Have you ever felt like you should take a break from drinking, but then you talked yourself out of it, because the timing just didn’t feel quite right? I used to do that too. I kept waiting for this one perfect, Hollywood-style moment where everything...

How do you know it’s definitely time to quit? When I was struggling with my drinking, I spent years trying to answer that question. I was expecting one really clear sign to come along and hit me in the face. Then I’d know for sure, right? But if you’re...

When I first stopped drinking, one of my biggest fears was other people. What would they say? Would they judge me? Would they feel awkward around me?  I’d built up so many worst-case scenarios in my head that just the thought of other people’s reactions...

You know those days when you’re flat out from morning to night? Running around, trying to keep on top of things… And yet the to-do list never quite gets done. By the evening, you still haven’t had a single moment to yourself. That’s when the thought creeps...

  I couldn’t believe it when I saw them: wine bottles with names like “The Kids are Finally Asleep” and “Friday at 5.01pm.”  (Yes, those are actual wine names, printed right there on the label.) It got me thinking: how are you...

Have you heard of the term, “the mental load”? You often hear it talked about in relation to motherhood or caregiving. It’s the invisible work that goes into planning, organising and anticipating everything.  It’s heavy stuff… and when the mental...

Can I be terribly British for a moment and talk about the weather? Because it’s been lovely lately – so sunny, warm, and dry.  If you’re newly sober (or trying to be), you can’t fail to notice the tables and chairs that appear outside bars....

When I was trying (and failing) to quit drinking, I always had a lot of angry questions for myself the morning after.  Questions like: Why on earth did I do that? Why do I keep drinking when I said I wouldn’t?  Sometimes my drinking felt like a bit...

“Alcohol has been my best friend for years.” I saw this comment on one of my blog posts recently and it got me thinking.  There was definitely a time in my life when I thought the same thing. Wine truly felt like a friend. When all else failed, there...