Life on the wagon

Anyone who I have been socialising with for the past 2 months will know that as part of the countdown to 'M' day, I have been abstaining from the booze. That's right, Mawhinney is spending more than 1 week on the wagon. Can it be done? Surely this will render my social life null and void? A life without wine and beer is a sad life indeed.

In fact much to my pleasant surprise it really is not a problem most of the time. At the start, I did annoy myself by talking about it more than is necessary, the way that someone who was married for a long time may talk about being no longer with their partner of 10 years to people... yeah I've come out tonight but it's just me. I'm not with Peter/Caroline/Merlot/Grolsch anymore.

Most people do ask me why - and it's fair enough. I couldn't be out and NOT drinking without a proper valid reason. Pregnant? No. Antibiotics? No Marathon runner? Yes!
In fact I always refer to it as a temporary status i.e. I'm not drinking (at the moment) so they know that I am normal. Woe betide I be one of those really weird teetotallers who does it all the time.

Being teetotal doesn't change me in any way, but it does have side effects on what a night might hold. Firstly, I remember everything. What a eye-opener that is. Then, a big night out is all about variety. Lots of different conversations with lots of different people, rather than intimate ramblings with a close-knit few regular faces. This is how to cope with drunk people who tend to ramble and repeat themselves. Half-hour chats are brilliant, and then it's time to find someone new.
It's not fickle - it's what sober people have to do to cope with pissheads.

Far and away the best bit is being able to drive home at the end of the night and have a good night's sleep. Not having spent £50 on an evening I would not normally remember but for the headache and furry mouth the next day.

But if you see me after 5th November, mine's a glass of red, Or bottle of red if that's easier.....