2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

Oh @Laura_Elsewhere, that's terrible, what a horrendous time you must have had, and how strong you must have had had to be to come out the other side.

My grandfather was alcoholic due to his experiences during WW1. I never met him: he died in his fifties and I'm sure the alcohol didn't help though I know he battled it. That's one of the reasons I'm very cautious: I have quite an addictive personality and don't want to get hooked.

Both your experience and his show how wider factors can drive people into drinking to escape, and there are so many factors involved, and also from your sister's experience, how hard it can be to take responsibility for making change.

{{Hugs}}

PipneyJane

Big hugs @Laura_Elsewhere.   I know from other things you have said that your sister made your childhood hell.  I am glad you survived.

Please always remember that you are loved and appreciated.  You are a good friend and very kind.

- Pip

MrsCD

Pip, you're not weird! My dad got drunk for the first time when he joined the army (National Service) and he was so ill he never drank anything again, ever. Mam didn't like alcohol at all, it was never in the house, so I didn't have the urge to try it growing up. However, in my teens I did try one or two drinks and just didn't like the taste, or the 'burn' going down. Many years later, I tried some wine, at work in catering, and still felt the same. I'm a sugar addict, so I'm very grateful that I don't like the taste, or I suspect I would have a problem.
I'm pleased that the medics are slowly getting to the bottom of your problems. Hope they work it out soon. I know it took many, many biopsies for the docs to eventually diagnose Dad's amyloidosis, so you have my sympathies having to wait.
Laura, you had such a horrendous time, but I think you are an AWESOME woman!!! You have helped so many people here and we all love you to bits!😍

dND

Hugs @Laura_Elsewhere and congratulations on your courage. 

I've more or less cut out alcohol as I find the 0% stuff has improved over the years.  I lived alone in France for 15 years where alcohol is much cheaper and I did worry that I might go overboard but actually it was the opposite.  I would open a bottle of cheap fizz, my favourite tipple, on Friday night and have a couple of glasses.  That bottle sometimes lasted until Tuesday!  The French use reasonable size glasses and I came up with the term "British Bucket" for the glasses that UK based brits would bring to the fetes.  I seriously sat beside one guy who took half the bottle to half fill his glass, that had been put on the table for 6 to share!

Sadly, it's not seen as abnormal; for example Black-eye Friday when the thing to do is to drink. 😢😢

My problem is sugar and bread products.  Again in France eating in the streets, although becoming more prevalent wasn't commonplace but here there is that sort of food where ever you look.

maryb

I drink wine with food and while preparing food.  But I drink far less these days because it makes the heartburn much worse otherwise.  The joys of getting older!

I saw in the papers that the longer term forecast is that a Sudden Stratospheric Warming looks like it is happening and that means snow about two weeks later.  They are currently cautiously suggesting the whole country will see some snow from about 11 January onwards.  So I popped into Marks today and bought some more thermal vests - they sell out instantly as soon as more people become aware of cold weather incoming.  I've got some silk vests which are nice but only add a bit of extra warmth and although I normally hate synthetics, I gotta admit, those M&S Heatgen vests are TOASTY!

I'm so over my coupon count for the year I didn't even bother to count them.  But 2024 will be a fresh start

CapricornLass

I have been drunk, but I don't drink so much these days.  It upsets my stomach these days if I have too much, or I,m drinking cider - too acidic. I tend to stick to just one drink.  Its rare I drink more.

I have a policy of never drinking anything at all if I am driving, or there's a possibility I will do so.  I have, however, discovered the wonderful world of very low alcohol/alcohol free cider, and occasionally I have one of those.  Though I'm famous in the local pubs as being the lady who marches up to the counter and orders a pot of tea!  

PipneyJane

Afternoon All

Thank you for confirming that I’m not the weird one.  I appreciate it.

On the “How you met your spouse” topic, I changed jobs in 1997.  I was still married to Dumbo at the time, but I didn’t have a home life.   He was too busy screwing around with an 18 year old university student.  I was desperately trying to earn enough money so that I could continue to pay my mortgage - yes, of course, I owned the house - while being able to afford rent somewhere, so that I could move out.

My new office were a very sociable bunch and I spent a year where, every Monday, I was told “Oh you should have stayed on Friday.  M and G turned up just after you left”.  (I lived on the opposite side of London.  Inevitably, I’d headed home on the last train that would get me to Charing Cross before I’d have to wait over an hour to get the last train home.). M was my colleague.  I spent a year wondering who this G bloke was.  All I knew was that they were flatmates.  Ironically, the one time I stuck around, waiting for M to arrive, he brought his other flatmate.

When the 1998 Christmas Party was organised, there were a couple of extra places, so M was ordered to bring G along by the organisers.  I actually met him on my friend’s stairs, because the four of us shared a taxi to the venue.  My first thought was “He’s nice”.  It was only later in the evening, when the office drunk was attempting to chat me up that I spotted G on the dance floor and, taking refuge, went and danced with him.  We’ve been together ever since.

Mid-January, I got summoned to the Office Managing Partner’s office.  He knew I was married and demanded to know what my intentions were towards G “because we like G and do not want to see him hurt!”.  I had to promise him my intentions were honourable and that I would be getting a divorce. 

- Pip

Laura_Elsewhere

Firstly, you are all lovely... thankyou x

@PipneyJane, I think it speaks volumes about how nice your G is that his workmates and boss felt fond enough of him to make sure you weren't toying with his affections! 

It's nearly time to leave this thread and go to the new one, just today and tomorrow to tidy round... I was checking the cupboards here in the village hall and found my vivid green mohair cardigan I had stopped knitting in the spring, so I have started that again- just onto the mile of waist-ribbing and then it's the sleeves, leaving only the cutting-up-the-front and button-bands to do (I crochet those, far easier)... and maybe knit a small collar... 

Wraithlady

I rather lost count of my coupons, so as I've just ordered a pair of trousers from Collectif, I shall assume that I don't have any vouchers left.

PipneyJane

Wraithlady said:

I rather lost count of my coupons, so as I've just ordered a pair of trousers from Collectif, I shall assume that I don't have any vouchers left.

Flash Harry or Syd-the-Spiv will supply them to you.  No coupons required and all guilt free.  

Remember, the coupon clock resets at midnight tomorrow (31st).

- Pip