19-01-20 Sunday I - Dry January

I’ve been wondering what to write about for some time. There are a couple of things that have crossed my mind that I thought might be worthwhile covering, but then I've thought again and decided to hold my whisht. Brexit is obviously quite exciting at the moment, so that is always worth writing about. Then there is family life, there are one or two moments worth recording. But today Dry January warrants a mention, as it only comes around once a year... 

I had been thinking about participating in Dry January for a while before Christmas, and with all the socialising leading up to Christmas it was nice to be able to take a break in January. To be frank, it’s been quite easy so far. I did buy some cans of non-alcoholic Heineken lager in the second week of January but they didn’t do much for me. I drank two on the first night, and then four the next night. But I guess that is what I would do with beer - i.e., drink ‘em if I had ‘em. A couple of nights I had some orange juice and lemonade, which was nice, but more often than not I've just had a cup of tea. Standard, with milk and a couple of sweeteners.  

I’ve not definitely been taking part in Dry January. If people have asked whether I am doing Dry January, I’ve always responded “so far...”. But then, as time has gone on, I guess I have been observing Dry January, to the extent that when I didn’t, on Friday night, I was angry with myself on Friday night as I was drinking and on Saturday, as I was waking up. 

I’m back on it now, I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm quite pleased at the sight of so many cups of tea in one period. I’ve actually got a cup of tea on the go as I write, so there won’t be any booze tonight.

When I decided I was going to drink, I sank a bottle of wine and a couple of whiskies, for no reason whatsoever. TW had been unwell, and I guess I wanted to feel like me for an evening, but I didn’t really take any pleasure from it. I would have done better to read a few comics, or catch up on a bit of TV off the planner. Never mind. Eleven days to go until the end of the month, but we do have a wedding to attend on the evening of the 26th, I haven’t decided whether to have a drink or stay dry that evening. I’m sure I’ll decide closer to the time.  

Anyway, time to go and finish my tea.  

TTFN. 

Sunday 18-01-21 I Dry January

I’ve not had a drink since the 6^th January. And that was only one glass of red wine. It was the remains of a bottle I opened the night before, on the 5^th. I didn’t drink from the 1^st to the 4^th before that.

I certainly could have done with a drink last night, but I didn’t succumb. It would have been so easy; TW was off in Brighton meeting some friends and although she’s “not doing Dry January”, she hasn’t been drinking either (except for the 5^th, the same as me). But she told friends that she was probably drinking last night, and so it turned out.

We’ve got beers and wine chilling (and freezing, on some nights!) in the back garden, and I could have easily opened the back door and cracked one of those bottles open, but I didn’t. I guess that I’ve got this far (20^th Jan) and I didn’t want to give in at this stage. TW & I are going out on the 1^st February to see a comedian – Ahir Shah, performing “Control”, and I am planning to have a drink then, but obviously I shall want to remember the show, so I’m not planning on getting hideously pissed. And, in addition, we are going to a rugby evening on the 2^nd, and I shall be driving, as TW is planning to be away that weekend.

What I’m trying to say, I guess, is that I’ve got a few things to look forward to, and so not drinking now is not (or at least it shouldn’t feel like) a hardship. Since it is the 21^st already, there are only ten days to go. I’m not trying to raise money for charity or push teetotalism, but it is good, from my personal perspective, to take some time away from alcohol. I balk at the phrase “evaluate my relationship with alcohol”, but taking a month off does go to show that if we (that’s the royal we, i.e. I) don’t think about it consciously, alcohol can easily start becoming a regular fixture in the evenings. On a couple of occasions (and probably more) TW has looked at me disapprovingly as I placed another four-pack of lagers in the fridge. It’s easy with the Co-Op and The Wine Centre standing between West Worthing train station and home… Anyway, the world probably won’t end if I have a few nights without a beer or two.

TTFN.