Told Lysh we could go Warwicks Funfair down Burslem today after dinner (says it opens at 1pm) so she's dragged us out of bed at 8am singing Herman the Worm enthusiastically. Says she wants a shower and her hair takes ages to dry so we needed to get up early 🥴😴
Sammie decided come accompany us to the fair 🥰 so we're pretty much all set to leave to head down there when suddenly disaster strikes... Lysh has not got any suitable footwear that fit her properly 🤦🏼♂️ (side note: she has 10 pairs of footwear that apparently none of them fit her today!). She starts asking about going up her Mum's which is a half-hour trip just to go get some different shoes... I'm like, not really, no Lysh it's impractical... "well I'm not going then!" and there she goes up to her room in a rage! 🙄 Sammie suggests we go and swap her size 4.5 Converse for a size 5.5 pair that are down my Dad's... so off we go to sort that! 😮💨 Finally we get down the fair at almost 3pm (remember, we got up at 8am to make sure we were ready on time 🥴🤣) and she has a go on the rides she fancies including getting me to accompany her on the Sizzler and Yankee Flyer - manage get away with only spending £35 since we'll be going Stanworths in a few weeks which has unlimited ride wristbands 😝 been a good day all in all! And now to chill out for a bit before I show my face across the Moorland Inn to see Double Lively in action! 🍻
It was strange being back in the local on a Saturday night after all this time. Brilliant performance by Double Lively and a catch-up over a few scoops with Ninny and Spoon 🍻 got back home ravenous, cooked myself some carbs on carbs at almost midnight 😂🍟 then thanks to Tez, got this holiday to Malta finally booked! 🛫
A few reflections on returning to drinking alcohol. It becomes so ingrained in society and habit that it's second nature to drink all the time. It's bizarre when you step away and look at cultural acceptance. Alcohol seems to accompany any event even kids birthday parties. It's actually baffling. I'd reached the extent of habitually drinking 4-5 nights a week, perhaps 3-8 pints each occasion depending on company. Moderation has always been an issue of mine. Not knowing when to stop. From drugs, to fights, to regretted sexual liaisons, to dangerous scenarios or even simply sending messages I regret... too many times I've fallen foul of the loss of my faculties. I needed to regroup and reassess and I'd say the 15-month break has really benefitted me; it's helped me improve my health massively, especially my mental health as I've been forced to confront myself totally vulnerable and sober. No crutch, no sedation. Sleep quality really improved too. Hardest part was events and occasions where you feel awkwardly sober whilst everyone else seems to be having more fun thanks to the social lubrication that alcohol provides. The break has allowed me to return to drinking with clear boundaries; not drinking alone, no drinking in the house unless it's a social gathering, no drinking at events simply 'because', and if I'm on a prolonged event then I'll be alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. I feel those guidelines should be a way to a healthy relationship with alcohol without being a total stick in the mud. Honestly at this point though, I'm confident I could stop again permanently and not be that bothered.
