It is not exactly a secret that I enjoy a drink – specifically wine. Good day? Wine. Bad Day? Wine. Celebrating? Wine. Random Tuesday? Wine

You can see where this is going. After some heavy nights last year I decided in 2023, to re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol; to try and avoid using it as a crutch, and stop drinking for 6 months. Why 6 months? Because I’ve booked an all-inclusive holiday and I did not shell out that amount of money to watch someone else drink cocktails!

The difficulty with me remaining sober is, and I quote, ‘Self discipline is tough because I am the boss of me and that guy runs a really loose ship’.

January didn’t go so badly; I was so ill the first week that all I wanted was a constant lemsip drip and my bed. I was surrounded by a few people doing dry January so it was manageable. After three weeks I felt brave enough to emerge from my cave and join some people in the pub and not have my usual wine buffer in order to make conversation.

I have turned into one of those people that I used to laugh at! Instead of waking up on a Saturday with a sore head and a mouth dryer than the Sahara, I’m in the gym at 6.30am – 7.00am! I have more money to spend on soft furnishings because who doesn’t love a cushion and a house full of scented candles.

It is interesting navigating events when you go sober, where you are in an environment where everyone expects you to have a drink ( you can ask anyone, I don’t think I’ve ever turned one down!) but I am enjoying the surprise on people’s faces when I tell them I am now sober. I am pretty sure that some of my friends thought that if I ever stopped drinking, then the four horseman of the apocalypse would follow shortly afterwards.

I have 4 more months to go! Wish me luck!