© FOX
A friend of mine has been taking
part in ‘Stoptober’, the 31 day challenge to not drink alcohol or smoke during
the month of October. During the course of the month he has been posting a
daily commentary on Facebook which has made for interesting reading as he has
gone from missing it a lot until eventually not really noticing. I’ve only socialised
with this friend on a handful of occasions so didn’t think he was as big a
drinker as he has revealed himself to be on these daily posts. At the time of
writing this I haven’t yet seen his post for today (the last day) so I’m not
sure whether he will decide to never touch a drop again or to go for
moderation. I find myself asking the same question even though I haven’t taken
part in this month of abstinence.
I am now at a crossroads where
I feel I should make a decision regarding drinking. Don’t get me wrong, I am
not confessing to a drink problem here, unless you count as a problem the fact
that I have become something of a lightweight. Last night we went for a family
dinner for my dad’s birthday and I had three pints of Guinness. Guinness is a
drink that I used to be able to consume vast quantities of, not that I am proud
of being able to drink a lot, I just wonder what happened to my body that means
that alcohol no longer sits so well with me. This morning I had to force myself
out of bed and dreaded the idea of a courtroom when all I wanted to do was pull
the duvet over my head and throw the alarm clock against the wall, the same way
I felt the morning after the Hockley Hustle. Perhaps I should give up drinking
as I would hardly miss it these days.
When I think back to the
amount I used to put away during what I refer to as my drinking heyday, it
baffles me that I managed to function at all. Whereas now a couple of glasses
of wine can ruin the next day for me, I used to spend whole days off in the
pub, particularly Sundays. There was even a time of my life when Newcastle
Brown Ale was my drink of choice, and I am still alive. I dread to think how
much time I would have to write off if I attempted to renew my friendship with
cannabis if I am feeling this way after one pint too many.
Rather than give it up
altogether I feel that I should confine it to weekends and celebrations,
anything that doesn’t require me to make too much of an effort the next day. Unless
I make an effort to get used to it again; locking myself away and drinking
myself better perhaps?
During the week I could have two or three
pints of a lunchtime and carry on working, I worked in the pub game which might
have helped me to build up my tolerance to an unhealthy level, but I never
suffered nor caused suffering to others as a result. Apart from one time when I
killed someone.
Only joking.
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