The Giving Up/Cutting Down Alcohol Support Thread - Numero 9!

Pippilongstocking

penelopedee wrote: »

Ok I'm back

Sorry I am not going to be serious all the time cos personally I don't feel that works for me. Life needs a bit of lightness and love around the edges to keep us all going


Hope you are all well and coping ok, Pen x

365days wrote: »

I know I upset some people the other night. Some of those people have been in contact with me and we have sorted it out away from the thread. I've also had PM's from members on here who I highly respect offering support. Thanks Guys.

Hopefully what I say next won't upset anyone as I believe it to be fact.

There are people on here who want to cut down and can easily.
There are people on here who want to cut down but can't.
There are people on here who want to stop completely and have.
There are people on here who want to stop completely and can't.
There are other people on here who don't fall into any of the above but for their own reasons find the thread helpful and interesting.
This is a thread about ALCOHOL.

Sometimes people will post things about alcohol and alcoholism. That is because it is an alcohol thread and because alcohol and alcoholism sometimes go together.
Some people here are alcoholics in recovery, some are alcoholics in denial, some are alcoholics who aren't in denail but struggle to stop and some people aren't alcoholics at all.
Some people get passionate about alcoholism. Some people don't. Some people love to come here and read serious posts that challenge their thinking, some people like to come here to chat, some like both.

As i have said I have apologised to the people I have upset that got in touch with me. I am sorry I upset anyone. But this thread is about ALCOHOL so therefore my thoughts on alcohol and alcoholism are just as relevant as anyone elses. You may disagree with them but they were relevant to a thread about alcohol.

If anyone has an issue with me or what I said please feel free to get in touch.

Both posts say it all - we need it all...............

Thank you to both of you :A

I am just home - having been off work for nearly a month - its a bit odd - thankfully only mornings at the mo.

x

ps nice to see old and new faces about

MotherT

Posie_Flump wrote: »

Hello again...

Trasij - thanks for your post - decided that perhaps I will hang around after all.... Mother T will you join me??? go on.. go on..

Shaggy, please would you put me down for 20 days for October and thank you for scoring x

Managed another AF last night. I seem to have got the week days nailed now, although without fail have the BELLS on my way home from work and the walk from station passing numerous offies and supermarkets. Seem to be able to fight the bells at the moment and have been able to for the last month or so, but I still know that I have potential to cave in. So far so good though.

Have had 8 days AF in a row!! Phwooo Phwoeee! this is unheard of for me - I am chuffed to bits. I was hoping that all these days AF would leave me glowing and vibrant but unfortunately I have been struck with a severe head cold for the past few days. Unable to breath through my nose so have been wandering around with my mouth hanging open like the village idiot! but I do feel more energetic and almost verging on cheerful at work....

I have Friday and Monday off this week - long weekend looming so hope I can be sensible..

Hope you are all ok and thanks for your comments regarding my previous post.
Love Flump x

Thank you Flump, don't mind if I do!

I have been reading the thread for a few months now and know a little about the regular posters so I suppose I should tell you a little about myself. I have drunk alcohol every day for the past 30 years, only exception was a few days when my husband died 12 years ago. I drank a bottle and a half of wine every night, then beat myself up every morning telling myself it had to stop but by the afternoon all my good intentions faded away and I was back on the merry-go-round and got twitchy if there were less than 2 bottles in the house.

I retired in Feb and soon realised that, financially, I couldn't continue spending an average of £6 a day on wine but was also scared of how my body would react if I stopped drinking. This is where you people came in!

I began to read this thread every day, identified with a lot of what people said, how they felt and how they dealt with cutting down/giving up and decided to stop drinking for a while on July 19. Got myself armed with Ribena, which I have in a wine glass (although Elderflower Cordial is my new fav!) and chocolate treats. I managed to achieve 52 AF days, looked and felt better (if a 62 year old CAN look better!), lost some weight and once over the sleepless twitchy first few days, I began to feel in control.................Then I went on holiday!

I knew it would be a big hurdle for me even though I intended to drink, just wasn't sure I'd be able to get back on the straight and narrow when I got home but I am proud to say (with your, perhaps unwitting, help!) I am now on my 13th AF day.

So that's me........sort of, out there.......exposed....(watch it, Lurkio and YM, no tittering at the back!)

Hope no-one's glazed over, just wanted to say thanks.
Luv
Txx

Marru

Oh Mother T - that is just wonderful.

I have to say that there have been times that I wouldn't have been able pull through without the tittering of the above mentioned Gentlemen :kisses3:

Pippilongstocking

Welcome Mother T -

We all needed a hand or two from the lads (and the lasses) now again on here - Well I know what I mean!

Warm welcome to both you and Flump!

Driving out there tonight to get DD too and from her fencing club - dunno whether to wait there? Will think on.

365days

Great post Mother T. Thanks and welcome. (Although we used to call our 'nasty' grandma that behind her back so I am little scared!)

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. Last couple of days have been rather emotional for me...can't think why:o;). You may remember me saying I hd a bottle of gin in the boot so I can make sloe gin fro friends for christmas. It's still in the boot. There have been times last couple of day's where i've just thought f.it...a bottle of gin will sort it out. (I don't even like gin) But it wouldn't of and it didn't get a chance to. Just goes to show that constant vigilance is still required for me.

cazzasmazza

Hello everyone,

2 more AFDs for me please Shaggy.

I will come back to you about my target for October when I have pondered on it some more. Still not sure if I want to "target" myself yet.

I won't add to what's been said before about the last few days of posts which have caused controversy. Glad to see it's being/been sorted out but sorry to see some members felt they had to leave the thread.

For me, this thread has always been super useful and super supportive and it hasn't mattered that I've gone AWOL for a few months at a time, you have all welcomed me back as if I'd not been away and that's been priceless to me. I've done some serious posts and some utter nonsense musings ones too. They always make me feel better and I love reading what you've all been up to, whether good or bad.

Anyway, I love you guys, so hope you all have a wonderful evening. I am working, so not so great for me!

Hugs,
Caz
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Puzzcat

Hi MotherT and Flump,

nice to meet you...

lots of similar stories unfold on here and lots of successes (spelling?) too....

I too was/am a little passionate about the old beverage, a full bodied red is my great love, but with the help of this thread I again am achieving some Af days, I wish you both well with the journey..!!

Pen I am reporting in early with day 3 of your challenge, little one's in her pj's and i'm planning a nice bubble bath soon and no reason to go out tonight. I'm quite proud of myself for last night, as I was parked between 2 off licences for 45 minutes waiting for my daughter and was only very mildly tempted, and resisted. Not sure about tomorrow I shall deal with that when it comes....

and I had the best nights sleep ever.....

Hope all well.
xx

penelopedee_2

:jMonday to Thursday AF Challenge:j

December Baby
Clarabell :)
Fay :)
Maman :)
Marru :):)
Pen :):)
Puzzcat :):)
Randomname
Yellow Monkey :)

Just for tonight (Weds)

Jo

Special Offer - 2 nights only - anyone want to join us for a Weds & Thurs night challenge?

I don't mind listing just one night, if you only want to think one day at a time

Marru

Very tired today so in desperate need of an early night.

Just to declare 28 please Shaggy and 3 please Pen

maman

365days wrote: »

Lucky you Florence is my favourite place. I can recomend a company called 'Tuscan Trails' (I think) who take you on a vineyard tour, stunning scenery, amazing food in a local 'slow food' resturant and (as you've allowed yourself some non AF days!!) a sample of all their wines. They will pick you up from various places in Florence.

Enjoy

Florence is delightful. Unless you are going on an organised holiday you must try to fit in San Gimignano and Pisa (by bus or train) and be sure to book early morning tickets in advance for the Uffizi.

Well done cazza on your extra AF days. I know what you mean about targets as a day at a time is sometimes better.

Thanks for sharing (;)) MotherT. While I wasn't drinking for so long or quite so much I can completely empathise with what you've said.

Good luck for everyone for this evening.