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.

Day 1 for me. Need 3 dry days this week as away for weekend in west Wales. Weather forecast not great so what else is there to do apart from go to pub.... We are in premier inn family room all 4 of us so pretty compact.

Dion I'm exact same, was drinking Sunday, was so drunk then so ill the next, I'm actually scared the damage I done. I am going to try mindfulness to remind myself not to drink. I have a thousand reasons not to drink and only one reason too, but I still forget then get completely carried away.

I’m back - did you miss me? 😅 Had a very special family holiday last week visiting Shetland. It was fab and even DD enjoyed it which I was delighted about as I was worried she’d be bored without her mates/Netflix etc. However, there was a lot of drinking involved! I was supposed to be AF last night but was so down about hols ending and kids back to school etc so ended up sharing a bottle of white with DH. Not horrendous but my poor liver needs a bloody break! Definitely AF tonight and tomorrow. If only I could crack not drinking in the week I know I would be happier, less anxious about my health and maybe enjoy and savour it more rather than just mindlessly pouring it down my neck!

I’ve only skim read to try and catch up a bit and I just wanted to make it clear that I do not do bum sex and never intend to. The thought makes me wince and clench. BJ’s however ... 😜

Flossie - I saw you like beaches. Here is a photo from my hols for you

NC4 Congrats on Day 3 but ouch for your piercing! I think it's important not to be too hard on yourself when you are AF for a stretch and to give yourself treats/new experiences. I'm sorry that this one hurt so much, though.
Frouby keeping busy is so important. I was so busy yesterday I didn't have time to even think about a drink. I won't get back until 8pm tonight so that will be the same. I'll be joining you. Last week was quite a write off for me too with the long weekend and I really felt the cumulative effect yesterday, even though I didn't drink a lot on any one night.
Dion I hope your hangover clears quickly. I think it is the dream of most men (public school or not) to do bum sex. Here in France there is less taboo about it, possibly because all children take their medicine via suppositories rather than orally so the back passage is entered from an early age which isn't the case in the UK.
Welcome Terry, Spelling try Day 1 today.

canshop am well jel of your Shetland holiday, it's in my list of places to visit when I get round to it. DH not keen on UK holidays though but I would love to go. I have a friend (she is a pony internet friend) who lives there and the photos she takes are stunning.

Not sure about kayaking now, bloody weather forecast is horrendous, big band of heavy rain due just as we will be leaving. DHs window on car being fixed this morning though so will be able to get him to his swimming lesson. Swimming plus first full day back at school probably enough for him tbh.

Frouby - it is beautiful. My Dad was from there and I’ve got lots of family up there. I hadn’t been for a few years though so it was lovely to see everyone. I’m keen to keep the connection going for my kids. It was bloody freezing but mainly dry and sunny at least!

Shetland looks gorgeous. I always worry about midges in Scotland. Did you manage to avoid being eaten alive?

I’ve been back to see tattooed piercer this morning. He’s changed my midlife crisis nose ring for a stud. I swear I saw him crack a smile while I winced and swore 😂

NC4 - you don’t get midges in Shetland. Glad you’ve got your piercing sorted. I’m not brave enough but I think it looks cool.

Is Shetland not part of Scotland? My geography’s shocking, despite the A level!

I actually love my nose stud. I look in the mirror and see 17-year-old me, carefree and fearless and ready to take on the world 😃

NC4 - Shetland is technically part of Scotland but geographically the islands are closer to Norway. You are probably used to seeing them in a little box on the weather forecasts which makes them look at lot closer to Scotland than they are. They are the most northerly tip of the British isles.

Oh and meant to say the reason you don’t get midges up there is because it’s too bloody windy! 😅

Fab news NC4!

Canshop welcome home! Shetland looks amazing. I am still cross at dcousin for ditching her ex and denying me a Shetland wedding invitation.

Have been feeling tired and meh all day. Was not as moderate as I hoped yesterday. AF today.

On the other hand have been planning work event and everyone agreed it really needs wine to set the tone. How to ditch social drinking when it's so entrenched that your bosses are saying it's essential? Perhaps attempting almost teetotaldom is futile and I should be focusing on the mindless, antisocial, or at least a-social drinking?

I'm about to pour a fake g'n't, and hope that a slice of lime and ice will hit the spot.

Can shop Shetland looks lovely, you are very lucky to have family there. Do you fly there?
NC4 glad you got the ring removed if it was that painful. I'd never be daring enough to have my nose pierced, having a second piercing in my ears was my mid life crisis and those holes have healed up now
Dry tonight, AF day 2. Was tempted after running club to have a reward drink but stayed firm.

Day 1 done, but it is more my binging that worries me, just don't have that off switch. Does anyone have any tricks or advice for helping with this? Would love to learn moderation.

Day 1 AF completed. I felt shocking this morning after too much bourbon last night.

Canshop, welcome home. That photo is absolutely amazing. I'm glad you had a good trip.

AF tonight, as I am too hungover not to be. Sounds rather similar to Iris, in fact.

Terrys, I struggle with the off switch, too. I never used to, but now it doesn't work at all.

Glad you have got the piercing sorted, NC4. You are very brave. I think bumsex is my midlife crisis.

So, first night home holiday. Thought I’d be AF. Wanted control. Felt emotionally strong. Then felt fuck it. Ds calling from uni saying he needs money as he doesn’t want to work (I gave him nothing - tough love! Awful as a mummy to do tho!). Had to write a report about dd2 to fight for her EHCP at school. Fifth time lucky I hope. But writing it makes me feel shit at how crap things are!! Then dd1 started asking me maths questions!! Wtaf!! Then dh came home with a migraine. It wasn’t a migraine, it was him feeling sorry for himself and not wanting to be at work. But obviously for a man, it was a fucking migraine!!
So....my intended jug of water with cut limes turned into a whole bottle of Pinot!!

I really am worried how I’ll ever moderate. I just don’t know how to begin. And that’s with moderation....let alone AF!!

SNORT at Frouby machines and NC4 nose ring cardio 😂

I am not AF tonight. Had near breakdown yesterday, saw counsellor today and feel a bit better. Have had over a bottle tonight and don’t fucking care!

Whilst I don’t do bumsex I genuinely love giving BJs, with apologies for TMI but I am over a bottle down!

I had ONE glass last night, and for the daftest of reaspons (excuses....). I'd made something nice to eat, and fancied a glass to go along with. At least I stopped at one, though only cos there is no other wine inthe house.

Right, what is an acceptable alternative to accomapny food. I know water, but it's a bit boring , and I do drink plenty of water during the day)

Water - so sorry, you sound like you had a difficult day. Hope you’re ok 💐

Melanie - that’s another reason I drink. I couldn’t imagine eating a meal while drinking water!! Although strangely I find it perfectly acceptable if it’s lunchtime, to do just that!! I’m a weirdo!!

Hoping for a better day here!! Woken feeling that my liver is aching me to stop this cycle. A bottle of wine a day all but. It’s not good.

I had one glass last night too... on my own in a bar whilst dd1 at rainbows.. probably not quite socially acceptable but I was bloody knackered. Cup of tea next week (yeah right).

I also fancy Shetland but not the journey.

Laughing about madameforests frank description of bum sex / medicine. We used to laugh on family hols in France that any trip to Dr would require something in bottom..

Iris what's your drink of choice? I struggle with the off switch too. I find if I don't start drinking till later (9-10pm) I can buy one or two of those little bottles of wine, so a glass or two, and by the time I've drunk them the shop is shut and it's too late to buy any more.

It's very self imposed moderation, but I'm rubbish otherwise. Have been known to finish a full sized bottle of wine and nip to the shop for another on more than one occasion. Not good.

Water I hope you are feeling better this morning.

Welcome home Flossie

Cotton my French doctor never gave me suppositories for the kids, he knew they were British and so a lost cause. I believe the absorption of medicine is far more effective that way than orally.

Terrys regarding moderating and off switches - most groups recommend a longish period of AF (a month as opposed to an evening) before you can moderate successfully but I'm not 100% that it is necessary. Longest did dry January so she will be more help! I moderated (1 bottle of wine over a weekend, AF in the week) for 18 months. I only drank as an apéro, never with or after a meal. I was living on my own with the kids so there was no temptation from an OH at that time which made it easier.
I would suggest setting objectives, such as how many units you want to drink a week, which days you want to drink, where your cut off limit is (mine is 250ml wine, any more and the off switch doesn't work so well and I can end up drinking a bottle), where you drink (at home, only when out, never alone etc).
Also try and drink water when you drink to make it last longer. If you have no alcohol in house of course that makes it easier to resist temptation.
And try to avoid drinking when you are anxious, sad or worried about something. Easy to say of course, not so easy in practice!