Hi, I am venusandmars and I've been on these threads for many years.
It can be tough at this time of year when the adverts are full of families cheerfully opening bottles of wine and good cheer, when work parties are alcohol fuelled, when distant friends call round with a bottle in hand.
Maybe you're trying to cut down a little in the pre-Christmas weeks, maybe you are struggling to know how to continue with a longer period of abstinence, maybe you are waking up after a Christmas Party feeling sick and covered in shame (or even feeling shame and covered in sick).
Whatever, whenever, if you want to stop, or cut down, or simply share your struggle with others who also feel the tug..... please join us.
Usually our lovely mouseface opens these threads, but the poor mouse is sick in hospital and so I am overcoming the technophobia that a 50-something feels.... (well done me 
). Our last thread is here if you want to read the last few posts
And if you want to read the story from the beginning (you'll need a few weeks) HERE is where it all started when Jesuswhatnext posted in May 2010.
Welcome one and all x
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Brave Babes - Wrapping up for a Wonderful Winter
venusandmars · 24/11/2015 16:31
Well done made, good to hear you're doing ok. Remember, you only have to focus on today. We'll sort out tomorrow tomorrow 
margie don't beat yourself up. Try and see it as a bump in the road and climb back on the bus - you have done fantastically well with dj, just imagine how you'll feel after lent. I know what you mean not having the 'crutch' of dry January - i genuinely don't have the answer as I'm fighting the same battle. I am going to have a drink tonight but will stop at two, or a push at 3. My dd was poorly last night so that's an extra incentive to not get wasted tonight in case she needs me.
To everyone else, I hope you're ok and thank you as always for being there
margie 
. Take stock love and don't be hard on yourself. It's a lapse and easily done. Perhaps try not having your first drink until a bit later. Easier said than done I know! But if you are like me and start drinking again after a period of abstinence chances are you will be in danger of losing control of it quite quickly. Set a limit like claret?
And ma .... Well done !!
Margie it's all a big experiment. Dry January might have been hard but you did it and it's behind you now. Do you regret it? No, of course you don't. No-one ever regrets not drinking.
You had a drinking session. It was easy and fun. Do you regret it? Yes, because you slipped into behaviours that you would rather avoid.
So really not drinking makes you happier
The really good news, is that having a long AF stretch in between drinks means that you are having occasional days on the booze rather than occasional days off it. And that's progress my lovely
Any 'I can't' statement should be followed by the word 'yet' 
baby sorry to hear your dh had problems, well done you for being there for everyone. Remember to look after yourself too x
faire, baby both very well said.
Today I'm doing a deep clean. It's very cathartic - can highly recommend!
Take care lovely babes, margie hope you're feeling a bit better. ma well done on your af night and hope your uti has cleared up 
Claret I actually made myself a cleaning rota to get all the jobs done and keep on top of it. I love a list or a timetable I do.
I was tempted to colour co-ordinate it too but decided to save the ink for something more important.
Each day after work I sit down with a cuppa and then I check my timetable to find out what job I need to do.
I hate cleaning because it's boring and repetitive so I mix up all the jobs to make it more varied. I've also convinced myself that it counts as exercise 
Oh dear, I think my words have came back to bite me on the behind! I really want a drink now, it's all I can think of 
I was doing so well too. I'm going shopping soon and the gym too, I'm going to try my hardest not to buy drink and I think my friend will help - I don't think she'd let me buy wine or any other alcohol which I suppose is a good thing long term. My plan for today is just to keep myself busy and try and keep positive.
The craving has passed I did buy wine, I have decided to have one bottle only tomorrow night because I'm going on a night out, it's in the fridge and not in my room so I shouldn't be as tempted today. I'm not taking out any cash so won't be able to drink more than the one bottle of wine. I know it's not ideal, but I'll be in control because I'll decide beforehand how much I drink and stick to it. 1 bottle won't make me drunk, just a bit tipsy, and I won't have a hangover either so it should be ok.
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