Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 December 2007 22:48:31
This was Rosamundi's suggestion to describe my intake of alcohol. Mind you, she also described it as binge drinking, seeing as virtually all the alcohol I drink is imbibed in a short space of time.
Not so this year. As Honorary Auntie M's eyesight deteriorates and she becomes unable to drive after dark (without turning into a pumpkin), it is now me who provides transport when we go to see Father Christmas at Havenstreet. So no longer am I able to indulge in a free glass of mulled wine while we wait. To add insult to injury, Honorary Auntie M is really tee-total so she doesn't even benefit from my abstinence. And while the alcohol level of the wine is probably quite low, I can't drink it at all because I've taught the boys that the only way to be completely sure you're not in danger of driving while under the influence is not to have any alcohol at all. I know for a fact that, because I don't drink as a rule, I could be under the limit and yet still not really safe to be in charge of a vehicle! However, I did succumb when the local farm shop offered me a glass of mulled wine diluted with a huge amount of lemonade - and very nice it was too.
But as though that weren't enough of a reduction in my alcohol intake (by about a quarter!), Father Christmas had another shock in store for me. I'd bought in my miniature bottle of sherry for the purely altruistic purpose of leaving the man in red a glassful out to wash down his mince pie. And what does he tell the Smudgelet? He says he's gone off mince pies and wants a choc-chip cookie instead, and that because he doesn't drink and drive he'd rather have a glass of milk. A glass of milk and a choc-chip cookie??? I hate choc chip cookies (at least, I hate the double choc ones which Smudgelet bought especially) and my annual alcohol quota is now cut by half!!!