Seana Smith

One of the great things about not drinking is that it takes the pressure off friends who also do not want to drink. Oh dear, I have just realised that in the past I have probably put some subtle pressures on some friends, who might not have drunk if I wasn’t exuberantly and enthusiastically doing … Read more

I had my kids in two batches. Two boys two years apart then a gap of almost 7 years and then twins. I remember before the bog boys became teens I used to think that when they started drinking, I would gop ballistic and possibly combust with worry. Well, we did have some hair-raising moments … Read more

The photo here shows the charred trees by the roadside as my daughter Ms13 and I drove down the Bells Line of Road. A mammoth bushfire tore through this area just before Christmas and this road was closed for two weeks. Seeing all these charred hillsides was a shock, very confronting indeed. And that’s part … Read more

Look, to be honest, I had spent 25 years stopping and starting and worrying about drinking, or not drinking and sometimes worrying about that, and sometimes not worrying about not drinking – the reprieves. But last year, there were some moments in amongst my general ‘mindful drinking’ when I really did worry myself. I have … Read more

James is an excellent guide, a chatterbox with excellent English, perky and enthusiastic, he was born in 1990, so must be 29 years old. James keeps his iPhone 11 in his hand and keeps us in hand too, all of us, taking great care as we dodge with him across the busy streets or jump … Read more

Oofa, the wakefulness in the wee hours has been really driving me mad. These past few days have been effing tricky. This is like when I had booze-fuelled, anxiety-filled 3am wake ups… I have a little headache all day too, and am collapsing into bed early and asleep by 9pm. My quit lit readings telling … Read more

So much to see and do and so much to engage the senses. It’s chilly here in the mornings and evenings and then sunny and warmish by day. Not researching a city and it’s real history very much means that it strikes me all the harder, heard first time. Did I really not know that … Read more

Well, that was a new experience. A long time flying devotee, airports and airplanes have always been places where I enjoyed a drink. Or two… or more. We arrive at the airport early, two teenage travellers and their 50-something parents. Fumble and fuss, fuss and fumble until we are all sorted out and can take … Read more

I have been off the booze for a few days and have been haunting some Facebook groups, like ONYB and Sobersistas. Most people there mention which day they are on: ‘Day 35: feeling sad and lonely/’ ‘Day 10: never felt better.’ Day 1… again…” And this has immediately made me want to NOT ever count … Read more