Oh dear, what a few weeks.....

So, if it could have gone wrong in the last few weeks, it has.

Let's start with an almighty row with my parents which has still not been resolved. This is something that has been bothering me for a long time and I just needed to clear the air at some point. However, I didn't expect it to happen when it did and it all seems to have got a bit out of hand. Result: me off work, stressed to extremes and weeping on the doctor's desk-very bad!

Things have improved for me to an extent since then. I've realised that I have some really great friends who care about me and who have given me such amazing support. I have a wonderful husband (poor man - trying to sleep now at 6.30am whilst I'm watching the Sri Lanka vs England test match on TV) who supports me beyond the call of duty. My brother has now realised that our parents treat him just as strangely as they treat me so we're getting on really well.

The downside of all this is that I have not done at all well on the alcohol front. Actually, not REALLY badly, just quite badly. So, here I go again, feeling a bit stronger than I have recently and so maybe ina better frame of mind for the task ahead.

I knew that this wasn't going to be easy but I guess I am learning that I drink alcohol when I'm stressed- bad idea. So, plan for the future -  don't get stressed. Easier said than done - I still have to sort things out with the parents although lots of people have said that I should just leave them to come round. Also I have just signed up for my Master's Degree in Art History - no personal pressure then!

So, day two of alcohol-freeness (made-up word!), here I come. Starting the day with a little bit of cricket and then a short run to kick off my Race for Life preparation. Wish me luck!!

Suzanne xxx

Whoops! False start...

Okay now I'm ready!  My first week got off to a great start and I was feeling good. However, then the weekend came around and I was feeling a bit fed-up so I had a couple of drinks.....very bad!

A busy and productive day on Sunday with lots done in the garden and even a  trip to register at Makro and to buy unfeasibly large quantities of detergents and fabrice conditioner. Oh, the joys of a high-roller's life! All was destroyed in the evening with a call from my parents which went horribly wrong and resulted  in us no longer being on speaking terms. Sad, but a long time coming and in some ways a relief. I was finally able to say what I really feel about the way they treat me and my husband BUT I turned to alcohol to take the sting out of the situation and guess what, I FELT EVEN WORSE! Quelle surprise!

So, family drama apart, I feel that my resolve is growing and I accept that although there may be small slips along the way, I am generally sticking to my self-imposed rules. I also accept that as a conniving little monkey, I might try to change my own rules to suit me! Bad!

Wish me luck for this week, I'm definitely going to need it!

yours soberly,

Suz x 

Back so soon...

So here I am again, blogging. I get a feeling this could become quite addictive and really a kind of free therapy. God knows, I think I need it sometimes....

Well, my first 24 hours is almost over and I sit here armed with a glass of filtered water which is fine but I'm hoping for something a little more interesting if I'm going to keep this up.

The biggest problem I find with trying to find a non-alcoholic drink is that they are usually packed with sugar. I haven't got that much of a sweet tooth so I don't really like this kind of thing too much likewise with fizzy pop-not really my thing.

I'm going to do a bit of research and see what I find-I'll keep you posted....

Hello out there,

Welcome to my blog. I'm hoping that blogging will provide me with a bit of encouragement in keeping to the task in hand for me this year which is, as you'll notice from my subtitle, to survive and even prosper without an alcoholic drink.

I've been noticing that I'm feeling increasingly grim when I drink alcohol and that its a lot harder to get going in the morning with a hangover these days than it was in my twenties when I used to go clubbing midweek and then to pubs and clubs at the weekends too...God knows how I had the money never mind the physical ability!

So, call it the onset of old age or just wisdom finally taking hold but I've decided that enough is enough. I'm crap at refusing the offer of a drink so it'll be interesting to see how things go. I'm hoping that an increase in energy, better skin, the loss of a few pounds and extra cash in my pocket are all going to get me through the year.

The government's new ad on TV about the dangers of excess alcohol have a few people thinking along the same lines as me, I suspect. It certainly hit home with me. I don't drink alcohol every day or even every other day but I do feel that when I do indulge, I have trouble deciding when to stop. So, there we have it - its public now -I'm quitting for a year and who knows, I might get to like it and carry on.

One thing I'd like to do though, in the coming months, is find alternative drinks for at home and when I'm out in a restaurant or pub. I'm looking for stuff that isn't sugary or laced with caffeine and isn't just plain water - I drink enough of that all day long! I'm hoping for some followers and if you turn out to be one of them, please let me have your suggestions for my "mocktail hour" drinks.

So I hope you'll stick with me and follow my progress, maybe you'll make a few suggestions for me for non-alcoholic drinks or tips for success.

See you soon,

Suzanne