Alcohol free January

Jeans and thick jumper
Spanish red plonk
Steven Tyler
Who needs a party piece with a guest like that

That's me done for then!

Well at least there will be the two of us Greyduster at this party.

No you don't need a secret knock, as I will look through the spy hole and if I don't like the look of the visitor I won't open the door, so there.

Ok, here goes:

Jeans (couldn't find the dress!), a dark red silk shirt and heels . Look! No waders!
A very large Plymouth gin (or several) and Fever Tree tonic.
Derek Jacobi.
A passable rendition of Tom Lehrer's 'Poisoning Pigeons in the Park' - with or without piano accompaniment!

Do we have a secret knock to gain entry to your establishment, ma'am?

Yes well done to all.

Now to tonight's VIRTUAL PARTY.

All you have to do is during the next 24 hours is answer the following questions.

1. What are you wearing ?
2. What will be your drink of choice after a month or less of abstaining?
3. Who will be your guest from present day or history
4. Finally what is your party piece.

Can I start the party off?

1. Purple dress with butterflies on it.
2. A Bacardi Mojito
3. Prof Brian Cox
4. Balloon modelling

Anyone ever had cornflakes with Merlot instead of milk? Delicious! (Not!) ?. Only joking! Well done everyone, whether you slipped a little long the way or not. This thread has been great fun!

Well done one and all, those who succeeded, those who almost succeeded and those who fell by the wayside - at least you tried.

And thank you for your humerous and practical support

Well done all who have lasted the course! Me? Well I've spent a lovely weekend having an annual meet up with a group of old friends, so I always knew I'd stop a couple of days early. But I'm glad I did it, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. It's easy to have a drink out of habit rather than a real desire, so I think a general awareness of what I drink on a regular basis is a good thing for me. So maybe a damp February could be on the horizon after all

Well done everyone - I'm going away for a few days and I will certainly enjoy a - just the one though

Thank you to everyone for support and company

Dry day 31 .... signing off...!!!!

My d-in-l cooked a lovely pasta dish tonight which would have gone down well with a chilled glass of Chablis - what did I have, a half water half apple juice drink.

To be honest (and I never thought I would say this) it has got easier and easier and I really intend to drink a little less and to be more aware of the calories I am glugging down.

So grateful for all the encouragement from you fine ladies.

'There but for the grace of God.....', Willow! Congratulations on the pay rise, and I bet the wine tasted good!

OK well now I've really gone and done it and opened a bottle last night - well it's nearly the end of the month and having bought some when we went shopping only to find the wine rack was still full I had nowhere to put the spare I got a pay rise which was why I was celebrating

Yay! It's Feb 1st tomorrow and we've done it! ???☕️☕️

Huge congratulations to all of you who did Dry January! ?

jg - At present giving up chocolate for a month seems a step too far. I think I had more during January than usual.

That's shocking non service Anya - you won't need them soon

Absolutely no pressure Greyduster - just encouragement

The penny has just dropped Elrel - that was some challenge! Big congratulations ?

I am thinking about this whole sugar thing - I don't do sweeteners - so no diet drinks etc... but chocolate - now that's a whole different thing. Also during dry January I may have turned to chocolate as a replacement

Elrel your challenge is beyond me, and I like a challenge. Very Well Done.

That goes for everyone who has had a dry (or damp) January too. Just tonight to get over and done with.

Grey no pressure. Giving up the sweetners I've used in tea and coffee for decades now will be hard, but it's something I've always said I'll do. Can't be harder than alcohol, can it?

Trying to motivate myself to get out the house and walk. It's grey and wet and cold and my waterproof trousers still haven't arrived despite being ordered via Amazon on Jan 3rd

Greyduster

Hang on a minute!!!

Brilliant - 30 dry days

Congratulations to everyone who's got this far, those who fell and got up again, those who have been sorely tested (by others ) and those who just sometimes really wanted a and desisted - so many names to list but well done all... just one more day

NanKate - I'm ing for you ...
Elrel I'm with you on the prosecco
Showergel - that took guts
Anya I keep looking at the Doc Marten's site....
Willow - Do tell....

February challenges already being announced by Anya, Greyduster - that's impressive ? ..... anyone else ...?

NanKate - well done on all counts, on the wagon and looking sexy! Never mind what state he was in, the thought must have been there.
A Party Piece is a great idea. I think I might like you to make an elephant which does sound a bit tricky I know. I've received a hilarious email which I'd love to share - do you think if I copied it that it would paste on here? Don't like to try it in case it all goes wrong.
Going out for a family lunch tomorrow to a really nice pub - hope the tonic water will be very cold.....

Sorry, NanKate I've tried it and found I didn't like it, but it was kind of you to think of it!

I managed to keep on the wagon today when I went to a 70th Birthday Party, just two non-alcoholic ginger beers.

Greyduster I have found Stevia which is a plant based sweetener is a very good substitute for sugar.

I thought at our virtual party on Monday we could all do our Party Piece to entertain each other. I will do some balloon modelling any suggestions of animals you want?

Here's the biggest laugh I have had this year. At the party today I went to say hello to one of the guests who is 80. He turned to me and said 'you are looking very sexy today', he was either doolally or had started drinking earlier on. No one has said that to me for at least 20 years ! Do you think I am having hallucinations whilst off the drink ?

Momentarily felt guilty having miso soup but decided it was ok. Looking forward to a Peruvian hot chocolate and a chilled glass of prosecco in a few days but most of all to a morning mug of Redbush tea!

Just reporting in ...have held fast despite going to an event where they were serving free wine AND having my BF visit.
She quaffed her way through a whole bottle of wine over the course of the evening and then said 'don't tell my DH'.
I had drank diluted cream soda.

Anya