Wankerbastards and autumn weather, crunchy leaves, browning heather. We want crisp, cool days and crisp, cool wine, or beer or gin. But only a couple, as we smash moderatin'.

[Frouby]

Thread 8 for Tryers to be Dryers.

Join in for help and support and lots of laughs to reduce alcohol. Whatever you want to achieve with your alcohol intake, whether it's alcoholidays, dry days, less booze in general we are all in the same boat.

More threads floating around but I can't do clicky links. Just look for Wankerbastards and you will find us.

I am back.

Longest, I love the "liquid luck" idea. Your DDs take me back to when my DC were younger (and when I was a better mother). You are so good with them - no wonder they are nice to you. Tree is fab.

NC4 Afflecks Palace!!!! I used to go there for goth stuff.

Flossie, a big virtual hand hold for the appointment.

Frouby, BP is an absolute sweetheart. ❤️ I can see why you want more hours in the day, given your upcoming holiday.

Water, interesting that a few days of drinking have reminded you that you really prefer it when you're AF.

Keep going, Badger!

Hugs and to anyone I've missed (I'm trying to do a million things, but don't like to be away from this thread for too long).

Thank God the Elf on the Shelf wasn't around when my DC were younger. Another bloody thing for Mums to think about. I now regret having started doing stockings as well as tree presents, as the DC still want sodding stockings. It was fine when they were happy with a bag of chocolate coins and some stickers. Now their idea of "stocking fillers" would be something physically small but ridiculously expensive. Still, I have told them that stockings stop at 18, so the end is in sight.

I am, miraculously, AF tonight. I read a book about someone with oesophagal cancer caused by drinking earlier, which has helped to focus my mind.

I surprised myself when I went out on Friday as I had one single G&T and that was that. It helped that I went with a friend who can't drink due to medication, and I didn't want to look like an alcoholic in front of her. So everyone else was pissed, and she and I were sober .

I made up for it last night, though, with several double G&Ts at home, because it was Saturday.

Who knows what I will manage this week.

Water, I thought your suggestions for sticking to AF were fantastic, by the way. Thanks for sharing.

Were you a goth Dion?
DS1 said to me (leaving Afflecks) "I like Manchester you. You think you're still a teenager and you're fun and forget about being a parent." I don't. That's something that's always in you, but its nice to revisit that part of my life with him in tow.
My Manc gran used to love to go out dancing and I've always loved knowing I was dancing on the same dance floor my gran danced on in the 1950s. Roots, innit? I guess that's what DS is getting at.

I'm so glad the elf thing only kicked off when mine were too old. I'd have gone at it with gusto then fizzled out by December 5 and been all 'elf's got a hangover today. He's not moving from his shelf.'

I have tree envy. I havent had time to get mine this weekend, but I want to. Who else has theirs up? Show us your trees!

I have a Christmas do on Friday and I'm fretting over what to wear. I don't feel good in anything and I can't afford much for something new. Could maybe stretch to a new top/skirt/trousers/shoes but only one of those things, not a whole outfit. Ah well.... I might make an AF cameo appearance and leave the young 'uns to it. That would be a first!

I hear you on the stocking fillers Dion. Mine don't really ask for much but friends kids are asking for things like Air Pods in their stockings. I just think, 'yeah, okay sunshine - you get a terry's chocolate orange and some new undies in my house'.

I'm not AF. I need to not fall back down the hole now November's over.

I’m a bit ffs about Elf and relieved it wasn’t around when mine were younger, I’d have been the same NC4 giving up on day 5! Ah that’s sweet about “Manchester you” comment from your ds, bless. And about dancing on the floor your grandmother danced on. We live miles from where we’re from so there’s none of that nostalgia or historical connection, I miss it.

DionysaI’m glad my long tips post helped. Well done on AF although the reading about cancer sounds depressing! I’m still doing stockings for both mine but they’re things like nail varnish and packs of cards.

Flossie, I hope London goes ok, that’s such a long trip, poor you.

Longest your dds sound very sweet. Lovely tree!

Just had a chat to dh and we may go out tonight so I won’t be AF after all and will have to unclaim my teacup....

Elf is doing my head in....day 2!!!!!!! I’ve got 23 days to go!!

So glad as well Elf wasn't a thing when dd was little, and not starting it now for ds as it wouldn't be fair, same goes for Christmas eve boxes. Have a feeling my elf would be mostly wrapped round gin bottles or lager cans 😂😂😂.

Not done anything exciting today. Dog to vets for vaccinations and check up, work then cleaned carpets. Now drinking a beer and contemplating lots more. Only just finished cleaning carpets, ache like a mofo and am knackered. Fml.

Frouby, you really don’t stop all day!! Major jobs too that I’d be putting off for a tantrum weekend!! I think you absolutely deserve wine!!

I meant beer!!!!!!! As I was typing beer...I was thinking about wine......

Ha ha ha ha Flossie. Great mis-think re wine/beer. 😂

Is your Elf called Swampy? He looks as if he should be.

I was a kind of half-hearted Goth, NC4, in that I wore black and studded belts for about three years, and had a huge crush on Andrew Eldritch.

Enjoy your evening, Water.

I'd like to be smug about being AF this evening, but that's only because enabler DP lured me out for lunch and wine earlier.

Frouby, I admire your work ethic. I am good at doing all the stuff I want to do, but less good at everything else.

I hate cleaning carpets, been putting it off for weeks but feel good now its done. I have to Get Shit Done though otherwise I wake up in a cold sweat thinking about it. And I only have 13 days before we go on holiday, then when we come home it's literally Christmas so have got to Get Shit Done. Mainly so I can come back from holiday, get my pjs on and not fucking move for a fortnight 😂😂😂.

Dh finishes work this friday, or possibly next Tuesday. Fml. That's all I need, him under my feet. Have told him I will be mega busy, mega stressed and he either helps or stays out of my way and doesn't make mess. He's kindly offered to pack his own holiday stuff, feed the chickens and see to his pet pigeon. And will pick ds up 'if necessary'.

Wankerbastard gonna be right at top of shitlist by the 15th 😂😂😂😂

Omg frouby “pick ds up ‘If necessary’ “ !!!!!!!! Why do men see this as a job to help you out, rather than a job that needs to be done!! Oh god. I hate it when they’re under your feet!! So much easier when they’re out!! Is there a man den you can send him??

Dion - I always had a long grey ‘grandad coat’ that I’d bought from the charity shop. Wore that with my DM boots and patchwork leggings!! Wtf was I thinking?!!!!!

I had an ankle length black coat that i loved but was so darned impractical. You had to pick it up Victorian-lady style while going downstairs so as not to trip. I also managed to get yellow paint on it when someone was painting double yellow lines. Also had vintage flares and my dad's old Adidas tops.

Mil is here, reminding me why things have felt relatively unstressful the past few weeks bless her. Forcing me to opine on all sorts of Christmas related questions where my answers are always wrong. Managed to stick to 1/3 bottle though.

Frouby, i need you to come and whip me and my cesspit of a house into shape.

Pmsl at Swampy the elf. Bastard.

Your coat sounds fabulous Longest. In fact I think we were a pretty alternative bunch all round, by all accounts. I had a wool overcoat that was was my dads and had an air of Withnail about it.
I'm regressing though. I've just broken in a new pair of DMs. Is there any better feeling than a well loved pair of docs?
I'd wear patchwork leggings probably. I definitely would have in 1994.
My harem pants I got for schlepping round India a few years ago get far more wear than they should too!

I had a slight flirt with alternative when I was 17ish. Had a long, tartan A line frock, an ear cuff, and oxblood docs. I was going more Alanis Morissette than Goth. I had dark brown lipstick, loads of eyeliner and a very matt foundation. I looked a right knobber.

Really didn't sleep well, 4 cans of lager I had 🙈. It's not good for me on a school night.

Off to ponies this morning, then retail park to do some Christmas shopping. Going straight from ponies as well so will look like a reject from country file on day release but I really cba to come home and get changed.

Suspect I will be wet again tonight. Think damage limitation for the next few weeks is the best I can hope for. Fuck it, it's nearly Christmas.

Had a great night with dh but feeling a bit delicate today. Have unclaimed my teacup for yesterday but definitely won’t drink tonight so have claimed it for today.

Lol at looking like a knobber Frouby. I bet you didn’t. 👍🏻 To Getting Shit Done.

Longest, well done, that’s very moderate, especially given MIL

Flossie, a friend on my Facebook had the elf watching Barbie pole dancing yesterday, surrounded by play money 😂

Dionysa, I hope you had a nice lunch with dp.

I love Withnail and I NC4.

Loving the fashion stories!! 🤩

As for elf..he deffo is a bastard!!

I had a whole bottle last night. Woke feeling shocking. Pain in high abdo too so convinced I have liver failure. Feel sick with worry about it now !!

Flossie, I've felt sick all day. I am convinced I've got liver failure, withdrawal symptoms (after 12 hours), stomach cancer, etc and definitely not period pain

Good luck with Elf Swampy.

Damage limitation here too, Frouby. Though just the damage tonight as DD has returned from school in the strop to end all strops. Apparently I make her feel bad for going to her Dad's. This is all the more mystifying, as I'm always glad to have a night to myself. I asked her to pick some of her stuff up off the floor, and she said she couldn't, because she needed to be wearing her joggers to pick stuff up. When I said she could just put them on, she said she couldn't, because she couldn't find them.

FML.

Loving these fashion stories, too. Some of you are too young to have had 80s perms. Think yourselves bloody lucky.

I love the idea of you rewarding yourself with a little teacup, Water. Lunch with DP was very good, thank you. He has been nice for about three days now, which is a record. It will be followed by 'less nice', no doubt.

Oh Dion, the story about your Dd and her joggers made me laugh out VERY loud 😂😂. That is so funny, and absolutely the same logic as my dd1. It’s like a parallel universe isn’t it!! 🙄🙄
I’m so worried about having damaged my liver. I’ve got pain and acid indigestion. But I also really want a drink to feel that ‘ahhhhhh’ feeling of the first mouthful. After a goddamn shit day, it’s taking all my might not to venture outside to the garage where the wine is supposed to be hiding from me!! Fml!!

Ps..I’m definitely not too young for the 80’s perm!! Nor ra-ra skirts and boob tubes!! 🙄🙄

I have always been to large of nork for boob tubes Flossie so think yourself lucky you got to wear them.

Tho I did have a bustier type number for clubbing back in the late 90s/00s. It was chocolate pleather, with hook and eye fastenings and very, very tight so held the boobies up loverly. I wore it with the matching pleather A line skirt. And I also had a cream pair of skin tight trousers in the same pleather, and a cream pleather boobtube, and a cream and chocolate pleather jacket to keep me warm from pub to club that I checked in the cloakroom and got a ticket for. Had bright blonde hair, wore pink eyeshadow and sparkles on my cheeks. With massive big eyes due to the copious amounts of ecstasy I took 😂😂😂

But I was fucking thin.

Not dry. 2 beers and a gin. Mate in hospital tomorrow for her tests so worried about that. Ds overtired and was a little shit on way home from school run. And got to allotment to feed chooks and fuck knows what dh has done, but shed floor covered in 3 inch of liquid timber paint. Tins fallen over and spilt everywhere. Fml.

I have already told you that it's nice to share, Frouby. I want a bit of your norkiness, please.

Bit of a cancer thing going on with one of my friends, too, which isn't helping ATM.

You can have some Dion. I vary between a 34h and a 36hh depending on how fat I am. But even very slim I am all boob. Used to be a proper size 8/10, but still an E/F cup. They look even more ridiculous when I am slim, like Jessica Rabbit but without the teef 🐰🐰🐰.

Just had a lush dinner. Had 2 slightly tough steaks in the freezer since our last BBQ. Knew they were a bit rough from the last 2 I cooked so fried an onion, a mushroom and the steak cut into strips, then added a knob of butter, a tablespoon of wholegrain mustard and cooked it down and made steak sarnies. Was bloody lovely.

It definitely won't help my boobs in my tankini in 2 weeks though 😂😂😂

I want some of what you've got, Frouby.

30AA here. FML.

Frouby - your steak sarnie sounds lush. I quite often make something similar for dh that involves a fuckton of cheese too.
Loving the pleather story. I had a pair of cream pleather trousers too, with a big zip up the front, right to the top (no button). Supposed to be easy access. I thought they were sexy pants...looking back I looked like a right slapper!! If only that was the case 😂😂
I also had a Demi Moore haircut (from
Ghost film). Mega short on one side and longer on the other. Wtf was I thinking!!
If you could see me now..I’m Mrs safe!! Long hair, natural make up, nails done and safe clothes!! Definately lived differently then!! What makes us change and become
Sensible?!
Oh and I was tee total then too. Maybe if I become that again now, I’ll turn into a slapper outfit wearing animal!!

Evening all! Sort of AF. Had wine at work end of term meeting thing but none since. Took kids to woodcraft folk. Was the district "merry moot" (wanky name, think it's supposed to be more inclusive than Christmas party). Each group had to perform a song. Our group was a rabble stumbling through an adapted version of 12 days of Christmas. The other groups were like professional choirs - all harmonies and composers and kids on piano and guitar! The shame .

Been texting dsis. Both a bit worried about dm. She is still in France and seems to want to come home but her controlling dp doesn't, so she isn't. And he's buying the flat above hers which can only be bad news really. Best case scenario- random whim as a symptom of his bipolar disorder. Worst case scenario - more controlling behaviour. Hmm.