Brave babes are still here: sping / summer / autumn / winter There is always someone around

[venusandmars]

This topic had being going for years and years and years. Maybe almost as long as some people have been struggling with drinking.

We are still here. Supporting, encouraging, helping. Never judging, never minimising our problems.

If you want to catch up, our last thread is HERE

And if you want to follow everything from the start, the very first thread from 9 years ago is RIGHT HERE

You can join in anytime. Everyone is welcome. Whether you are trying to cut down, abstain completely , or are simply acknowledging that you might have a problem... Post what you want.

Well done @cinderella78! Massive achievement.

I drank yesterday too - I went to my work do during the day (started at 12pm) and a gig at night (started at 8pm), I had the grand total of 3 pints of shandy when usually I would have been falling down by 7. I realise it's not perfect, but God that was a huge achievement for me.

Giving us both a pat on the back @jorisbonson...baby steps but all positive... Thanks for the support! Well done to you too!

Hey all
Been a while. Glad to see the bus is still running.
The man you refer to honey was MIFLAW. He hasn’t been around in years.
venus pops in and out. mouse doesn’t come on here any more

Hi all. I would like to join, please, I am facing up to over 40 years of a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol. I won't post the details but it hasn't been pretty.

Nevertheless I worked full time for over 37 years, latterly in a fairly responsible job.

Now 63, I have moved back after 30+ years to live in the area where I grew up. New GP has ordered blood tests for a regular medication, including a liver function test, and I am plain terrified.

My plan is to put off getting tested until I have done a Dry January.

Things I have read on this thread have been helpful, thank you.
So : plan, plan, plan to be alcohol free.

1 have bought fresh ginger for infusions
2 will start on 2 January
3 intend to get in supplies of favourite chocolate
4 start eating ice-cream instead of drinking after dinner
(don't need to lose any weight)
5 drink mindfully over Christmas - no parties to go to.
6 remember that the muscles controlling my hands are Voluntary Muscles and I have the power to stop them opening bottles and cans.

On the plus side, I had a (rare) alcohol free day on Sunday - greatly assisted by an evening carol service - also yesterday I went shopping in Iceland, Aldi and Lidl and it didn't cross my mind to go near the wine shelves.

Thanks for reading. I will keep posting here for accountability.

Welcome @TurnStone. Looks like you've got a good plan in place x

Thanks @JorisBonson this will be the first time I have embarked upon a dry anything and I am scared and excited in equal measure.
As a wise colleague once remarked (about dieting) it's not willpower, but won'tpower that gets results.

Ditto! And I'm not exactly doing well but I have given my head a wobble about my actions and behaviour whilst drinking. It's a good start.

A small win to report .... One of my Christmas recipes needs a small amount of gin. Normally I would have bought a litre bottle, used the amount called for in the recipe, and looked forward to lots of gin and tonics over the next few weeks.

This time, I bought a miniature of gin so there won't be any left over. Head ( well and truly ) wobbled !

@TurnStone I started with dry January and put the money I would have spent into a pot for charity. I told people that was why I wasn't drinking. It did work but I won't lie, it was bloody hard. We are here to support you.

Hi Babes, old and new. Merry Christmas[santa] . Still lurking, trying & failing & trying again. December has been a write-off as it always is but I am already planning dry January.

Merry Christmas every one. I hope you all have a lovely time.

That's me TWO years AF today! Can't quite believe it.

Hi everyone. I’m new here. I’ve been trying to moderate my drinking for years with varying levels of success. I’ve realised I just can’t drink, as one glass always turns into a whole bottle. Health and weight is suffering so I’m here to quit. Just looking for support and community really. Sorry we are all going through this.

Congrats on an amazing milestone @MintToBee and merry Christmas!

I couldn't have done it without the support on here.
Yeahnah2020 We've got your back.

Happy Christmas to you all! This is Nosecco left from our wedding. It's a great AF drink if you want to celebrate.

@MintToBee congratulations! You’ve done amazingly well! Thanks yes I can’t do it alone.

OMG!! I can't believe I've missed 2 whole pages of posts, and almost 4 weeks... After being a daily reader and posting whenever I could, I think I was a bit despondent to think these threads were dwindling.

I'm sorry to read of people's troubles but also delighted that this wee corner of the Internet is still a safe place to share and support. We'll done everyone for being brave enough to confront this. It might not be easy, or straight forward, but it is possible.

I'm on my phone so can't name check (too much risk of losing my post) but a big wave to mint and I agree, Asda 'nosecco' is the only alcohol free drink that I can stomach.

Festive greetings to one and all! I lost the thread for several pages and had to go looking for it. Hope you are all surviving silly season?

It’s my second sober Yuletide. For the first time, a few people have made a point of AF gifts, which is thoughtful - though DH has developed a habit of introducing me with the words ‘she’s on the wagon, you know’ I’m just enjoying something called ‘CeroCero’ that tastes a bit like the pink Fevertree (with a hint of bubblegum) hm!

Hey annebolyn long time no see.
I wil be doing dry January too. Again. Hey mint and venus and craftycorvid

Hi all and a merry crimbo...congratulations to those who are celebrating AF milestones...an inspiration!

I have so far had some drinks on Xmas Eve and the day itself but am now planning to be sober until New Year’s Eve when we are seeing friends... then onto dry Jan with Xmas bells on.

Am managing not to go overboard so far and didn’t crack open the sherry at 10am yesterday as I normally would! . Waited until lunch and the Xmas feast helped to soak it up and I actually STOPPED drinking in the evening! Hoping I can keep this up!

Been reading Annie grace and also some quit lit to help inspire me...

Sending positive vibes to anyone who needs them today

Hi Ma
How are you?
Epic fail yesterday - had a selection of mini gains, thought I'd just try one after polishing off the leftover wine from dinner. I'm sure you can guess the rest .
What worries me most is I didn't feel hungover this morning. In 2 years' time I hope I will be telling everyone of my sober 2 years, like Mint

Gins even!

Hi AnneBoleyns well, mini gains is what it’s all about, isn’t it? One day is a good day, another not so much, but bit by bit there are more good days.

Back on the bus (shiny new name for me!)

I have tried and tried over the past few years to moderate my drinking but I just can't. I really wish I could.

I feel like shit after drinking so much over Christmas. I feel sick and headachy all the time. Even when I am not with friends I sit at home drinking alone. It has to stop.

So I have ordered myself some new quitlit and am trying to think of it as a more holistic, healthy new me rather than quitting alcohol in isolation. The stuff is going to kill me if I don't stop it.

So the plan is very simple. More exercise, better food choices, less frivolous spending, no booze.

Hi 2020. And welcome aboard the bus!