Wankerbastards will upset us that try, but we will still be dry. Or dryer at a push. It's a good job we are not in a rush.

[Frouby]

Thread 6 for the Tryers to be Dryers.

Support thread for reducing alcohol, stopping alcohol, monitoring alcohol. All welcome, absolutely no judgement. Whatever your aims with alcohol come and join us here. Lots of swearing but no judging or criticising.

Previous threads dotted around but can never do clicky links.

You totally deserved the mango Senseless and well done for not drinking. I think other kinds of treats are necessary on AF days and a mango sounds perfect!

I also feel very fat today, but an early night and FINALLY shaking off that horrid lurgy I had means I should be up for a decent session in the gym tomorrow. I’m actually looking forward to it.

A guy I do some work for is coming round in the morning. He’s going on holiday next month and wants me to run the website while he’s away. So I’ll have that meeting (meeting is a loose term) then crack on and lift some weights, have a swim and maybe a sauna before DS2 gets back from their dad’s.

Even though I’m a bit hungover I’m really appreciating being well again. Bloody hell, it was a bad one. I’d not had so much as a sniffle for 18 months prior to that, and it properly floored me. Thank god it’s over.

How are you doing Dion? And was it you Senseless that said you had a cold?
Hope you’re on the mend.

Frouby you look great, kayaking looks fun.

Longest, coping with your dh sounds tough

Madame, I can’t wait for my kids to leave, am not dreading empty nest at all. Feel guilty even saying it but it’s true.

Counselling was good, would have lost it by now for sure without it.Dinner out with dh on Friday and also tonight so not AF. we had a great afternoon (siesta crapuleuse) but have just had stupid tiff about phone chargers so that’s the end of that. FML.

Frouby that's a lovely photo!

Mango sounds like a tasty and healthy treat on AF days.

Water, sorry you've had a tiff, it's always about the daftest wee things, isn't it?

I managed a whole Saturday AF! I did a bit of pampering, face mask and nail painting to show my body I care for it.

I wasn't any good at kayaking 😂😂😂, was rubbish and kept going in circles but it was lots of fun and definitely something I will be doing again. At 41 years old my new mantra is going to be This Girl Can. I always hated PE at school but loved the gym when I was older. The only sport I have ever done after school is ponies so it will be nice to do something different just for the fun of it.

water there is nothing more frustrating than a silly argument. You know its silly at the time but get more and more annoyed. I hope that the counselling has helped a bit though.

Bev a pampering session sounds good, I need to do more grooming, now flipflop season finally seems to be arriving I really need to do something with my feet.

Wasn't dry yesterday. Had 2 cans of lager, and 3 halves in the pub. Tummy felt a bit dodgy in the pub, then got home and had really bad cramps and been up and down all night with awful diarrhoea. < not envy. Finally fell asleep on the sofa about 1am, then dh woke me to come back to bed about 3am.

Not sure what that's all about. Haven't eaten anything dodgy and no one else is ill. It's still churning now but don't think there is anything else to come out.

Wondering if my tummy can't cope with alcohol now. Had cramps on Wednesday after a gin. Was fine Friday after 2 but ate after 1 so maybe I need to make sure I am eating more if having a drink. Dunno.

Senseless well done on not drinking
NC4 I hope you feel better today, it's horrid wasting a day due to too much alcohol.
Water I hope the tiff isn't too serious
Bev well done on a Saturday AF
Frouby the pic is great and who cares if you were rubbish, you enjoyed it, that's the main thing. I'm sure you will improve!
Everyone needs a passion. I wasn't sporty at school, and apart from a few years of rowing post university which I was good at, I'd never shone at anything. Aged 48 I took up running with the ambition of running a marathon before hitting 50 and I haven't stopped running since. I've also added cycling and swimming, I'll never be a great swimmer but 2 years ago I'd never swam the crawl and after taking lessons things are better. I'm not very fast, 25 minutes for 1km , but I enjoy it more now.
Yesterday I worked, DS was weeding as punishment for getting told off at school, DP had a hangover so helped me then had a 2 hour (not crapuleuse) siesta while I carried on working, finally finishing at 8pm. Too much wine has been consumed this weekend (2 bottles Fri and Sat) and despite running 95km, cycling 90km and swimming 1.5km last week I haven't lost any weight, something to do with the huge portions of chocolate I consume as well as the wine. I was hoping the magnesium cure would help reduce chocolate consumption but no

madame you really are an inspiration. I can't run, dodgy knees, but am half considering the swimming and have a secret plan to spend winter at the local pool getting stronger to be able to start doing the open water swimming sessions at the lake next year. I could obviously have a go this year but know I am not confident enough to enjoy it. And I need to enjoy it or I will give up.

I don't mind being rubbish at kayaking, it's only to be competent enough to look after ds in free sessions. But I might also have a go at windsurfing and paddleboarding. I want to be fit and strong and healthy and have fun with the kids doing stuff they enjoy. The good thing about the waterclub is there seems to be a lot of members who are my age or older doing things so I won't feel daft.

Don't feel very healthy today though. Have just had a nan nap, and now debating trying to eat something. Hoping tummy settled a bit now.

Frouby Running certainly isn't for everyone, especially for fragile knees. I think your swimming half plan is excellent. If you could get a few lessons that might help in your confidence too. It is such a good sport.
I didn't want to turn into a frumpy fat fifty something and fortunately I like sport a lot so keeping fit is a pleasure rather than pain. I'm actually slimmer and fitter than I've ever been in my life and I'm sure it helps keep the menopause symptoms at bay.
I hope your tummy gets better soon!

Afternoon All! I have had the best weekend camping! Was in a huff with all the packing on Friday but we managed to put the tents up without rowing and then the weekend just took care of itself. There were 18 kids who all had a ball - including a few besties for each dd, who are walking on air. That's what parenting should be like right? Kids running feral en masse and adults chipping in with the odd bit of food prep and not bothering their arses with much else. Getting up at crack o'dawn plus several times in the night was a bit of a bummer but with so many people around I was able to sneak off for afternoon snooze.

Obviously not AF. Not even moderate, but I did manage to dance the hangover dance.

Fab pics of kayaking Frouby! Funnily enough I might do that next weekend, when I am going camping again but this time with dd1's class. But it's only available on Sunday and tbh I think I might just want to get home by then. Will see. When dd1 turns 8 we are going to join our local watersports centre. It's no rural idyll as is surrounded by high rise blocks, but is better than nowt, eh?!

Hi everyone :) lots of fit sporty people on here! I have just not-made-it for a swim (could have fitted it in but prefer to be in control at home and a bit relaxed).

I'm heading out for a night away with boyfriend later, our first ever. I do love him although he was driving me nuts when I started posting here. If anything can keep me half way sober, he can; being with him over the last few months has been the closest I have ever had to feeling enough.

Have a good day everyone

Oh I forgot to mention the wildlife we spotted: one bunny, one hedgehog, one field vole and 50 druids celebrating the Summer solstice! They were funny, they showed the kids round their camp full of drinking horns and skulls on sticks, which they had lugged to a country park just off the M1 for the occasion.

Aw Senseless, I am glad you have given him another chance. Have a fab weekend!

Longest that sounds like a fab weekend! I wish I had a gang of mates like that. My gang of mates is in turmoil at the moment due to BF. Sigh.

Madame I'm not built for running. I have hypermobility syndrome, so my knees, hips and ankles tend to be quite unstable. I love lifting weights though. It makes me feel really powerful and strong and the feeling of being totally worn out after is ace. It helps stabilise my joints too. I'm kicking myself for letting it slide the last 18 months and loving being back to it. I need to build in some good cardio too - maybe spinning.

Frouby Your swimming plan sounds good. I find swimming kind of meditative. I sort my head out (and sometimes my life) in the pool. It's pretty much the only place I don't have WhatsApp pinging at me every few minutes!

Senseless it's lovely you feel that way about your boyfriend. A night away will be a real treat. New-ish relationship nights away are the best. Have fun!

Laughing at your 50 druids Longest

I want to meet 50 druids too 😂😂😂

Our lake is very urban too longest. Even though you wouldn't know looking at it. It's an old coal mine that was developed in 1990 I think with EU funds, RSPB and the British Canoe Association rented it for 250 years and built the boathouse and facilities. Our house sits on the same land and the nature reserve is behind us.

So it had a very gritty past before being turned into something quite nice. It's called Manvers Lake if you want to google it, I think you come ooop north occasionally. You could book try it sessions for a Saturday morning, then do the nature reserve in the afternoon. Then the pub or golf club for dinner.

Before DS I used to swim twice a week. We joined a hotel gym that had a pool and dd had her lessons there and I swam while she had her lesson, then we used to go over the weekend as well. I definitely need some lessons for open water swimming though, my front crawl is rubbish and I think you need that to cut through the current in open water. My cousin has been doing it a month or so and enjoys it, but her wife who isn't as strong a swimmer like me is a bit nervous.

Feel a bit better now after a nap and a sarnie. Not doing a sunday lunch today as felt ropey earlier so making me and dd med veg pasta and dh and ds having pizza. Done the ironing and sorted ds drawers out. Another bag full of clothes he's grown out of, he tried some shorts on from last year and they looked like hot pants bless him.

Dd just appeared from revision and made him jump 'you scared the bejezus out of me dsis'. Funny little thing, don't know where he gets it from 😂😂😂.

It's funny, I used to swim crawl as a kid, but at some point switched to breast stroke and now find crawl hard and a bit scary. Back crawl I love but I'd worry doing it outside in case I didn't see an approaching crocodile or something.
A friend who does open water swimming swims butterfly but that's too hardcore for me.

Yeah, we don't get together often enough NC4 - 2 families moved away. But they're a great crowd. We met at a baby group actually, but have seen each other through many ups and downs through the medium of pub quizzes and chargrilled meat.

Am imagining the druid WhatsApp chat on Friday. "Anyone got a spare ram skull on a stick? Can't find mine." "Anyone else having a mare fitting their sacrificial altar into the boot?" "Yeah but you just have to free up some room by stuffing your mystic robes into your drinking horns".

I love outdoor swimming. Sea is best but my lido is a good compromise because it's not effing freezing. It's 50m long so you're not crashing into people all the time and it doesn't echo with shrieking kids like an indoor pool. The kids love it too - it's my go to parenting tool. It's the only exercise I genuinely enjoy really, although I like a bit of ice skating and am hoping to get into sailing and maybe canoeing.

DM plus her friend are staying tomorrow en route to France. Place is a tip, full of camping gear and toys. Ah well.

Feel so lost. Dh being an utter wankerbastard. Been hideous to me all day. Spoken to me like shit. We off to great ormand st hosp Wednesday. It’s 4 hours to my parents where we drop dd1. Them a train for 2 hours to get there. We there a couple days. Then we get back to my parents where dh leaves us and he buggers off on a lads golfing weekend. I don’t mind the golf weekend at all, I really don’t. And it’s all manageable if we are organised etc. I wanted to make sure I had all the right clothes sorted for him as he’s working either side of the trip too and meeting me at my parents. (So I’m driving 4 hours alone with the girls). Anyway, I’d done everything and he kicked off cos there’s one shirt I couldn’t find and funnily enough that’s the one he wants!! Wanker!! I’ve got such a lot on my mind right now, few totally fucked up about this upcoming appointment, plus the driving plus London scares me etc. It’s all worrying me. I’ve also got to write a report to take with me to the appointment. I’ve asked dh for help as it’s his daughter too. Nope he won’t!! I just feel he’s dumped on me feom a great height right now. Then this silly row over a fucking shirt I couldn’t find!! I’ve since done shedload of ironing for him, made him countless cups of tea, made him a sausage sarnie (he’s the only one who eats sausages!). And still behaving like a knob!! Now gone off to golf!!!!!!! Fml. I’m left at home with both dd’s, while writing a report for GOSH, and getting everything ready.
Tonight won’t be dry. Trouble is, I actually believe it should be. I know that wine tonight will not be a good idea!! Ffs

What a moany cow I am!! I haven’t even said hi to you all. So sorry. Will be back later when I’ve calmed down!! 😳

Oh Flossie I’m fuming for you. He’s been a wankerbastard and a half, hasn’t he? Did you tell him to find his own effing shirt? I would.
It’s awful when you’re married and feel like a single parent (I know you haven’t said that, but I’ve felt that way in similar circumstances).

He’s got plenty of shirts NC4. He picked the one he didn’t have because that’s what he always does. It’s his way of not having to acknowledge I’ve done something for him. He deflects. Bastard!

I would cut one button off every single fucking shirt the wankerbastard. How dare he speak to you like a fucking maid. Husbands are supposed to add value to the family, not fuck off out of it every time things get tough or shout and stomp then sulk like mardy arse teenagers when things don't go his way.

Fuck that. Get this week and your horrible appointment out of the way then sit him down and tell him he's a cunt. Tell him how undervalued and unrespected you feel.

People deal with stress in different ways. My dh is prone to shouting when he's stressed but I call him on it. He has 1 chance to stop shouting then he has to fuck off out of my sight. I don't like it, the dcs don't like it, it doesn't solve anything. And my standard reply if anything is lost and it doesn't belong to me is to find your own shit. If I have had it, I will have put it where it belongs. If it isn't there, I haven't had it. Simples.

Don't put up with it lovely. You deserve so much better than that xxx

He also had a tantrum because I wasn’t home the next two days to have BT come and sort out internet out!! Why is his day more important than mine?! Twat!!

I text him to say how I felt and how he had upset me. His reply, “sorry your life’s so shit!’ Can’t even talk to the knob!!

Frouby, you have a point. I’ll pay your train fare to come and tell him off for me 😂😂😂😂

I lost my bastarding laptop charger. FML. Finally found it when I was looking for something else.

Flossie, that is so sad to read. I would love to say: tell him to fuck off to the far side of fuck (etc), but I know that I wouldn't do that. In fact, I'd probably end up just being silent (at best) or apologising to him (at worst), just to try to keep the peace for everyone else. I can't believe he fails to appreciate the fact that you basically do absolutely everything, including shouldering most of the distress about DD2. You are such a sweet, kind person and you just don't deserve to be treated like that.

Glad to read happier news from Kayaking Frouby and camping Longest. Both sound fab. I hope your tummy has settled now, Frouby.

Senseless, I hope your night goes well.

I let DD stay at home. I raced back at lunchtime to see how she was, and she was eating buttered toast, having evidently had a very nice morning. She then said she wanted to go shopping with me after I'd finished work. I said I wasn't going shopping with anyone who was too ill for school, whereupon she decided she was completely well, and went in to school for afternoon lessons.

I have no idea what she's trying to avoid (friendships currently stable), but I think she has been in trouble for a lot of missing prep, and she's also trying to avoid a detention.

Last two days have been a complete write-off, for no reason at all. Too hungover to drink tonight, but even then, I'm still thinking that a little gin wouldn't harm (I won't, though - having yet another cup of tea). NC4, you say it for me. Just why do we keep doing this?

I have about a million emails to deal with as a result of losing my charger, so will try to catch up more on here later.

Just putting this out there...

Reasons I have given myself to buy wine so far this evening:

1. It's the end of the weekend
2. It's started raining and thunder is one the way, so it must be red wine weather
3. DS2 is being a pita and I need to relax
4. I was Af yesterday
5. I just fancy it
6. I lost weight this week

Reasons I have given myself not to buy wine:

1. Ummm...
2. Errr....
3. I said I wasn't going to?

God I'm rubbish at this!!

PMSL, NC4.

Today, reasons I have given myself not to buy wine:

1. I have the hangover from Hell, and can still taste the pink gin from last night, not in a good way.

Tomorrow will no doubt be a different story, though.