thanks ladies!

[thefurryone]

Not missing hangovers really missing mulled wine.

Also a bit about being my DH's personal taxi driver whilst he gets to happily drink at every party. I mean I know it's practical and there really isn't any point in him driving me about whilst I don't drink but it just seems so unfair.

[IfAtFirstUDontSucceed]

Well, I'm certainly not enjoying my "dry" Christmas!:( I'm only 8 weeks, so can't even have the odd small one. I'm not suffering with sickness either, so would kill for a large glass of vino! Any recomendations,of actual wine tasting none alcoholic wine, or is that asking far too much!

[8rubberduckies]

I had a Becks Blue last night and was very impressed! The cordial sounds fab but don't think I'll be braving Waitrose anytime in the next few days!

I am also missing the grog, can't decide between fizz, red wine or mulled as my tipple of choice on Saturday

[geewaf]

Ifatfirstyoudontsucceed - try sainsburys sparkling non alcoholic wine - its yummy.

I hear waitrose do a nice dry non alcholic wine as well which is quite dry but i haven't tried it. :)

[smoggii]

Asda do an 'Alcohol Removed' wine which tastes quite wine like.

I really miss Mulled Wine in fact every year i refer to December as Mulled Wine season rather than xmas lol. Going to buy some and have a few in Jan/Feb instead when baby is here and i've expressed a few bottles.

[CardyMow]

Really going to miss my Amarula this year, I normally have a huuuuge glass on Christmas eve, and then rose wine on Christmas day with dinner. Considering that even when not pg, it's one of only 3-4 times a year that I drink alcohol at all, I'm a bit peeved!

I have got schloer rose to cover the wine issue, but there is just no acceptable substitute for Amarula. Booo! And then I'm going to be bf, for at least 6 months. Will make sure I can bloomin have some next Christmas though!

I'm saving the first time I express loads for the end of June, as it's my 30th. I missed my 16th because I was pg with DD (yes very young mum!), I missed my 18th because I was pg with twins (that I lost to TTTS), I missed my 21st because I was BF DS2, I'm not bloody having my 30th be dry too!!!

[PipPipPip]

I'm 25 weeks and very relaxed about drinking - I'll probably have several glasses of wine on Christmas Day, spread out between meals. And last night at a Christmas party I had a couple of glasses of wine. I'm not too bothered - I know my limits.

But I must say - I'm really appreciating all the wonderful food. I think that if you're not drinking much, you're allowed to eat double haha. Plus I love not being hungover and having quiet time alone in the morning while everyone sleeps off last night's excess.

I also love having an excuse to slink off to bed whenever I fancy it.

[BreastmilkDoesAFabEggnogLatte]

Yes, I'm telling myself that the calories saved by not drinking are free to use on anything I want to eat. I had a lovely big bowl of couscous after everyone else had gone last night...

[dizzy77]

Ahhh the conflicts of the hardened drinker. I'm with the "odd glass" brigade and just put some Veuve Cliquot in the fridge to chill for tomorrow. I'm missing drinking less than I expected to, certainly enjoying not having hangovers, feel a bit for DH though he seems to have cut down in sympathy (bless) and I'm worried I'm spoiling his fun.

BUT I also am taking a great deal of pleasure in the 1000 calories per week I'm "saving" (ha!) by not having a few beers/bottle of wine 2-3 days per week. Shame I can't spend it all on oozy cheese over xmas but will enjoy extra portions of stuffing balls and bacon rolls. Mmmm.

[lucielooo]

Feel a lot like you dizzy77 it's a lot easier than I thought it would be. Only time I've really missed it was our team lunch which is usually a long afternoon of getting slowly less sensible.

However.. I love being the first one up in the morning (my family all like a drink!) and not feeling crap.. no hangovers in the office. There's a lot to be said for it!

[SpannerPants]

I've just treated myself to a tablespoon of amaretto in my hot chocolate and feel a bit woozy now - I've never been a big drinker but haven't had any alcohol since bonfire night!

I've bought a mini bottle of champagne to have with my dinner tomorrow but that will be all for me I think.