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.

Oh brokensleep I am so sorry to hear your news. My heart goes out to you and your family :(

Oh brokensleep I am so sorry to hear the news.

Corn - I've just realised I'd completely forgotten to send off your voucher - will do so today! xx

No problem Teapot - and thanks.:)

Morning all you lovely sober types.

broken I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Such a waste isn't it?

Lucy I'm glad to hear new job going well. As of course it would you clever thing.

stayingdry do you not find it soul destroying dealing with drunks in the bar all the time?

Haggis have you tried a Cherry Ripe or Peanut Slab yet? Both yum. Legendary behaviour so far in the Lucky Country well done!

Corn how are you feeling after the weekend? And Mortil what's happening now with you? I imagine you must have felt quite exposed after your sponsor spoke to your DH. How are you doing now? Stay on the right path, keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't worry about things outside your control if you can help it. Just don't pick up a drink today.

Teapot I hope school term has brought a rhythm back to your life. Mine are back at school/nursery and I am back at work (I'm a lecturer). It's good to have a bit of a routine. I love the holidays and all hanging out together too though, especially now I actually enjoy the daytime fun!

I'd love to come to a social evening but don't think I can make that date - DH travels a lot for work and he's off for a month from that morning. Not a good night to get babysitting for a trip up to London as entry and exit days are always tough for the DC.

I'm only an hour or so from Waterloo though so can make future London meet ups maybe? Pretty intriguing to imagine meeting you guys.

Hope everyone else is holding up well.

Thank you lovelies

sydney...lol, I don't deal with drunks all the time.Mostly its just people out having a good time and it's nice to be a part of that.
To be honest those that over do are generally the same people. It is sad to see because obviously l can see me in them and know the sad road they're probably on, but I can't say anything, I know what l would of said in their shoes and some do gooder bar maid was sticking her nose in.
I think if anything, l am more tolerant and kind than the other bar staff...there but for the grace of God go l and all that..
I genuinely do enjoy my job, can honestly say serving alcohol isn't a problem to me, strangely though my partner has an open bottle of jack Daniels in the house and I wish he'd finish jt, l find it uncomfortable knowing its there yet deal with exactly that at work......any psychology expert out there sort that one out

Sydney thanks for asking after me. I'm feeling a lot better. I have spoken to my supposed friend and have explained that I don't feel right having her as my sponsor. I have someone else in mind but have not rushed into it yet. Had a nice day today and have gone to bed now and will be one more day without a drink. Goodnight everyone

Good morning everyone.

I hope things improve now mortil it is quite outrageous that your trust was betrayed like that.

Hope everyone is fine. [waves]

I am okay here. Busy weekend and then busy week. DH is home this week and he is supposed to take on DS for most of it, so I can just have a bit of a break, but we shall see. We have an obligation social event today which is worrying me a bit - big drinking will be present. I feel okay about not drinking, just I get so bored now around people who are sloshed.

How is everyone?

Morning all All good here Corn - went into London to meet another sober blogging friend, Rachel over at Sober is the New Black, and we had a lovely meal and chat. So much to talk about and so little time that I didn't leave till late and got home at 1am so am tired and have a bit of an emotional hangover today. It's all good though :)
Can you arrive to your obligation late and leave early cutting down the amount of time you're there?
mortil I'd be taking it slow too - fingers burnt and all that.
stayingdry is it because the bottle is at home and you have a different mindset than when at work

Hi all,

Did indeed leave early Lucy! I was home by 9 pm. Then was followed home by a few friends who were not able to get themselves home so spent a bit of time pumping up airbeds.

PS - good blog post this morning too Lucy. It helps to strengthen my resolve when I am reminded we are being suckered in big time by a very powerful industry.

Have discovered coconut water...... mmmmm........ very treaty.

Well done Corn. Oh no coconut water is disgusting

I remember some of Rachel's posts from Soberistas, have read her book too.

Found the last couple of days hard, swinging from hating booze to thoughts of buying a bottle and getting soozled. Was at a (dry) family event last night and after hearing someone mention they couldn't wait to get home to a glass of wine thought to myself how nice it was not to be watching the clock, resentful of it cutting into my drinking time. I was tempted once I got home so made plans with dd for today that I knew I wouldn't be able to keep hungover. I feel so odd dealing with all this emotional stuff sober.

Thanks Corn and well done! We are indeed resisting a very strong industries marketing smoke and mirrors. Coconut water - yuck, can't bear coconut!
broken Rachel is fab! I think it would be natural to want to drink with all you've got going on right now as I used booze to manage my emotions so although I 'knew' it was harmful didn't stop the urge. That's a big red flag as to why we have problems with the substance - we use it to numb our emotional distress. Being present is going to be tough but it will allow you to grieve properly

Strangely I think I'd be able to grieve better with a bottle of wine down my neck. I'd certainly be more emotional anyway, sober I feel numb. It may be to do with it happening so unexpected it feels surreal or more than likely that has always been my way of dealing with things. I'm a bottle upper until months down the line when it hits me.

Sorry don't want to thoroughly depress the thread.

How are you doing today broken?

Im ok thanks corn. Funeral is over and done with as we move pretty quick with that here. Had a wee cry, don't think its really sunk in yet but that will come with time I know. Have been through it all sober so that's a bonus, probably helped by the fact most of that side of the family doesn't drink Felt like one once I got home, child free, but know it will add nothing to my life at present bar terrible crippling anxiety tomorrow as I have been having some underlying health anxiety atm, a hangover would tip that over the edge . Instead sitting with the fire on, stupid movie and hot chocolate. Tomorrow I'm going to treat myself in some way. How are you yourself?

Everyone else ok?

Oh broken. stupid movie and hot chocolate sound about perfect. I hope you are okay, and that your health is better too. You definitely need a treat.

All generally fine here thanks. A bit up and down as DS and DH are winding each other up. [rolls eyes]. I am the permanent mediator in the house! (Now I know how my DFather feels with my mother and I!).

Hope everyone is well, and that we all have much better days. :)

Sorry for your loss Broken. Well done for getting through it all without drinking. It's hard but like you say, drinking now would only give you another problem not help.

20 days in and my mind is pretty much made up about giving it up for good. Had a nice weekend out with friends and didn't want a drink once. Really can't see any reason to go back now. Will probably say (to myself) it'll be a year without booze. Scary thought but I'm actually quite excited to see what it's like drink free :)

Ahh yes dm and I spent most of my younger years at each others throats. In our case we are just too similar, quick tempered and stubborn to boot. Df was referee many a time.

My health is grand just anxiety from stress. Would love to get out for a run as stress relief but this sodding ice won't go away and I don't fancy breaking a leg. In fact just got really good news health wise. Doctors had me near enough ready to keel over as my bp was through the roof and wouldn't believe its severe 'white coat syndrome', results of my 24hour tape show a perfect Zen like bp

Right productive day a-calling. Hope you are all well and I haven't managed to kill the thread with my morbid talk!

Aww well done rb, to channel my seven yo that's awesome. Is your wife in the same frame of mind?

Not sure if she is broken, well not about giving it up for good. She has suprised me though! I really thought she would've given in by now so really pleased with that. We've still got loads of christmas booze in the fridge!

lucy I am taking things slowly with regards to a new sponsor.

I had a chat to the secretary of the meeting where my previous sponsor broke the confidentially code of AA. She was horrified and re-iterated to everyone at the meeting at the weekend the importance of the 'yellow card'. She also said that there had recently been a breach and that it was pivotal to successful recovery that these principles were maintained.

rb well done, gosh you are brave to have so much drink around the house. Not sure I would find it easy

Afternoon all
rb we moved it all out into the garage and now gift it to people.
mortil I would be too!
broken I went out running in the ice this morning and it was quite bambi-making! Great job on the 24hr tape

Hello. I have been completely hopeless at keeping in touch lately. Massive apologies. Lots of stuff going on here.

Broken, so sorry for your loss. But well done for staying sober. Sometimes you just want to numb it all but you know that would be counter productive, so well done (again!)

Too many deaths through alcohol and related diseases nowadays. As you know, I have known four or five people in their 50's recently who have died - and they were all related to some kind of substance abuse, I'm almost certain. It's awful :(

I haven't had a run since Friday The weather has just been too cold and had a really hectic weekend and just couldn't find the time to make it worth it (honest!) I have however managed to sign up for two 10k's later in the year which I feel I am now ready for. After the last one I pledged not to do any for a while as I got so stressed thinking about it. Now though I know I'll be ok - well I know I can run that far anyway .

Been fighting with G's school about a trip to Poland which he is desperate to attend but which is well out of our financial remit (and they gave us 4 days notice of first large payment ) Ended up on the phone to the head talking about 'financial discrimination' and 'poor event management' and have managed to get him on the list at least. She will 'discuss finances' at a later date 'suitable ' I was really angry at the way it was all done. So many families would just say 'oh well, can't do it' but why should we be excluded? We don't qualify for help but there should be a way for people like us to be able to benefit. Dh was happy to just say 'oh well' but I felt a stand needed to be made! That's sobriety and clear headed thinking for you !!

Nothing more to add, except I need to change my user name :( Well done to everyone for doing so well

Oh and v excited about the CLUBSODA event on Sunday with Lucy!