I'm pleased to hear that Danny. Keep going pal, it's worth it I promise. Soon the fabled 'pink cloud' will descend (look it up) and you will wonder why you every bothered with booze or gear. TTFN and Merry Xmas.
Morning sam hope you and you’re family had a good Christmas. After 4 weeks off I got back on the grog (gak once) over the Christmas week. Enjoyed a few drinks but can honestly say the hangovers and comedowns aren’t worth it, my moods changed and I generally felt like shit. Doing dry January now and actually looking forward to been sober again. Long term I want to have a few at football and a few with a meal, not the 4-6 cans and a bottle of wine 6/7 days a week I was doing. These emails are helping me get where I want to be. Cheers again, Danny.
Well done, Danny. I started my sobriety around Christmas a couple of years ago so I know how this time of year makes it extra hard to stay off the booze and gear. All the best
Another blinding article Sam - really looking forward to a alcohol free Christmas with just my wife and 2 boys - COVID has been horrendous but it’s helped to take the pressure off overdoing it and feeling the need to go here there and everywhere - I intend to keep it that way from now on - have a good one with your family mate x
You too mate. I know Covid has ruined Christmas for so many people and it's a real shame. But trying to embrace the peacefulness it brings about might be a tiny solver living. Have a good one pal, Merry Christmas.
Cheers Nicky, Merry Christmas to you too. Hope you have a happy and peaceful one. We've all got a lot to look forward to next year, things will get better for everyone.
I've incresingly struggled with Christmas as the last decade has gone on and family has increased with kids in the house as well. I'm good gettin up early, cooking for 13, getting presents done, all the usyual stuff, but by about 4pm I've had enough. Too many people, too much noise, too little time to myself, all my batteries drained from what is up until that sort of time an enjoyable day with family. Thatw as when I just needed to walk away from it all, get out of the house or spoend some time in a room on my own, anything to just not have to deal with it for a while.
However in the two years since I quit drinking I've never hit that same point, and looking back it's the point at which the lunchtime drinks with dinner are starting to wear off and you're looking at either a post-booze slump/early hangover kicking in, or topping back up with drinks that you don't really feel like you want, but feel like you need to be able to deal with the rest of the day. Getting off that cycle, which took up so much mental bandwidth to deal with, has made the day itself so much nicer, and boxing day significantly more fun too. Also, you can give the MiL a lift home which always gets brownie points with the whole family (we spoke about the jpoy of giving lifts on Twitter the other week). I used to legit love the all day slow boozing though, so no shade on those who do, it just stopped working for me.
Also, it was looking at all the subbutteo sets for the foreign teams, who in the 80s had kits that were way nicer than the British ones, that set me on a later adult habit of buying obscure and odd football third kits cheap off the internet. Happy days.
Haha, strongly relate to this! Especially the top up afternoon drink decisions! And the lack of mental bandwidth, that's a great way of describing it. Although I must admit i still do crave peace and quiet around 4pm every Christmas Day. That's when I tend to change into my pyjamas and dressing gown to give everyone a hint to fuck off. This year there won;t be any guests so problems solved! Merry Christmas pal!
First Christmas without alcohol this year since I was about 17. I’m really looking forward to it, even though we are in full lockdown in the Netherlands. The points you make about energy and having a clear head really resonate, also knowing you’ve done what you’ve done (even if it was totally fucking stupid) because that’s who you are and not because you were pissed. Great stuff; please keep it coming
Cheers mate - good luck with your first sober Christmas, I am certain you will love it. You basically feel like you're really experiencing Christmas for the first time since you were a kid! Mad how we let the season become defined by booze when we are teenagers and then never look back! Enjoy your Dutch Christmas (which sounds like a euphamism for a dark sexual act from the Viz Profanosaurus)
3 weeks sober and gak free today, these weekly posts keep me on track and they are the kickstart I needed. Cheers beeping Timmy. Danny
I'm pleased to hear that Danny. Keep going pal, it's worth it I promise. Soon the fabled 'pink cloud' will descend (look it up) and you will wonder why you every bothered with booze or gear. TTFN and Merry Xmas.
Morning sam hope you and you’re family had a good Christmas. After 4 weeks off I got back on the grog (gak once) over the Christmas week. Enjoyed a few drinks but can honestly say the hangovers and comedowns aren’t worth it, my moods changed and I generally felt like shit. Doing dry January now and actually looking forward to been sober again. Long term I want to have a few at football and a few with a meal, not the 4-6 cans and a bottle of wine 6/7 days a week I was doing. These emails are helping me get where I want to be. Cheers again, Danny.
Well done, Danny. I started my sobriety around Christmas a couple of years ago so I know how this time of year makes it extra hard to stay off the booze and gear. All the best
Nice one Bobby, Merry Christmas to you too.
Cheers Bobby, 2 years is going some, good on you. I want to do a month before Christmas to halt what was becoming an issue. Have a good un.
Merry Christmas, Sam! Great post 👍🏻
Great read again, love these hitting my inbox when waiting for 5pm to land on a Friday. Have a good one yourself Sam.
Good man Dex, glad you're looking forward to them. I am enjoying writing them and love the feedback. Have a great Christmas and new year mate.
Another blinding article Sam - really looking forward to a alcohol free Christmas with just my wife and 2 boys - COVID has been horrendous but it’s helped to take the pressure off overdoing it and feeling the need to go here there and everywhere - I intend to keep it that way from now on - have a good one with your family mate x
You too mate. I know Covid has ruined Christmas for so many people and it's a real shame. But trying to embrace the peacefulness it brings about might be a tiny solver living. Have a good one pal, Merry Christmas.
Thanks Sam another really helpful piece. Happy Christmas to you and yours. Peace and Love to everyone x
Cheers Nicky, Merry Christmas to you too. Hope you have a happy and peaceful one. We've all got a lot to look forward to next year, things will get better for everyone.
I've incresingly struggled with Christmas as the last decade has gone on and family has increased with kids in the house as well. I'm good gettin up early, cooking for 13, getting presents done, all the usyual stuff, but by about 4pm I've had enough. Too many people, too much noise, too little time to myself, all my batteries drained from what is up until that sort of time an enjoyable day with family. Thatw as when I just needed to walk away from it all, get out of the house or spoend some time in a room on my own, anything to just not have to deal with it for a while.
However in the two years since I quit drinking I've never hit that same point, and looking back it's the point at which the lunchtime drinks with dinner are starting to wear off and you're looking at either a post-booze slump/early hangover kicking in, or topping back up with drinks that you don't really feel like you want, but feel like you need to be able to deal with the rest of the day. Getting off that cycle, which took up so much mental bandwidth to deal with, has made the day itself so much nicer, and boxing day significantly more fun too. Also, you can give the MiL a lift home which always gets brownie points with the whole family (we spoke about the jpoy of giving lifts on Twitter the other week). I used to legit love the all day slow boozing though, so no shade on those who do, it just stopped working for me.
Also, it was looking at all the subbutteo sets for the foreign teams, who in the 80s had kits that were way nicer than the British ones, that set me on a later adult habit of buying obscure and odd football third kits cheap off the internet. Happy days.
Haha, strongly relate to this! Especially the top up afternoon drink decisions! And the lack of mental bandwidth, that's a great way of describing it. Although I must admit i still do crave peace and quiet around 4pm every Christmas Day. That's when I tend to change into my pyjamas and dressing gown to give everyone a hint to fuck off. This year there won;t be any guests so problems solved! Merry Christmas pal!
Haha, yeah, that quiet time is still nice, but these days I tend to quietly slip away rather than flounce out! Merry Christmas, have a good one!
Love this Sam
Cheers mate, Merry Christmas
First Christmas without alcohol this year since I was about 17. I’m really looking forward to it, even though we are in full lockdown in the Netherlands. The points you make about energy and having a clear head really resonate, also knowing you’ve done what you’ve done (even if it was totally fucking stupid) because that’s who you are and not because you were pissed. Great stuff; please keep it coming
Happy Christmas/Fijne Kerst!
Nick
Cheers mate - good luck with your first sober Christmas, I am certain you will love it. You basically feel like you're really experiencing Christmas for the first time since you were a kid! Mad how we let the season become defined by booze when we are teenagers and then never look back! Enjoy your Dutch Christmas (which sounds like a euphamism for a dark sexual act from the Viz Profanosaurus)