I'm actually taking this as a good thing. Remember that awesome bottle of wine I was using as my final wine o'clock? Well I'd already had 2 glasses out of it over the weekend, and there were three left. With my new declaration, I really wasn't enjoying it at the end of the second glass, so the final drops sat in that bottle overnight.
And sat.
And sat.
So Monday, a little motivation ensued. If I completed 3 tasks after work, I could enjoy those final mouth-watering ruby-red drams.
- Walk - anywhere, for as long as I wanted
- Meditate for at least 5 minutes (easy for a 9 year yoga practitioner)
- Finish my tax return (due on 31 October in Australia)
It was about 13C/ 55 F with a bit of a brisk wind. I bundled up and walked for an hour along the foreshore of the Derwent River. Mt Wellington had a dusting of snow on Sunday, and the cloud still covered what remained. Encountered the sweet male duck trying to awaken its dead mate.
Upon returning home, I was a bit invigorated by the walk, but turned towards calming my mind. Meditating is much easier in yoga class with someone else telling you to still your thoughts. Change takes practice, and 5 minutes was enough this time. The dramas of the day were gone, and I focused on dinner and my taxes.
By 9:30 they were finished, and I enjoyed the satisfaction of that last glass of glorious red.
The real work starts tomorrow, but I'm ready, with a good practice day under my belt.
Day 1 Tuesday
A tough one at work, with a lot of stress and not an easy path to find my way through it.
Started thinking about how I give all my good, thinking, hard-working, accomplishing hours to someone else, for their dreams. Surely, that's not right. I was exhausted by 3 o'clock, with still 2 hours and a few more tasks to complete for the day. By the time I stopped by the supermarket and got home, I was done. I did the only sane thing I could do: I opened the fake wine.
A spanish Sav Blanc with 0% alcohol. I know change is going to take time. Bit by bit. I'm happy I bought a mixed case of no-alcohol wine - everything from whites, roses, reds and sparklings! I'll use that to satisfy my craving.
But today's hangover is from work. The stress may have won today, but the alcohol didn't. Hmm. Might have to eliminate work!
Day 2 Wednesday
"Hump" day. Busy day at work, got a few things done.
After work, I watched a documentary on the UK's new recommended alcohol limits Found here.
Key notes that I found different:
Day 3 Thursday
Thursday was another tough day at work. I was beat and went home to watch the Bachelorette. More fake wine was enjoyed!
Day 4 Friday
Big big plans to don my saree and head to a Diwali celebration! Absolutely ready to get my Bollywood on!
via GIPHY
Managed to get there without any alcohol! But alas, the food was sold out! No dosa for me! It was cold, and for the first time, I was actually tempted...
But I went home and watched a movie instead! With, you guessed it! Fake wine!
Day 5 Saturday
The first real test! Dinner at a mates! When I arrived, there were 6 bottles on the bench, and only 5 people for dinner. One was already drinking beer.
It was ok. I stuck to flavoured mineral water. Some discussions where I could see the alcohol affecting people, but I stood my ground.
Another situation where I could have limited to 3-4 glasses in 5 hours, and still drove home. Getting to understand that the key is to drink water between wine glasses.
Day 6 Sunday
The biggest trial so far! The Black Sorrows at a pub in the middle of the afternoon!
Took a mate who supplies me in wine,
To finish the week without a drink! said fine.
Drank $6 soda and limes,
And that, my friends, totally rhymes. :-)
via GIPHY
But I didn't really enjoy the music. I mean I did, but I was aware that so many people were around; that I needed space. Alcohol has always helped with crowds. I moved here because Sydney was too crowded, and I don't like feeling closed in. Maybe I found another thing to work on, or maybe, just maybe, this is one thing I'm happy to use alcohol with. Big crowds so I can enjoy the music. Not a frequent thing.
I've pretty much always been that way with festivals and big standing-only venues. And there's always been alcohol where ever there is music. So now I know why.
Recap
SIX DAYS STRAIGHT WITHOUT ALCOHOL! (and still going). I did reasonably well considering the stress from work. Going through a bit of transition at the moment, so it's to be expected.
Takeaways from this week:
After work, I watched a documentary on the UK's new recommended alcohol limits Found here.
Key notes that I found different:
- Men can no longer have more "units" than women; recommended is no more than 14 units (35ml of spirit) per week
- Have at least 2 days per week alcohol-free
- Eating does have a profound effect on alcohol absorption
- Women over 55 are the only group who saw benefits from alcohol; lower risk of heart disease from 2 drinks per week. (The article includes men, but that was not in the documentary.)
Some things to take away for my pondering.
Day 3 Thursday
Thursday was another tough day at work. I was beat and went home to watch the Bachelorette. More fake wine was enjoyed!
Day 4 Friday
Big big plans to don my saree and head to a Diwali celebration! Absolutely ready to get my Bollywood on!
via GIPHY
Managed to get there without any alcohol! But alas, the food was sold out! No dosa for me! It was cold, and for the first time, I was actually tempted...
But I went home and watched a movie instead! With, you guessed it! Fake wine!
Day 5 Saturday
The first real test! Dinner at a mates! When I arrived, there were 6 bottles on the bench, and only 5 people for dinner. One was already drinking beer.
It was ok. I stuck to flavoured mineral water. Some discussions where I could see the alcohol affecting people, but I stood my ground.
Another situation where I could have limited to 3-4 glasses in 5 hours, and still drove home. Getting to understand that the key is to drink water between wine glasses.
Day 6 Sunday
The biggest trial so far! The Black Sorrows at a pub in the middle of the afternoon!
Took a mate who supplies me in wine,
To finish the week without a drink! said fine.
Drank $6 soda and limes,
And that, my friends, totally rhymes. :-)
via GIPHY
But I didn't really enjoy the music. I mean I did, but I was aware that so many people were around; that I needed space. Alcohol has always helped with crowds. I moved here because Sydney was too crowded, and I don't like feeling closed in. Maybe I found another thing to work on, or maybe, just maybe, this is one thing I'm happy to use alcohol with. Big crowds so I can enjoy the music. Not a frequent thing.
I've pretty much always been that way with festivals and big standing-only venues. And there's always been alcohol where ever there is music. So now I know why.
Recap
SIX DAYS STRAIGHT WITHOUT ALCOHOL! (and still going). I did reasonably well considering the stress from work. Going through a bit of transition at the moment, so it's to be expected.
Takeaways from this week:
- There will always be times when I can drink, but not necessarily that I want to.
- It's possible to hang out with people who are drinking, even if I don't want to drink.
- Some fake wine is not so bad.
- Sometimes letting loose with a few drinks is ok, but not all the time or every time.
Things to work on next week:
- Substituting drinking for something besides fake wine.
- Energy/ stress levels - the alcohol does not seem to be the cause.
You can test your mettle by singing karaoke at Montgomery's Hotel on Argyle St. Fake wine probably improves your range.
ReplyDeleteLOL. I have my own real live rock star to sing with!
ReplyDelete