“diet coke please”

So, when I first started writing this post, the sun was shining, beer gardens were open again, and we were well and truly into peak Chablis weather. Fast forward to today, and the rain is horizonal and the wind is vertical!

There is absolutely NOTHING that compares with taking that first sip of chilled wine, sitting in the sunshine, at the end of a long day. Or so I thought.

I have spent the last few weeks in Rhosneigr (North Wales) visiting my family. It’s where I started my drinking career at the age of 15, and where I have done much of my practicing since! So being here and not drinking feels quite strange. There has always been a large amount of alcohol involved in my time here. It would also appear that drinking alcohol and only alcohol is a notion shared by all of the pubs here; the range of non-alcoholic options is poor at best, and usually, non existent.

Sigh.

“diet coke please….”

To be honest, I was dreading being here and not drinking, but it feels no different. I am still going out, still seeing the same people, still doing the same things. Except I am usually the first one to bail at the point the tequila and sambuca arrives!

But, nearly 8 months down! Two thirds of the way through! I am writing a longer post for the start of September, but for now, I am going to enjoy the rest of the (apparent…) summer, in Wales, with my family. (And drink a lot of diet coke!)