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.

It's just too easy to let them get to us though well done for getting through it.

Ice skating was a hoot. I held on to the side and sobbed whilst dd and ds stormed off like they were on dancing on ice.

I feel like I'm trying so hard to give them the memories that poor lovely dd1 never had because of my drinking. I wish I could turn back the clock but I can't so I will just give her the love as an adult child that I still want.

Oo coronation Street. Off to so count the drinks

Happy Monday

I'm getting irrationally angry with a thread that's going at the money by a lady who is embarrassed and worried about her boyfriend not drinking. It seems really sad.

Bloody hell what a thread biggles! The OP seems to be in huge denial about her drinking and th importance she places on alcohol in her life.

Quite tragic really.

Am still reading a few pages of JAson Vale every night and it's such an eye opener!

Well that thread was an eye-opener!! We have so far to go in this country to re-balance the attitude towards drinking and alcohol .....

Hi can I please join you lovely ladies? I'm now 6 days dry, after a lot of soul searching and reading threads on here. Feels like a miracle tbh but it's still very shaky. I think about drinking all the time at the moment but am reading as much as I can about it to help me stay strong. Realising I can't do it alone so would love to be part of this group.

Here's a thread I posted last week for a bit more info about my journey...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/alcohol_support/2260033-Questions-about-stopping-drinking-for-those-who-have-beaten-the-booze

Of course . jump right in. You're nearly at a week which is huge milestone so you should be very chuffed. What are your plans for Xmas day??

Hello nosy
What are you reading? I am reading this Jason Vale book and it s brilliant at explaining all the crazy myths we build up about alcohol and I have to say aside from one crazy work night out, I haven't missed drinking at all.

If you feel you miss it have you tried Becks Blue? Or Schloer (which tastes like weak martini and lemonade)

My life is so much happier and easier without alcohol.

welcome from me nosy just read the thread you linked and can third The Bubble Hour as a great resource. Listening to the episode about people-pleasing around the holiday season as we speak!

Forgot to say congrats on day 6!!

Thanks all! I've just finished this book about women and alcohol, written by a journalist who is also an alcoholic. Found it very illuminating

www.amazon.co.uk/Drink-Intimate-Relationship-Between-Alcohol/dp/0007503563

Plan to read the Jason Vale book too.

Got my first real test tomorrow as going for lunch with my older sister, her partner and one of her friends. I know they will be drinking ( and I will probably want one too), but I feel do happy that I haven't drunk for 6 days I don't want to spoil it. Wish me luck!

Anne Dowsett Johnson's book is a good one. Good luck tomorrow and stay strong!

Once you have said no to the first one it's plain sailing nosy so if it feels easier say I'll have a coke/Oj to start......

I made the mistake of not telling people I wasn't drinking and it has made it all harder when going out as I was trying to not drink by stealth. Now I am openly saying I am not drinking it is so much easier.

Good luck!!

So glad I don't drink anymore - dd woke me at 4 to remind me it is her birthday! We are so lucky - two consecutive days of early excitement

Morning all!

Welcome nosy so good to have you with us. :)

Congrats Biggles.

I struggled massively yesterday when the Ils arrived and opened a bottle of cava, which was always my weakness. I have decided that post New Year, then I am buying a MEGA SOBER TREAT.... have a pretty silver bangle in mind.

Good luck all.

Well done for resisting it. I had that when I won that poncy red wine!
Already been out with dd to buy some plastic tat with her birthday money. Now to clean for mothers arrival.....

Morning all! Biggles happy bday to your DD and hope you both have a lovely day
Corn sounds like an ace plan
I'm battening down the hatches and am on high alert - we are entering the most difficult time of year to be a non-drinker of booze. I shall be playing 'alcohol offered' points-make-prizes and every time I get offered booze I mentally note and plan to buy a sober treat in lieu. You could make it a monetary value say £5 and add it all together to get something in the sales? This is my anti-feeling deprived strategy which can trip me up still

I have myself booked in for a massage and facial after Christmas and that is my BigTreat for being AF.

Other than my Big Works Night Out Blip I will have been AF for 2 months and so I have probably saved enough to pay for it!!

Family party today ( with the lovely people in my family that I actually like ) and alcohol will be offered but I am driving.

Hope everyone has a lovely day.

Hello everyone! So sorry I've been away for such a long time. Will now go back and catch up on the thread. Just found myself wondering how you all were and hoping you/we all cope with a sober Christmas……! My parents are about to arrive and desperately trying to summon up some suitable festive spirit. My father is extremely trying - but of course then I feel guilty for having those thoughts. Am allowing DCs unlimited Minecraft time this morning in order to get house ready - feel faintly guilty about that (shouldn't they be doing some lovely Christmas game or something??). Hey ho - needs must. HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL (and sorry if I sound like an old curmudgeon….)

Right - have had a super speedy catch up. Welcome Nosy - great to have you with us and well done on your first week (pretty much). I promise you Christmas without booze is better; good luck!

And Biggies - sending you huge hug and loads of support. Feel for you in spades. My father is the thorn in my side - and as the only child I get to be responsible for him at all birthdays/Christmas etc. He is bad, but sounds like your DM is even worse. I was about to say how about just saying (politely) that it really is distressing and unhelpful for you to be around her and so you won't be having her next year, but having read what you say about her age, MH issues etc I do get why you feel you can't. I think the thing that is hardest is that constant tug between loathing and love/guilt.

Sorry so brief and haven't name-checked everyone, but need to get changing bed linen etc.

Hopefully this thread will be on fire tomorrow so we can all dip in and get support as and when needed!

That's a great idea Lucy; think I'll be joining in with that one.

I'm enjoying a few days of peace and quiet (and trying not to be annoyed by the image of 'festive family fun' that my ex is giving me of him with his g/f who happened to be the OW whilst we were married and my DC together with her son, who are spending a few days together. He asked me yesterday if I want to meet her when I come to collect the DC on Christmas Day. Er, no thanks.

A day of pottering, tidying, last minute wrapping. Am also trying to drop some presents off at a women's refuge - nice idea (we have tons of left over presents from having the DTs birthday last week that I'm hoping to sneak out of the house before they get back) but of course typical me, I've left it so late that it probably won't be possible.

Wishing everyone calm and peaceful days ahead. Let's focus on those sober treats!!!

What a brilliant idea about dropping the presents off to the women's refuge.

And love the booze bingo/treat game idea, Lucy. Superb.

We normally have everyone to us, but this year I am going to my in-laws. Slightly trickier as not in charge of drinks/serving myself, so will have to cope with having booze offered/pressed on me endlessly. And BREATHE!

Thanks Teapot and Also I also agree that's a great idea to take extra presents to the refuge from your DT's party. How thoughtful!
Now I'm hoping to be offered lots of booze as that boosts my treat kitty but I realise that could backfire on me ... I think once they've sunk the first one or two they'll stop asking tbh. Won't be around much tomorrow as also at the in-laws and don't have smart phone so will be offline so hope everyone has a great day and I'll be back on Boxing Day to gloat with all of you about not having a hangover

Love the idea of an after Christmas treat for abstention over Christmas, think I'm gonna save the tips l get from work over the period and treat myself.
Have a lovely Christmas eve all,stay safe and what a fantastic gift of sobriety Christmas day is going to be. xxx

Yay for us!

I've also stocked up on my new AF drink of choice - was served this at a party the other day... virgin Sea Breeze cocktail. Well, that makes it sound complicated, but actually it's just 50% cranberry juice and 50% grapefruit juice, with a twist of lime. I'm going to have 1/2 a glass of that and top it up with sparkling water on Christmas Day.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone. It is a rare thing indeed, that I am sat here watching The Good Wife and wrapping last minute presents, not only having already bought and wrapped most things a couple of weeks ago, but also putting fancy pants ribbons and everything around them. My normal drinking Christmas would have me still out and about frantically looking for gifts...

hello all Merry sober Christmas, I'm another newcomer to this lovely group

I'm just back from Christmas Eve party and sober while everyone else was not sober including my friend who again was very sloshed and slurring getting mouthy and falling around that must have been me before.

I'll be AF 4 months on NYE so very pleased with myself but I've struggled with a few cravings this week which has surprised me as I thought I was through that - I needed a drink after stressful days but pushed through it with alcohol free beer

so pleased to be sober as I go to bed here tonight (I'm In Sydney) with a clear head - first time in years!!!

Hoorah