Dry 6

[sydneysideup]

This is the thread for the alcohol free. Happy and hopeful, continuing from Dry 5 here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/a2137624-DRY-5?msgid=50943574
Whether it's been an hour, a day, a week or a year, join us here.

Well done nina!! Sleep well and roll on your first hangover free Christmas morning - the perfect gift

Well done nina - fantastic achievement. Don't be concerned about those cravings - I think it's completely NORMAL to get them at this time of year, after all the message is shoved down our necks over and over that DRINKING IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING...

Well done to you!

Just nipping on quickly to say Merry Christmas to you all and hope you enjoy your clear sober day tomorrow. Have been waylaid from posting by the fourth week of one or the other dc being sick along with usual rushing around and a million things to do this time of year. Still getting through the days and two months tomorrow however. Have fun everyone

Congrats on your two months eggshells!! Stockings at end of beds, presents under tree and about to sup herbal tea in bed before sleep. Have a great day everyone tomorrow

Yay. eggshells

Got through the afternoon and night with mother. I very firmly and calmly said to her in the car on the way here that there were certain things I wasn't prepared to talk about, and if these things were brought up I would not respond. Had a bit of 'well, I never meant....' and I just butted in saying, well that's good then, let's just enjoy it.

All been good so far. She's actually been very nice and almost normal, apart from a few comments about people on TV etc.

Hoping for a good day tomorrow and loads of love to all of you - whether it's sober Xmas 1 or 21, it's still a bloody achievement xx

Thanks Lucy and teapot

Was wonderful to wake up Christmas morning without a hangover!!!

sweet AF life

Biggles so happy to hear that and hope that it lasts all day for you!! Merry Xmas everyone and I hope that we all make it through to the end of today with presents and being present

Hi all.

Just checking in to say and hope you are all very well. Hope your day is without anxiety, Biggles.

Has been a long day here Chez Chips. The Ils very kindly bought me my favourite champagne to say thanks and opened it before lunch. I got away with a single glass that I took some token sips of. So I am not counting that as a slip..... the rest of the day has been fine. Currently cleaning up and drinking 'detox' tea. The day has been fine otherwise, but I am exhausted.

My DH surprised me with an amazing gift as the past year has been a tough one and he also wanted to say thanks... I don't feel I deserve thanks, but the gift made my resolution to stay sober and to protect my little family even stronger.

I hope everyone is fine and well. Lucy, I am thinking about the retreat you talked about on your blog- am very tempted. :) It would be something to look forward to.

We should have a 'dry' contingent. - I should love to go. DAy gone very well. She behaved impeccably Hope everyone is ok x

Hi hope you have all had a good day today.

I'm feeling really sad at the moment.
My 82 year old dad has dementia and is now blind. I looked after him for a year but it was so hard, it brought me to the edge of a nervous breakdown. He's been in a home now for a year but it's not been plain sailing. Went to visit him yesterday and it's just so upsetting. He's a broken man, calling out for help and no one was there, being served disgusting food, beans and corned beef hash. Slop, prison food, no socks on his feet, his nose dripping into his food, his commode not having been emptied, eating his food with his hands as he can't see. And when we told him it was Christmas the next day he was really distressed that he hadn't sent any cards or got presents. We weren't close when I was growing up but god I feel so sad for him he's so pathetic ( in the sense of pitiful). There's nothing I can do for him but I'm sitting here in tears thinking about how sad his life is. And tbh terrified that I will end up like him one day. Feel so helpless.

Oh that is so sad on a practical note, can you find out why things are so bad there? were the staff genuinely busy or did it seem like they were being neglectful? it must be absolutely awful for you.

No idea what to say but just want you to know that I am thinking of you

Thanks Biggles. It's a very difficult situation with my dad. We looked at a lot of care homes before he went into this one. Some of them were just hellish. People wailing in their beds, one there was an old woman walking the corridors shouting abuse at people. There was a very good one run by the Salvation Army but they wouldn't take him. We chose this one as it was quite small and seemed friendly. In the summer they were saying they weren't sure they would keep him as he was wandering into other residents' rooms and pissing and defecating in them ( there's a toilet in his room but he can't see it and doesn't remember it's there, he thinks he's still at home). Like most care homes run for profit, it's under staffed. He's safe and warm but it's just so hard to witness. Fortunately he can't remember anything which is the only saving grace.

It was when I was looking after him that my drinking got out of control. I felt so isolated and depressed that I'd drink just to deal with the stress of it.Made me question what was the point of looking after your health when you ended up like this... Sorry for the moan but it is good just to express it.

Haven't had time to read the thread - but just wanted to come on and wish you lovely lot a happy Christmas! This thread has been a total lifeline for me. I have had a couple of real wobbly moments the past couple of days but I am BLOODY DELIGHTED to have got through Christmas sober. And it's been - mostly - fun. I hope everyone is doing ok today.

Awholelotta - I'm so sorry I posted not having caught up and I'm so dreadfully sorry about what your Dad is going through and what you have to witness. How incredibly heartbreaking.

Haggis, that's fine, I'm glad you had a sober Christmas, it's a tricky time of year. The situation with my dad has been going on for a long time. I'm kind of used to it but yesterday just got to me.

So sorry to hear that AWhole. That's bloody tough. I've seen my own mum break down a lot recently with her mum, care homes and granny's alzheimers. I've even recommended to her the elderly parents thread on here (as a non mner) as she may find some comfort and advice from ones in that situation. Have you had a look yourself? for you as it's heartbreaking

Morning lovely sober peeps!
Corn & Biggles a 'Dry' contingent sounds ace!
Haggis well done lovely
AWhole I'm so sorry to hear that and feel your pain. It happened to my grandfather and it's heartbreaking to see and you feel for them. As a nurse who's done some work in nursing and care homes I know it is so hard to find good one's for those with dementia. As you say most of it they don't remember but that it doesn't make it any easier to bear

Hi all,merry Christmas and looking safely to the new year!.a whole,sorry to hear you're having a rough time.Haven't got any advice on the dementia thing, but just to let you know I'm thinking of you.At least you're handling it all sober,imagine your reactions and the aftermath if you'd been drunk.
Good to hear you're in a good place with your mum biggles,what did you do,secretly spike her cocoa ????
Great Christmas day here,ate too much,had the odd craving for a glass of wine,but hayho can't, so there you go..shit happens.
Off to work soon,looking forward to seeing how my workmates and bar customers fared,should be interesting.Fill you in on any gossip later????
Enjoy boxing day all x

Another one here that is so glad your Mum managed to reign in her toxicity Biggles! Isn't it funny how some of the things we dread the most turn out to be fine. Maybe you would be able to refer back to Christmas and what a nice time everyone head if she starts to revert to old habits anytime soon.....

Hope work is fun tonight StayingDry. Will it be a very busy night?

Hi everyone,

so sorry to hear about your dad,nosy. Age Uk have the following helplines, maybe they might be of use?

www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/helpline-numbers/

Good for you Biggles. :)

Hope your evening goes well stayingdry.

DRY contingent Lucy....am so so tempted. Just checking the weekends....

Hope everyone is fine. All well here. I am shattered though. Designated driver tomorrow though for a pub lunch with the Ils. It is nice to take that role when DH has been doing it for more than a decade!

Does anyone has snow? DS and I both are hoping and wishing.....

[waves] to Haggis and broken.

Hi All

Merry Sober Christmas! We've all been struck down with hideous stomach bug so not very festive for us but at least I am sober to deal with it all.

Sorry not to comment on thread will read up tomorrow.

{waves} to Nina I am in the UK now but used to be an Eastern Suburbs girl, whereabouts are you?

Morning all! Hope your family are soon better sydneysideup not fun at all.

ILs go home tomorrow, so we are in the last day. I always enjoy having them, but am finding it a bit of a slog this year... cooking a three course meal daily (no leftovers allowed) for 5 adults and a 4 year old is now officially draining. Bless them though, out to lunch today which will be lovely. I think I am coming down with something too, splitting headache and no hangover to blame it on.

Hope you all have a good day, xxxxxxxx

Sydneysideup hi I'm on northern beaches but I'm from the UK so we've swapped lol

Hi, I'm a newbie to this thread, I've realised that it is time for me to become dry, but I'm not sure if this is the right thread.
Is there anywhere else on mn, that is for people just starting down the road?
You all seem to be doing so well, and I love your strength, but I could use a thread that is more of a daily support.