A "dry" January

I have decided, having seen an advert in the Metro newspaper on the way to work this week, to join in Cancer Research UK's "dryathon" for January which means having no alcohol for the whole month!

I'm not doing it for nothing - I need you all to sponsor me and to give me support. Please visit my Just Giving page http://www.justgiving.com/dryathlete-sarah-lane

I'll keep you posted but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy christmas and New Year's Eve!

Sounds like you'll have one hell of a party LP. Does this mean you will have to stop drinking once the clock strikes 12?

Good luck in your quest.

Good Luck LP!

Come on then - where's your pledges?

Yes, I'll stop drinking at midnight on New Year's Eve and start again on Feb 1st!

I couldn't gift aid LP as I'm not eligible. Good luck with the hangover on the first.

All done.

Will Lord P be giving you a breathaliser test each day?

Thanks Mary and Grumps - what about the rest of you????

Just less than 3 days to go A few more donations would add to the incentive .......

I wouldn't worry about the drop in alcohol sales LP - I've committed to drinking twice my normal amount for the month of January!

Must admit that when I first saw the title of this thread I thought that LP had seen a long range weather forecast that suggested there was the chance of us playing a bit of golf in January...

Thanks guys - any more donations?

How's it going LP?...have you got the shakes yet?

Pay no attention LP.

More power to your elbow I say.............mind you, given the nature of your 'quest', maybe that should be less power to you elbow.

First day passed and all going OK. LordPutt has not joined me so I have to watch him drinking but I've avoided temptation so far. Was a bit shaky last night but seem OK today so maybe I was tired having managed to get out on a rather squidgy golf course in the sunshine (at last). Difficult thing is finding something else to enjoy which isn't too sweet and sickly. Elderflower cordial with sparkling water or soda seems best at the moment.

Thanks for all the support and donations, guys (and Mary).

LadyPutt wrote:Elderflower cordial with sparkling water or soda seems best at the moment

Sounds lovely!

Well done so far Lady P. Don't forget to duck when those pink elephants fly over!

The weekend is looming Am I going to be able to resist the lure of the wine bottle?

It will cost you £15 if you succumb!

LadyPutt wrote:The weekend is looming Am I going to be able to resist the lure of the wine bottle?

It's just another day LP!

LadyPutt wrote:The weekend is looming Am I going to be able to resist the lure of the wine bottle?

Well it's Monday morning LP, have you got a confession that you would like to share with us?

What kind of question is that to ask a lady? You're never going to win a favourable ruling now

No need for a ruling of any kind in this weeks fantasy league, with the lack of golfing action in Hawaii over the weekend!

I'm feeling very pleased with myself. I limited my alcohol to having a couple of deep sniffs of LordPutt's red wine - and we had friends over for dinner on Saturday night so there was even more temptation but I reisted. I'm beginning to enjoy elderflower cordial with soda or Coke Zero with lots of fresh lemon

Congratulations on such self discipline LP!

Well done LP, you'll breeze through this.

I'm not so sure Grumps, having to resort to sniffing red wine when only 5 days into the challenge could make it a very long month without at least taking a sip!

That's the spirit Blue, keep the encouragement going.....

Who said anything about spirits Grumps, I was just talking about wine...

Very good Blue. Anyway I think I'm half way there. I haven't had an alcoholic drink since Christmas Day

No alcohol or golf Grumps?...sounds like a tough task to me

LadyPutt wrote:I'm feeling very pleased with myself. I limited my alcohol to having a couple of deep sniffs of LordPutt's red wine - and we had friends over for dinner on Saturday night so there was even more temptation but I reisted. I'm beginning to enjoy elderflower cordial with soda or Coke Zero with lots of fresh lemon

Hmm - that's not like the sniffing that goes on through rolled up £20 notes is it eh eh eh?

LadyPutt wrote:The weekend is looming Am I going to be able to resist the lure of the wine bottle?

It's the weekend again LP

BlueCoverman wrote:No alcohol or golf Grumps?...sounds like a tough task to me

Still going strong Blue, not sure when either activity will start again

Crap weather here means it's no golf or alcohol for me, either! Just tucking in to my second Coke Zero of the day .....

LP - How many alcoholic drinks would you normally have had by 1:26pm on a normal day ?
Are you finding you're becoming addicted to aspartame with all these diet drinks? - i'm guessing before this month you probably wouldn't have been on your second coke by 1:26pm either!

Hopefully you made it through the weekend LP without answering the siren call of the wine bottle. What fabulous concoction are you on now?

Hi guys - still going strong! Elderflower is still the tipple of choice when eating (if not just water) but Coke Zero (despite the dreaded aspartame and which I drink because ordinary Coke, for some reason, gives me a migrane and not for its "diet" properties) is what I drink during the day at weekends. At work it's either black tea or water ... bleeugh (no smilie for that one).

Going to a post-Christmas party at an Italian restaurant on Friday night so I've printed off a sponsorship form to take with me. Friends can sponsor me instead of buying me a drink!

And in answer to Scarpa - I'd have had a glass of wine with lunch by 1.26pm at weekends!

Well done LadyP - almost half-way there!

Well one day to go LP, have you got a well chilled bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge ready for consumption at one minute past midnight tomorrow night?

No, I've got a bottle of Champagne waiting for Friday evening! Can't wait (but I must). Strangely, i thought it would get easier as the month has gone on but it has been the opposite. And I don't feel any better for it - in fact I think I have put on weight because I've had naughty things like chocolate, cakes and biscuits instead of a drink to compensate. But thanks to everyone who sponsored me - I've raised more than £400 when I include the GiftAid extras.

Just goes to show that alcohol is better for you than chocolate!

Congrats on your efforts LP, a very decent sum raised

Plus chocolate makes alcohol taste horrible so by drinking you avoid eating chocolate. Must start drinking....

Well done LP, not long now. Just be careful you don't get funny looks on the train on Friday morning as you swig straight from the bottle....

There is a moral hidden in this alcohol free month that we should all take on board...

Don't read Metro as it gives you bloody stupid ideas.

So hopefully you completed the task easily LP. Off down the boozer for a liquid lunch

Well done LadyP. Enjoy your Champagne this evening - you deserve it!

According to the Dryathlon website, we've raised more than £3million between us! Glad it has been worth it but this has been the looooongest January every! Thanks for the support everyone.

Well done LP, you are a beacon to hold up to???? ????? talking to myself again, she is already halfway down the bottle of DP. Maybe later!

Thanks OS - I was well into a bottle of Pinotage at the time, actually! The bubbly (actually Prosecco) came on Saturday and then yesterday I finished off the sherry as well as a bottle of rosé (not all on my own, I hasten to add). Having woken up with ghastly headaches throughout January, my head was clear as a bell the last 3 mornings. Strange ......

LadyPutt wrote:Thanks OS - I was well into a bottle of Pinotage at the time, actually! The bubbly (actually Prosecco) came on Saturday and then yesterday I finished off the sherry as well as a bottle of rosé (not all on my own, I hasten to add). Having woken up with ghastly headaches throughout January, my head was clear as a bell the last 3 mornings. Strange ......

I know what you mean - I gave up smoking 5 years ago - I've had a cough ever since!

Been there - done that! It means the little hairs in your bronchial tubes are getting de-furred of tar and as they start to move around, it causes irritation - ie cough. It will go eventually, take my word for it. Keep it up and well done.