Its all over!

We'll after a long day on Friday we finally sat down about 7pm to have our first drink in over a year. We had pink champagne (bought by a friend as a 'welcome back'). It was really weird because when you drink regularly you dont wait for the effect to hit you, but we just kept saying 'anything yet?'. By the time we'd finished the champagne my wives cousin and his wife came round to say hello (and also brought us champagne!). I started on the red wine even though I knew I shouldn't mix the two. Had a great night and then about midnight I decided i felt a bit ill so I went to go to the bathroom. My wife said 'dont go to bed' which I had no intention of doing but then the idea was planted in my head. At this point I threw up! After about 5 mins I was ok to make it into bed. I text my wife to say I was ill and then I went to sleep. Woke up the next day with my first hangover in a year. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, and although I couldn't have driven anywhere, I could have struggled through a day if I had lots of plans luckily I didnt so we just watched TV all day, which was nice).

We made arrangements to go for a few drinks and a meal today but I just dont want to drink. This isnt like when people say 'im never drinking again' after one too many, and then next week they start again, its more like although Friday was fun, I think it would have been just a fun without alcohol and now the year is up in some ways its like the choice is back in my hands (although it always was really) and I'm choosing not to drink for now. I've decided to take the car today and the next time I'll be drinking it will just be to toast a wedding...I've decided to take the car as it will save the bride and groom getting a larger mini-bus and like I say I just cant be bothered. I think I'll enjoy a wine with a meal etc but certainly not a bottle! ;-)

Its been an excellent year and its been totally worth it. I think I'll keep the blog going for a little while and update from time to time if I'm drinking just to see what the after effect of this year has been (one thing I learned is your alcohol tolerance doesn't change...I was no more or less drunk than I would have been 2 years ago!)

Facebook

Still not had a drink yet. Will probably be this afternoon. In the mean time I've been thinking about what else I could challenge myself with and I think I've come up with a good one...I'm going to give up Facebook for a month! I seriously think that will be harder than giving up drinking. I came up with the idea because we said that we'd lock up our mobile phones today once we started drinking to stop us making idiots of ourselves while we get used to drinking again (Facebook updates etc), and I was wondering if we'd actually do it. I tend to update Facebook on average once or twice a day but I access Facebook much more than that to check other people Facebook updates. Pretty much everytime I have a spare minute (far too easy when you have an iPhone! Not sure when I'll start but I think sometime in the next week...

Year up!!!

Well it's been a year! Last night our close friend called over and brought us some pink campagne and a card to welcome us back to drinking, which was so nice of her. As long as my father in laws hospital visit goes ok today we'll be sharing it later...

364 1/2 Days!

Wow! This seriously has been a weird year. As Ive said before, sometimes it feels like its flown over but then other times when I look back on things like my parachute jump, it seems like years. I feel like a 17 year old about to be legally allowed to drink tomorrow. I bet I feel like I'm going to be asked for ID (chance would be a fine thing!).
It nothing else this year has taught me new ways to have fun. I'll still drink but I'm keen to keep broken certain habits, like drinking at friends houses when all were doing is having a few people round to watch some movies etc. Theres no point in situations like that...I used to think it 'made the night' but I was totally wrong, it just shortened it when I'd fall asleep at midnight!
Tomorrow should be interesting though!...

Naked wines

I think the founder of naked wines has commented on my blog, which is really nice...perhaps he'll be kind enough to send me some wine to review/enjoy ;-)

Friday!

Well its now been 364 days since we last had a drink. Technically we could start from midnight tomorrow but then I really dont think we'd get much out of drinking at that time of night. We've got plans for the morning now, but I'm off work so as soon as we're done I think its time to get a little tipsy ;-)

Virgin wines

I wonder if virgin wines know the years up...I'm getting an email a week from them recently!! ;-)

A year of planning messed up...

I have the 7th August booked off work so we could enjoy a beer at the pub at about 11am and then have a few drinks in the house. My father in law has a doctors appointment that day and were going take him to and from it so I guess Ill not be drinking until the evening. Bit of a shame as I'd hoped to have recovered/sobered up by then, but not to worry, can't be helped!

Last wedding during the year off...

I was at a friends wedding yesterday. It was the first (UK) wedding I've been at since we undertook the challenge and it was a fantastic day. We ended up on a table with 2 of our close friends and another couple who weren't drinking because they were driving home after the wedding. I asked the waiter to give me a red wine (as did my wife) so our friends could have ours (which actually turned out to be pointless as their glass never got empty before the waiter filled it up). The smell of the red wine started to make me feel sick so I had to move it in the end. Its so weird because I thought I would still like red wine...apparently not!!
We were smoking at the wedding and we started to get to know the usual crowd outside. One person who was nice enough, started to get really annoying when he found out we weren't drinking. He seemed to think it was going to be tempting to have a bottle of beer waved in my face every 5 minutes. I tried to explain that it was just a way of life now and it might as well be trying to tempt me to eat salad, but as he was drunk he just didn't understand.
We had a brilliant time though and the whole day was gone in a flash. We left around midnight and got home about 1...thanks to lack of sleep I now feel hungover! ;-)

18 days...

Everytime I look up from life to check how long weve been doing this I get surprised at how quick a year has gone. I noticed in my fridge theres 2 half open bottles of wine, about 6 bottles of beer and another 2 open bottles of wine in the utility room. They've been left over from when people have come over for meals and brought drinks...unfortunately I've gone off all of it...I couldnt face drinking white wine, and lager just seems awful right now. I'd like to try a glass of red to see if I hate that now too (previously my favorite drink). I suspect its going to be really hard to find a drink I like in the future...and I'm not forcing myself to like something...If I dont find a drink I like, I'll just not drink!

3 Fridays left...

I'm currently in a hotel as I have a meeting tomorrow. I used to always have beer or wine with a meal when I worked away, mainly to stop boredom. I know now this is one place is stupid to drink. You don't get a good night sleep, your tired on the drive home and you can't expense it!!
With only 3 weeks to go I've been thinking about our first day drinking more. I know it will be a bit of a laugh but I've gone so long without drinking it's like my mind thinks the years not over and I should keep going. I really wonder if I'll still feel this way in a month or by new year?

1 month 1 day to go...

Its really weird. This last week Ive started to think about when we start drinking again but not in a looking forward to it kind of way, more in the I cant be bothered with it kind of way. I know for sure we'll drink on the first day as thats been the plan all along and its part of the experience, but even that I cant be bothered with. Its so weird. My wife was saying the other day something about a night we have planned after the year and assumed I'd be drinking but I dont think I will. I think it will be really nice to have a drink on my mother in laws wedding day but just a glass of champagne I think.
I'm sure now that I'm going to keep this blog going for a while because I wonder if my fundamental attitude to alcohol has changed, or if this is just how I feel now while I'm not drinking.

Count Down!

The Big Drink Debate

I was checking twitter yesterday when I noticed a tweet from Northumbria Police (northumbriapol) about a 'big drink debate' in the north east of England. Obviously with doing the challenge I had a look and found their message was pretty much what I've come to believe (that you can have drink in moderation and still enjoy yourself).
I emailed them to see if they wanted to link to the blog (always after free publicity ;-) and Matt who is running the PR for the campaign rang me today. He seems interested in what I had to say and the blog might get a little publicity out of it which is nice. I think the message they're promoting though is the right one, and thats to change peoples attitude to drinking...not to stop them but to help them understand that change isnt a bad thing. If your from the North East then perhaps you'll want to fill this survey in. I think I'll re-tweet it on my twitter too.
http://www.northeastbigdrinkdebate.org.uk/

Stag do...stag don't

-----Original Message-----
From: David
Sent: 30 June 2009 11:01
To: G
Subject: RE: Stag do

G,

I was ringing before to see if the surfing was on because I was we'll up for that, and I would have gone karting but I don't think I can go on the brewery tour. I'd have to spend the whole time telling people I'm not drinking this month and I have a low tolerance for people saying 'just make an expectation'!! I'll make it up to you on the wedding day by being one of the few sober people there with access to a car if you need anything at all on the day...sorry about this. Although I said I wouldn't let not drinking stop me going on nights out (and its hasn't for the most part) I don't think I can socialise with people I don't know in a brewery! The irony is in the past year I've gone right off the thought of lager. (38 days to go before the year is up ;-)

David

Off to the pub quiz tonight

Im off to the pub quiz in a minute. Its weird because I avoided this so much over the last few months. I think it was my last preconception of things you really need to be drunk for. Actually I like going to the quiz, and most people dont drink anyway. I cant believe its 6 weeks until we can drink again. I really feel this year has been a fantastic experience, and I've never felt so proud of myself. That said...weve been talking about our first drink. Ive taken the day off work and were going to have pink champagne and a nice brandy.Should be fun! Still got the stag do, wedding and concert to go to though so im in no hurry. I wish someone would invent true blood beer before I start drinking again! :-)

Wedding in Cyprus (in an all inclusive hotel)

I've just arrived back from my brothers wedding in Cyprus. We changed our hotel at the last minute to an all inclusive which started people commenting on the alcohol again. Even when I explained it was about the hotels location and facilites, they would still go on and on.

I have to admit I was tempted once. This as made worse because so was my wife (who has now become very anti-alcohol in responce to other people telling her to just give up giving up,, and also seeing them drunk). It was the first day of the holiday and we arrived at 6am. We were round the pool by 9 and that's when we started talking about if we were doing the right thing. I think it all comes down to new experience. We were only tempted because we hadn't yet been on holiday (especially all inclusive) while not drinking. My wife said if they sold pink champagne in the hotel then she would like to drink. Although I agreed, I didn't run off to check, I just waited until 2pm when I passed the inside bar. When I was about to ask my wife started having doubts so I said 'right, we keep going then'. I think we would have both been really dissapointed if we hadn't made the year. The holiday was great and I didn't miss alcohol at all from that point (you can torture yourself if you dwell on these things, and let's face it, it's only alcohol).

At the end of the week was the wedding which had a free bar put on by my brother and his wife! You have to laugh ;-)

I've got loads of new 'not drinking stuff' coming up in the next month and a bit (before the year is over). I'm at a stag do, at a concert on the edge of a cliff, and I've got a wedding...and that will be interesting as it's wedding hangovers that kind of started this in the first place!!

Stag do!

I've just been invited to a friends stag do. Exactly 1 month before I drink again! It should be fun and Im looking forward to it because it will be a totally new not drinking experience, and although temptation is still with me today, if I make it to month 11 then there's no way I'll be tempted then.

First Bank Holiday over!

Ive been checking the calendar and we'll have 1 bank holiday this year without 'the ban'. In my local area there are a lot of people who go drinking at the coast on bank holidays. I've never actually been as its 'fight central' and I dont like the place at the best of times. We do normally have a drink on Bank Holidays though, be that a BBQ or just a few glasses of wine (ok Im lying its a bottle!) in the garden. I do kind of miss that although I bought some Schler (spelt wrong!) which was a nice substitute.

I've just been re-reading the blog. Its so weird to read some of it back and see what we've been though that would have involved drinking. It makes me realise what my annual consumption must have been (bearing in mind the uneventful nights of drinking that would have happened but because they didnt I've not written about).

I think our only potential risk factor is the Holiday. Its the final major event to get though without drinking (my wife's birthday is in May but we've already done mine sober so it will be the same). I really like having a drink on the plane...normally just 1 or 2 but still. I couldnt drink on the way there this time anyway as I'm driving at the other end, which is really good. We're going to have a private pool thought and it would have been nice to sit round it having BBQ and a few drinks. Oh well, its not the end of the world, the holiday should be great and I think we've proven we dont need alcohol to have fun!!

For the first time in ages I spent the night in the pub....

We went for a meal with friends on Saturday. My friends ordered a White Russian and a glass of wine. We drank non-alcoholic beer. Afterwards we went to a local country pub and had a really great night (obviously we werent drinking) but at one point I wondered why they were repeating themselves...and then I realised! ;-) I'd forgotten what being around people drinking was like. Its not that they were drunk...just a little tipsy. In fact it was just the right amount (and I suspect part of the reason one of my friends was so quick with the jokes around midnight). Sometimes alcholol is fun...even if its not you drinking it!

I see Zombies!!!

We've settled back into the not drinking idea now. It's much easier when your decided on keeping going.

Last night my wife went to a leaving party from her old job. Most people were drinking but she had fun sober. I drove to pick her up at 1230am (and bear in mind it was bank holiday Friday) the streets were scattered with zombie like people staggering about swilling bottles of beer on their way home. Some were in packs others in pairs, and the odd lone zombie. It's quite funny seeing people in that state when your sober!

Off for a meal with friends tonight. Thell drink nodoubt but I'm glad we'll have the car

I came this close || to breaking the years pledge!

Its been a funny couple of weeks. My wife got made redundant (voluntary) which made us both happy on the whole. A new start. We started talking about if we should celebrate with a bottle of champagne. I cant remember which one of us started to weaken first but whoever it was the other one stood firm and said it probably wasnt the right time....and then then later we switched roles and started debating the opposite to our original point. This has been happening all week and then today we were at a restaurant with a friend and we basically decided we were going to drink this week. My wife is going to a friends house for a kind of leaving party and I said if your drinking there then we have to have a drink together first, since we started this together we should finish it that way (also it might be a good idea to see what light weights we have become first!).
Later on today I asked if we were really going to do it and my wife said we should ask people on the blog, our Facebook friends and twitter. I posted a 'tweet' and a status update and then after about 10 mins my wife said 'I dont think we should do it' - meaning give in. I was glad she said this really as it would all have been a bit rushed and anit-climactic.
Im not sure if we'll make the year but I think were going to give it a good shot. Its been harder since the pressure of life has been lifted. Weve been tea-total for 9 months now and about 8 of those have been the most stressful of our lives (which I am thankful for...that 'work'was the most stressful thing we've been through...but that doesnt make it any less real while its happening). Now the pressures off its like giving yourself an excuse to break the pledge. Its kind of like 'whats the point?', theres nothing to prove. HOWEVER...something keeps us going, and if nothing else it makes life interesting!!

Oh and as a side note I saw pictures of my niece drinking pints of beer in the same pub I used to drink in when I was 18...I feel so old!!

Still on the waggon...

The hardest part about writing this blog after almost 8 months is that not drinking has now become part of my life so I don't really think about it anymore. Don't get me wrong, I've been tempted to have a drink from time to time but I don't think I was ever that serious.

I really like life without drinking. I don't see some of my friends as often as I used to but I still see them only now it's a better quality experience. I know some people in the family don't ask us out anymore to the pub which is a shame because I miss that.

I've got a holiday/wedding to go to in Cyprus in summer so that will be a new 'not drinking' experience. It's my brothers wedding and he's not invited me to the stag do. Since it's costing me £2000 to go, you'd think I'd get an invite to he stag party. Still Im being grown up about this and assuming it's because I'm not drinking so he's not inviting my for my own good, and not because his geeky brother embarrises him

I'm totally sure when this is over I'll be (almost) tea total...almost ;-)

Ps I'm on the iPhone so excuse the spelling

Should I start drinking again?

Just had a serious chat about starting drinking early. Good points: holiday soon, being drunk. Bad points: it's not a year!

I started smoking again after 18 months!

It was a stupid thing to do. I was stressed and even though I knew it wouldn't help I did it anyway. I guess if I analyse why I'd have to say I was feeling self destructive but I knew alcohol was off limits so that was the next best thing. I smoked pretty much the whole box and now I have a craving to start smoking again. I know it will pass if I just dont touch anymore, and since im not in the habit of smoking it will be much easier than if I associated it with lunch breaks (or drinking!). Silly me!
Ive noticed now that people are totally used to us not drinking and they no longer even comment on it which is nice. We get the occasional 'how long until you are again?' but thats about it. I do miss being around drunk people sometimes...they make me laugh ;-)
Last night we had a friend over who reminded me how red my face was once night and how I got annoyed after they brought it up (what they forgot was they brought it up about 100 times before I lost my temper!) Another reason not to drink...I dont have much of a sense of humor unless I intended to make a fool of myself!!
I do think more and more though that im not going to be a big drinker after this, and if I find myself creeping back into old habits then I'm just going to stop for good. Its just not worth the health issues, the time lost to hangovers, etc etc. If I can just have a few and then go a month without then great, but we'll see. I think one of the biggest lessons ive learned is normal people with seemingly no issues with drinking are terrified of the idea of never drinking again. We'll take it from someone who knows...it aint that bad...in fact its better to not drink in someways.
I think someone I know might have a problem with alcohol. They drink a 'normal' amount in the pub but just the odd thing they've said or behaviour they've exhibited makes me think there drinking when people aren't around, and there drinking spirits...and thats the thing...ive never seen them drink spirits so it does make me wonder...

I'm off to bed

I'm stuck in a hotel and I can hear drunk people laughing. They sound like there having fun. I can't remember what's fun about alcohol anymore. It's wierd, I remember the memorys of it but not what it's like. It's like trying to imagine what taking drugs is like based on what ive seen on tv. LOL. Night night

2 posts in one day! (it's down hill now!)

Well it's official we now have less days to start drinking than since we've stopped!! As expected it's become harder to stay strong! I said this would happen. I knew it would because when I quit for a month the first 2 weeks were easy but the last 2 got harder as the count down began. What I quite like is that my wife also feels that way. I think it's easier to do things as a team and if we both feel that way I really think it will stop us lapsing as the other one isn't acting superior and saying 'it's easy' etc.

It's funny though, although I'd like a brandy or scotch, I'm just not interested in getting drunk anymore. Perhaps it's because the memory of what it's like fades and is replaced by the reality of what others look like drunk. It probably doesn't help watching shows like 'booze britain'. I really do wonder if my born again tea total (ish) attitude will last for long after August??

I think I'm going a little (more) crazy...

I've said before that I think not drinking alcohol can make you more confident. You know what your doing so your ok with make a fool of youself. I also think the same is true for fun. It started to snow the other day and I found myself at a wallpaper shop buying a sledge!! It was good fun actually, but it does make me wonder if I would have done that had I been filling my weekends with beer.

I passed my exam!!!. As mentioned previously I would have failed this exam if I had have been drinking as I would have had a few beers or a bottle of wine and not had the solid 8 hour revision/learning I had instead. If nothing else being tea total made me a better prospect at work!

Some things are really better done drunk...

I was invited to a friend 30th a while back and the party was last weekend. It was fancy dress and was originally supposed to be in a social club which would have been fine as you can 'hide' in some seats, have a laugh at the costumes and leave when your ready. What actually happened was it was moved to the house, everyone knew eachother and I was dressed in a lycra jumpsuit (elton john) with my wife as Marolyn Monroe. oh dear! Now I'm not saying it would have been any less aquard if I had have been drunk but perhaps I would have cared a little less. We made our exit about 11 and i think eveyone else (who knew eachother) had a great time, and I'm really glad, but NEVER NEVER again!!! ;-)

182 days down, 182 days to go!!!

Wow its wierd because in some ways its flown and it other ways it feels like I cant remember drinking. I feel a renewed determination today! Also im on operation 'six pack' for the holiday in June.
Got a text from a friend last week "I must have been sick last night. Theres sick in the sink although I dont remember...hope it was me anyway". Feeling smug :-)

Nasty nasty drunks

Just had a rather nasty email from one of the family. They're drunk right now and in a pretty nasty place (physical place/location not emotional place, although I guess both is true tonight!).
I hate angry drunks. If you've been like that more than once just stop drinking...seriously. Sometimes I hate booze...(other times I drink it ;-)

Bargaining with the devil...

Recently its been tougher than the initial few months. We've had a lot to contend with and sometimes it would be nice to have a few beers to unwind. I found myself saying the other day 'if 'x' happens then im having the day off the challenge' and I really meant it. Now 'X' is a good thing and so really there is no reason to drink as that news would be enough so I can only assume in a moment of weakness I was giving myself an excuse to break with the challenge...bad me, bad!
I have been thinking about that final day though...Its a Friday (7th August) and Ive been thinking about doing it one of two ways....getting very very drunk and videoing it for your amusement, or just having a civilised glass of wine with a meal. Long term I really want to stick to the civilised option but it might be some fun to do the former...I'll have earned it! Although I will be staying home that day as I suspect 2 beers and Ill not be able to walk!!
I have to admit its been like quitting smoking. First month I thought about it alot, next 4 or 5 were fine (it never fully left my mind on weekends because we were in pubs etc but it was fine) and now after nearly 6 months its been tougher. I suppose the only reason I dont is I hate to loose ;-)

Just sat an exam...

I'm just updating via my iPhone today as I'm on a train coming back from an 'ITIL' exam in London. I'm so glad I'm not drinking because I know I'd have had a bottle of wine or at least a few beers! Instead I spend 8 hours watching a training package on the subject and since I'm currently wondering if I scraped a pass, I think it's best I spent my time revising and getting a proper sleep. I'm fact should I pass, I'll have to say that I would had failed for sure if I'd had a drink.
Got a funeral tomorrow. It's going to be wierd not drinking at a wake. Feels strange even commenting on it, but that's what people do at a wake and it will feel aquard telling people who offer me a drink why. Perhaps I'll say 'I'm driving...probably will anyway. Drinking aside, it's going to be emotionally tough tomorrow

Its not been a good new year so far...it better get better thats all I can say!

Without going in to any detail I dont think I've even felt more stressed than I do right now. Im a pretty laid back person and I think thats why I dont often get stressed but hardly a minute goes by over the past few weeks that I haven't felt stress. I have to admit that if ever I was going to be tempted to have a drink early (i.e. before August 09) it was going to be the past few weeks. Ive even started to crave cigarettes! Ive not had a cigarette for over a year and a half and I've been tempted to start smoking this week. Its only because I've read Alan Carr's book that I know I wouldnt get anything out of it. The 'relief' I remember from having a cigarette was only relieving the physical addiction and since i dont feel that anymore theres little point...thanks Alan! Hope you enjoy it up there!
As for drinking I must admit there have been times I've thought 'stuff it'. I mean its not like I'm an alcoholic and I only entered into this whole thing light-hearted, but the problem is I'm stubborn and I dont think I could quit quitting if I wanted to...I'd feel like I'd let myself down too much. I think my stubbornness is the reason I know everything is going to be ok in the long run. I'll just keep plodding on until I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and things return to normal in my life...I like normal!
I spoilt myself the other day and bought an xbox 360. The money we save on alcohol makes me not feel too guilty about it. We got 'Lips' the karaoke game. Normally I would never sing in public when drinking as I know what a fool I'd look, however like most things when sober...if you choose to look a fool then its not so scary so I've had a great laugh playing it with my wife and my friends.

New Year, New Determination!

Well we managed to have a nice Christmas and New Year and I really didnt miss alcohol one bit. There was perhaps once that I thought it would have been nice to drown my sorrows after a few nightmare ish days, but thats hardly a reason to drink even when I drank before this challenge, so its totally no reason to drink now!
On new years eve I really wanted a cigar which I think was more about tradition than my smoking addiction (havent smoked in 1 year 5 months). I think its probably best I didnt have one as its probably a 'gateway' to cigarettes.
A few days ago we went to a neighbours party. Got the usual questions as to why we werent drinking etc etc (we live in a quiet 'middle class' street and they have seen me dancing on the garage roof at one of our parties!). We gave them the abridged explanation of having too many weddings last year and getting sick of drinking and they left it at that. It was a nice night and its always nice to see them as they have been friends for years and always have funny storys to tell. As is becoming the norm we were the first to leave! I also think our not drinking is having a knock on effect to other people. we got asked to a friends house for a night in and although most people couldnt make it I know that if I had have been drinking they would have drank more than the couple of cans they did...Interesting!

Happy new year!!!

Well it's now 2009! Last night my wife and I drove over 30 or so miles and consumed zero alcohol! It went something like this:
18:30 met the father in law, his wife (step mother in law), and their friends for a meal. We had non alcoholic beer which was actually funny because we were asked by the friends of the family if we were just having the one if we were driving!
20:00 drove 20 or so mile to see some friends who were staying home with their new baby. The baby was drinking Brest milk, dad was on red wine and mum was drinking tea I think ( we had coke...full fat!!)
21:30 went to mother in laws and her boyfriends. He was drinking wiskey, she was having rum and coke ( although I suspect she only had the one ). We had non alcoholic beer left over from Christmas.
23:00 went to mums. Drank coke ( I just remembered I drank 3 red bulls in the car too)
00:00 Happy New Year!!!
00:30 went to aunty in laws and saw cousin in law ( not drinking ) and cousin in laws boyfriend ( doesn't drink but was drinking wine from the bottle??? )
01:30 got home and got asked to 2 partys...I wish I could say we went back out but... Zzzz....
09:00 woke up, no hangover. Text friends to be smug...they are all ill! :-)
I'm updating this on my iPhone so I'll tidy this up later...happy new year !!!!!!