click to visit
'I don't drink!' How to quit alcohol - a drinker's tale
  • Home
  • Read my books
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Download files
  • Newsletters
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Competition Page
  • My chosen Charity

It's all over - now what?

26/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
The big day has been and gone. You might have stayed sober, you might have got completely wrecked, you might be massively hungover, but either way, the fact you are reading this you are possibly wondering what comes next.
When I used to drink, boxing day was always an anti-climax and the day after was even worse. For one thing I still felt a bit hungover and even shell-shocked from having such a volume and mix of drinks. Secondly the thought of more drink made me feel ill despite knowing I was going to have to have some because that is what I did, and often drink was all I could think about as well. Now it’s different.
If this is the first day of you being newly sober, or the first day of a countdown to a dry month, or even just another dry day after your first dry Christmas you might be wondering what to do with yourself.
When the thought of having a drink no longer forms part of your mind-set and you have attained that wonderful new sense of freedom you won’t have a problem thinking what to do, because you will already have developed a new life for yourself. Until then, some ideas:-
Absorb yourself in a really good book. This year my wife bought me the illustrated Bible, not because I am religious (if anything I follow a Buddhist way of life and thinking) but because the Old Testament fascinates me with its wars, murders, mysteries, magic and the sheer power of the storytelling dating back some 3000 years. With so much strife between all the three peoples of Abraham (see, I’ve learnt something already) it is a fascinating time to understand the history of it all even if the tales have been doctored by vested interests over the intervening centuries. I am also eagerly awaiting delivery of a book by David Bohm a quantum physicist who linked his science to philosophy and beliefs almost as paranormal as those in the Bible.   
Burn off your new found energy or start a new get fit regime. There is nothing like exercise for making you feel virtuous and instilling in you a new desire to achieve great things. This year I went for a swim Christmas morning, I did do the same today and if the gale blows itself out will go kayaking in the ocean with a pal of mine tomorrow. We had planned to go Christmas morning but the weather decided against us. We also went for an eight mile walk along the sea-front – very bracing, exhausting but rewarding.
Treat yourself to some great food. I am spoiling myself this Christmas with mince pies, chocolate, apple crumble and ice cream and all manner of good things I normally try and avoid or only have occasionally. After all, why not – it’s Christmas.
Do something for others. Using all the extra time you have on your hands now you are not wasting it drinking to help others is always special, one of my sons-in-law is working with the homeless this Christmas. Being able to drive at all times of day and night means you can visit people you might otherwise not get to see, or just being out and about and celebrating the fact you are alive by smiling at people and wishing them well for Christmas is nice. I am aware that in some towns and cities you might get taken for an idiot if you smile too much however!
Do something for yourself. Write down your plans and ambitions for the year ahead and be realistic, make them achievable, notable and identifiable. Create a star chart so you can tick off achievements day by day if that helps. It certainly works in my household.
Don’t wait until the new year! And don’t wait to start your new life. I used to waste those days between Christmas and New Year when I would be ‘starting anew’. It meant nothing ever got achieved. Treat every day as important in its own right. 
Go for it!

 


Comments

Christmas on the beach!

25/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
No not the Caribbean or somewhere similarly exotic, but here on the South coast of England. A wonderful and envigorating walk to build up an appetite for a tasty evening Christmas dinner and to wear off some of the biscuits, chocolate and other snacks I have been consuming most of the day, but it is Christmas!

I don't know what was on TV today as I don't have one anymore but there was no-one around this afternoon, even the pubs which were open seemed fairly quiet. I remember that by now (5.00p.m.) the old me would have felt hungover from having been drinking since before 8.00 a.m., would need a sleep before dinner, and would then feel rotten all evening wishing it was bedtime already. Instead I feel hugely alive and more than ready to suffer the cracker jokes and the itchy head from wearing a paper hat! Have fun.
   


Comments

Black Friday with Balls!

19/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
My friend Richard Latham certainly had 'Balls' holding up a copy of my book in Balls Brothers wine bar on black Friday lunchtime. We were having a who can drink the most lime and soda without having to go for a pee contest. I won but then to be fair Richard had already sunk a few cokes beforehand. We ended up making much raucous laughter, having a great time and then we crashed the Club Soda offices and made more mayhem there as well! It just shows we can still make bloody nuisances of ourselves even though alcohol wasn't involved. Yes!!! 

Comments

No need to Hide!

19/12/2015

Comments

 
I know for a fact that people shun away from talking openly about their drinking, and that many would be loath to read a book like mine in public, especially on a busy train. I think that’s a shame. If there is something you have an issue with and you are doing something proactive to resolve it why should you hide that fact away? I come across lots of people openly reading quit smoking books and talking about smoking issues in public so why not drinking? I think it all comes back to that word ‘alcoholic’, and that complete myth that somehow an alcoholic can’t be cured and will always be some strange creature to be wary of. My new motto for 2016 is that if you have a drink issue, you recognise that fact and you want to do something about it that’s fantastic; you don’t need to brand yourself as an alcoholic before tackling your problem. Whether or not you are an alcoholic is completely irrelevant. I recognise that I was an alcoholic because I let alcohol dictate my life; but it doesn’t now so I would no longer say I was an alcoholic – it’s just that ‘I Don’t Drink!’


Picture
Comments

On the Beeb!

14/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Great fun this morning being interviewed  by Danny Pike on BBC Radio to launch my new book 'One for the Road' - is there life after alcohol? . I have attached the interview on youtube for anyone interested in listening. Clicking on the photo will take you there directly.

It was interesting that I talked about how easy it was to quit alcohol once I had made that firm decision and how I don't miss drink at all, and afterwards listeners were able to dial in and comment, and all were men who had also quit forever a few years ago and found the exact same.

So you can do it too but if you have any doubts, read the new book.


Comments

Beat the Bullies!

13/12/2015

Comments

 

When the people you are with push you to have a drink this Christmas and they are the type of people who won't take no for an answer or you are reluctant to say you are quitting drinking. How about this one:-

'I have been bought a driving experience tomorrow morning. I have to be at a local racetrack at 8.00 a.m. for initial instruction and by lunchtime I will be careering round the track in the driver's seat. Do you really expect  me to have a drink the night before and blow my chance of doing this? You know booze stays in your system for 24 hours and they Do take a breath test!'

The nice thing is a driving experience here in the UK can be had from only £50.00 and I'm sure it's the same wherever you are. It doesn't take long to save that amount when you no longer drink. I used to blow that much every lunchtime! I might even try one of those days myself having written this, I never seemed to have the time or the money before, and I was never sober enough to be honest!

Or you could even try a flying lesson, something else you can't do pissed!

Why didn't I think of these things before? Next year I am going to be doing loads of this stuff after all, I have saved well over £11,000 since I gave up!!

  
Picture
Picture
Comments

BBC Sussex Radio

11/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
You can catch me talking about my new book on BBC Sussex radio at 9.10 next Monday 14th December. No doubt Danny Pike will be asking me about coping with Christmas as a non-drinker and how you answer the accusation that to not drink is to be a bore! 

Comments

December 09th, 2015

9/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Feedback from the annual insurance bash last night:-
  • Over 1000 people present at this black tie extravaganza with a good mix of men and ladies.
  • Copious bottles of red and white wine on each table and I have to say although I wasn't tempted the waft of red wine smelt very nice
  • By 10.30 the dinner and boring speeches were over and the bar was open - by that stage some people were already falling over
  • The price of drinks at the Grosvenor was £20.00 for a gin and tonic! Luckily water was free and lime and soda was £1.00
  • At the witching hour people were seen to be asleep in available chairs but the bar was going strong
  • Conversation had mostly turned to the mundane with pet cats being the favourite topic amongst these high power executives. After comparing photos on our phones it was agreed my cat scabby won prettiest cat - but then I was the only sober judge
  • The bar closed at 1 a.m. to everyone's horror but then another bar in the hotel was discovered.
  • People at this stage were being helped into cabs by the staff, many of these people were unconscious.
  • Very few people walking straight by 2 a.m. and some women had lost their high heels and were looking somewhat dishevelled. A few were in tears for no apparent reason.
  • A core of people I was with were having the same conversation they had had four hours earlier - none of which they could recall having had.
  • 3 a.m. and my last client decided to go home which meant I could also go off to my hotel. 
  • Roll on next year - great fun observing and waking up with a clear head and feeling fresh as a daisy. At least one of my colleagues will be throwing up throughout today!  


Comments

How many drunks can you see?

8/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
This evening sees the annual insurance bash at the Grosvenor house in London. In years past I used to be blotto by 10.00pm and remember little of the evening, what I had said and what I had dared to do - not a good thing amongst 1000 of my peers. It will be great to watch the assembled mob fall apart as the evening wears on knowing I am one of the handful sober people in the room, all the others being the waiting staff. I would get some pictures of the worst offenders but that would be unkind, especially as I have 'been there and done that!' It's a shame I won't have any paperback copies of my new book 'One Less for the Road' with to hand out, but then most of the attendees will be past being able to read anyway!
It should be fun, I will report back tomorrow!

Comments

The New Book is Now Available!

2/12/2015

Comments

 
Picture
My new book is now available to pre-order on amazon. Click the cover to order your copy.

One year on from the launch of 'I Don't Drink!' this new book answers all the myriad questions I have had from people I meet and who write to me about quitting drinking, but who are unsure if they are ready because in all honesty 'They don't really want to quit!'  

I was exactly the same before I gave up. I couldn't imagine life without alcohol other than it would be boring, meaningless and miserable. It is amazing that I never considered all the incredible list of benefits that would come my way once I quit, and I don't just mean health benefits by any means. 

If you are interested in stopping drinking but you need some hand-holding and reassurance that you could cope, then this book is for you. You never know - it might just save your life!


Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Julian Kirkman-Page

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Categories

    All
    News
    Thoughts
    Wine

    Archives

    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.