Tryers to be dryers spring into spring, not as much wine, beer or gin. We sow our seeds of hope for a dryer season, but if we drink, it's for a reason.

[Frouby]

Thread 5 for Tryers to be Dryers. A thread for those who want support for moderating or reducing alcohol. Whatever you hope to do, whether it's to have more dry days, or be less wet when you do drink, come and join us for support.

Absolutely no judgement here, just friendly support and chat, the odd swear (lots of swears to be honest). All welcome, new and old tryers to dryers.

Sympathy on your hangover NC4 but dancing sounds fun!

longest thank fuck for that. My nephew has a teddy that is his most treasured possession. Its held together with thread and hope and he will be devastated if it dies or goes missing.

Stables was good, we got loads done but then the heavens opened as I was lunging baby pony. Good life lesson for her though, I now know that working in a storm makes her very whizzy, so will bear that in mind if we are ever out hacking and we got caught in one.

Just had a lovely bath and got my pjs on and I dont even care that it's early.

Ds ran in, ran upstairs, got his pjs on, reclined the sofa and hasn't moved for 3 hours. Alternating between watching tv and youtube videos on his tablet. Its going to be a very lazy Saturday here now.

No desire to drink either. Which is good as I won't drink tomorrow either, or Monday because of fat club. That will mean a total of 6 gins for the week. Fucking unheard of here 😂😂

Impressive, Frouby! I have no idea what lunging a pony involves but your description is pleasingly Blytonesque and reminds me of the armchair horseriding I used to do as a child I have already been drinking fizz at 4 year olds birthday party, but have at least taken a pause.

I also went on blind date type thing in the park with friend of friend whose son will be in dd2's class. She seemed really nice, and a bit more down to earth than some of the other school parents so that's good.

Dd2 has been a bit of a shrieky horror recently but on the plus side appears to have quietly taught herself to read, which is a bonus as teaching Dd1 was a slog that regularly reduced me to tears, till she suddenly decided she wanted to. See also : violin practice, which she has suspiciously been getting up early all week to do after I had effectively given up...

Lunging is where horse is on long doglead, you stand in middle of circle and send them around you in varying paces. It looks like a lazy way to get them to exercise but is actually quite physical. If you have a lazy pony you end up chivvying them along constantly, speedy ones there is always a chance you will sand ski across the sand school.

Mine are quite well behaved though, and both are pretty lazy. I used to tell visiting children our old pony was a retired circus pony, she was so good you could unclip the lead and she would stay on the circle walking, trotting and cantering, stopping and turning the other way just from my voice. She also used to smile (curl her top lip) and give kisses on demand. I miss her still now, Baby Pony is quite cuddly and kissy. Little Pony is a bit like me, he only likes certain people. Dd is his favourite person, I used to be second favourite but I have washed his tail and legs today so he will sulk for a few days. 😂😂.

Just had my steak, was lush. Dh not feeling well (hungover) and has gone to bed so have series 2, episode 2 of LOD on. Stone cold sober, no hangover, done Blytonesque stuff with the dcs, eaten healthily it's all good here.

Though next weekend will be an entirely different matter 😂😂😂

Just popped in to say that dd, dh and I have watched two films back to back today and I actually stayed awake and saw all of both of them, which is unheard of...I’m usually asleep before the end.

You are on fire at the moment Water.
Not AF here. I’m a glutton for punishment. I’ve just booked on Pilates in the morning in the hope it will get me back on track.

A brilliant thing happened to me today though. Got a letter from the DWP, thought ‘uh oh, what now?’
Dear NC4, we’ve made a mistake. We will pay £1200 into your account in the next 7 days.
This is unbelievable! Nothing like this ever happens to me. I’m considering taking the boys on a cheap holiday in the Spring half term. It’s very short notice and I can’t decide if it’s too short notice, but we can probably stretch to some last-minute sunshine ☀️
We can’t afford a family holiday every year, and it’s been two years since our last one. I was hoping for next year, but maybe we can get away in 2019 after all?
I’ll speak to the boys when they get home.

Ooh NC4 that's brilliant! Where do you want to go? If you can't find anything good for May then October half term can be a good time. Bit cheaper and you get to extend the Summer a bit when it's turning dreary here. We have done Croatia, Mallorca and Sardinia at that time of year and are doing Menorca this year. Depends how hot you like it really!

House is tip and MIL arrives tomorrow but I am enjoying breakfast in the sunshine and no real plans for today. AF as am babysitting at a friend's tonight after piano. Somehow have to organise orienteering session for woodcraft folk when I could get lost in my own backyard and am giving loads of training this week which is not my comfort zone at all so will try and revise while babysitting. May try and squeeze in a swim under guise of fetching dd2's party stuff from sorting office.

That's brilliant news NC, absolutely chuffed to bits for you. We have done greece in May but the weather wasn't brilliant, but have been to Tenerife a few times and it's gorgeous in May, and usually quite reasonably priced, plus it's cheap to eat out and stuff. Because the Canaries are all year resorts they don't have to raise a years income in a few months so I think that's why it's cheaper than some of the other European resorts. We stay in los cris, brilliant for families and lovely and clean. Definetly not the brits abroad that some people think Tenerife is.

Off to the allotment shortly for a few hours, then an aldi big shop, then sunday roast. It's a faff doing one every week but it's one of the few things everyone eats and enjoys. Both dcs love a sunday dinner, dd just has it without meat (apart from the fact the roasties are done around the joint which I don't tell her).

Very happy to see the weather is picking up now, feel all motivated and optimistic for spring and summer and autumn. Although we have had a mild winter, and a few warm weeks it seems like winter has dragged a bit now.

Dh has also decided we are not visiting fil today. Fil leaves the house at 9.30am every day to put his bookies bets on and have a few pints and won't change his routine for anyone so it meant leaving at 8am. So he can deal with his hoarding 70 odd year old girlfriend himself, there's bugger all we can do anyway. So not a great deal of point getting involved. I have phoned occupational health though who are going to assess him for a walk in shower and told them there is a problem with hoarding at the property so hopefully they will raise it as an issue impacting on his health. Then it's down to him to stop her bringing stuff in, and if she wont or cant, it's down to him to decide if he wants to live like that or end the relationship.

Well I’ve been having a look online - Lanzarote seems to be coming up as an option, or possibly Menorca.
We like villa holidays really - it’s easier to do our own thing, and just suits us better as a family. The three of us had a villa near Marbella a few years ago in May and had a great time, just hanging out. I think when you’ve got your own place to stay, the Brits abroad thing isn’t such an issue.
I’ll see what the boys think when they get home.

NC brilliant news, let us know what the boys think.
Water do you think limiting carbs ups your energy levels? I have that impression.
I know I'm late to the party on this but the pipe cleaner antennae and the pony fairy - great posts

NC4 I'm so pleased for you and the boys! I'm sure you will be able to get a great deal, bookings are generally down a lot in Europe as I know only too well and there are plenty of places with warm weather and it won't be too hot at that period either.
Longest I'm so glad you found the teddy. DS chucked his in a hedge when he was little and it took me ages to find it. DD dropped hers in the road when in her buggy and it was decapitated by a car, I had to sew the head back on.
Not dry at all this weekend and feel very tired. I need a week AF desperately. I had about 5 hours sleep as am incapable of having a lie in. Went for a run and felt a little better after that but today haven't achieved very much other than cleaning out the hen house.
Water are you on normal 5:2 now? I might join you. I run fasted every morning for at least an hour, but find it hard to wait until lunchtime to eat after that.

leaving I have massively reduced the amount of carbs I usually have this last fortnight. Cut out lager, bread except maybe on a Saturday morning and then only 60g of wholemeal, cut out any crisps, no chocolate. Have had 2 weetabix every other day. Potatoes maybe twice a week and no pasta. Had rice a few times but not a lot.

I feel much better, more energy, sleeping better, more motivated. But on days where I have skipped breakfast and lunch (which is quite normal for me) by 2pm I have felt a bit faint and wobbly. Not passing out faint, just utterly drained and a bit shaky.

It's always cured by a banana and some weetabix (my emergency can't be arsed or don't have time to cook lunch). But I can usually go until 4/5pm before eating.

But I am consuming far less calories so to be expected I suppose.

Just had sunday lunch and am stuffed now though. Had gammon for a change, was lovely. Just having a coffee then going to get my pjs on and watch some more LOD.

Woo hoo NC4! Fab news!

Leaving yes I feel better and more energy without carbs, definitely. MdmF, no, I’m on week 2 of the 8 week BSD but will go to 5:2 after 8 weeks.

Today is day 14 AF and of the BSD, walked with a friend this afternoon so that was nice. Went to the pub afterwards and she had a cider and i had lime and soda, as I was (deliberately) driving.

Burnt my hand earlier, put steaks in the oven in a frying pan then took it out using an oven glove, put it on the hob and 2 minutes later went to sizzle the steaks in the frying pan without an oven glove. I am sitting with my hand in a jug of water while i type with the other. Owwwww! Have had 3 mini bars of chocolate (total 240 cals) to cheer myself up but the sugar is not good. Never mind!

water keep your hand in that jug for ages longer than you want too, not just till you can’t feel the pain from the burn. Chocolate is needed in these circumstances.

water I hope your hand gets better soon. Quick question, can anyone advise if there is a general rule of thumb for child maintenance payments in the UK?

Madame. If you google cms you'll get to a calculator where you can put in number of kids, no resident parents salary and number of nights kids stay over with non resident parent. It should only take a few minutes.

Agh water, I am always burning myself. I somehow managed to scar my tummy last year getting something out of the oven. Looking back I am not sure how that's even possible.

Frouby and water i am in awe. I would be chewing my own arm off.

Babysitting at friend's house. Her kids were playing up a bit to be honest. Had to get all stern. Am sure when I was a kid I was terrified of babysitters and hid in my room. Worried how my kids behave when I am not there now! On the plus side am drinking tea and the random block of frozen mush I brought with me for dinner turned out to be rather tasty veggie curry. Am trying to eat more environmentally at least at lunchtime so I have been making vegan soups and curries for the freezer for my work lunches. I go crazy on the spice because I am deprived when eating with DH.

Day has been quite nice actually. Took kids to lido to play with giant inflatables. Had lunch in the garden. Kids occupied themselves sorting dd2's party bags out and playing with the girl next door while I made a minor dent in the housework. Mil is babysitting tomorrow and I am going out with DH after work, assuming he's well enough, so FX.

Was going to do some work now but a bit knackered after wrestling 5 kids to bed.

As for my drinking. Well, mixed. Had 4 nights and found it easy enough even tho I had tins of gin and tonic in the fridge. BUT. fell of wagon on Friday badly. It had been a tricky day. My last session of a grief recovery programme I've been doing after complicated grief after my 28 year old son died three years ago. And this was followed by 5 other funerals in the following 2 years including losing one of my oldest friends. The programme has been gruelling but hopefully helpful. But on Friday I had to read out my farewell letter to my son to the lovely woman who had led me through the process. Very tough to read out the words good bye James. The process is to complete your grief and to say goodbye to the pain so that you can remember them but without the anguish.

I really wanted gin after than.

And drank four tins.

Fair enough, but no excuse for the bottle of wine and tin of gin chaser last night.

I am NOT a moderator. Plan is deffo nothing tonight. A couple tomorrow as I'm st book club then non for following three nights. We'll see.

Thanks to all for sharing your stories. It helps.

Autumn I am so sorry to read about your son. Please feel free to share more about him here if you'd like to, but only if you want to. Well done on four days AF. Don't worry about falling off the wagon, just climb back on.

Autmun, I’m so sorry for your loss.

Oh Autumn I'm so sorry to hear about your James. That's a very difficult journey you've been on. I'm not surprised you wanted gin either. Be kind to yourself.

I've just booked us a week in Lanzarote. We go in 10 days time! I think it will be lovely and warm, boys are well excited, we've got a villa and a car and flights at reasonable times. So bloody excited!!!

MadameF It's a percentage of their take-home pay after tax, NI and pension contributions. From memory I think it's 15% for one child or 20% for two, then they deduct 1/7 for every 52 nights a year they stay there.

Hurrah NC4! So soon! Are the boys excited?

Autumn, Good God. I'm completely poleaxed by your post. I was cross with my 17 yo DS earlier, but now think I am just lucky to have him. Huge hugs to you. I have nothing else useful to say. xxx

My internet is shit, so I am now catching up.

Longest, I'm very glad DD1's bear turned up. I remember a Business when DD's sacred Rabbit went missing. Fuck knows where he went. But I bought a replacement. I sent a postcard from Rabbit 1 to say he was enjoying a spa day in France (because he's a Mumsnetter, obvs, though I didn't say this) and would be home soon. Then deposited Rabbit 2 on the doorstep. DD was v suspicious, even though she was little. I still swear to her to this day that it's the same Rabbit.

Good luck with your MIL.

Frouby, I'm all nostalgic about lunging now (grew up with ponies). Impressed by your abstemiousness.

Water, Day 1 now, I presume. Very jealous of your resolve. And sorry about your hand. I burnt my bottom many years ago on a leaky oven. I still remember it. It's hard to put your bottom in a cup of iced water.

NC4, I like the sound of your night out. And as for the money... Bloody Hell!!!!!!! Good for you!!!!! Enjoy it. x

I am several gins down. No excuse at all, other than the absence of the DC, and another 14 hour working day. FML.

Also... I read a thing the other day that said that we need to forget about Day One. Apparently it makes people feel like failures, and we need to look at the bigger picture, and see if we are reducing/moderating overall, rather than thinking that we are useless because we've fallen off the wagon. Not that the bigger picture applies to me ATM, as I'm drinking every night, but it might apply to others.

Thank God for you lovelies.