Dry January And Wet Walks
Well, it came about like this. When we returned from our 9-week tour of Turkey towards the end of November, we had spent 14 of the preceding 18 weeks out of the UK, bathed in sunshine and lapping up wonderful places, enjoying great food and partaking in the odd sunset beer or two. Put simply, we’d gained a few pounds – not a lot, but enough to make us feel like we wanted to shed them and get a bit fitter, and so for the first 28 days back in the country we ate healthily and abstained from all alcohol.
This kind of gave us the incentive to try “dry January” for the first time in our lives, and so, once Christmas was over, we started 2021 with a resolution for a 31-day moratorium. With the new COVID lockdown, a complete prohibition on any kind of socialising and being confined to home with not even travel planning to occupy us, this is probably the least logical year to ever try and do this. All we have is our daily country walk, and with no pub at the end of it.
But we’ve got this far, 12 days into the month with the dry January resolution still alive and kicking. It’s not easy, and in fact it’s hard to believe that it has been only 12 days, and harder to still to think there’s another 19 to go.
Despite Michaela’s resolve looking slightly stronger than mine just now, we are giving each other encouragement and are both now determined to get there. There are, though, times when that Bordeaux is calling, when that Douro says “go on, one won’t hurt”, and in those moments I have to remind myself that there was a good reason to do this.
And another day gets ticked off. Wake me up when it’s February, someone.
18 Comments
normareadtalktalknet
Brilliant blog, good for you .. nearly Feb and you’re going to be super fit and ready for those new plans 😍
normareadtalktalknet
Sun shining here .. you’ve just made me decide to go for walk
Phil & Michaela
👍😘
Phil & Michaela
Thank you. We will be raring to get off on on our travels again 😁
John and Susan Pazera
You got us at the Bordeau is calling my name! We did a dry January a few years ago and feel your pain. Even with increased exercising we only lost a few pounds! But you can do it.
Cheers to February 1st and returning back to the spirits!
Phil & Michaela
Cheers! Just 19 days to go 😁
Jeanette Deane
Bless Ya! I have thought I’ll do Dry February, for a start it’s a shorter month 😂 Definitely not in the right frame of mind to do it this month but hardly drinking anything to be honest. Don’t want to give it up altogether though 😁. Well Done to both of you anyway, I take my 🎩 off to you. Take care 😘 xx
Phil & Michaela
Well the extra few pounds gained in Turkey needed drastic action, only 19 days to go! 😁 And I can’t imagine you doing a dry anything, remember our last night out in Portsmouth, we forgot to go for dinner and suddenly all the restaurants were closed! 🤣🤣 Take care x
Andrew Petcher
We are doing the same find it gets easier day by day.
Phil & Michaela
For some reason these first 12 days have been harder than the whole 28 we did before Christmas (well, they are for me – Michaela is fine). Having no pub to go to makes it easier though, or at least it removes a major temptation. Good luck with it!
Monkey's Tale
We often do that after a long vacation, that and not eating at restaurants because we want light, reduced calorie food for a while. Good luck for the rest of January!
Phil & Michaela
Thank you, I think we will make it 😁
Monkey's Tale
🍷
Annie Berger
Phil and Michaela,
I applaud your resolutions to exercise more and go dry – I hope you’re already feeling healthier. Just imagine how virtuous you will feel AND how great your first drink will taste come February! Wonder what your drink of choice will be – Bordeaux or something else? Enjoy it whatever it is!
Joe
Continued success on your “dry” January resolution! I can relate to your resolve to loose those extra pounds; but am wondering why you are refraining from travel planning?
Phil & Michaela
A one word answer to that one, Joe: COVID! The UK is in lockdown and there is no international travel opportunity, and because next steps worldwide are so uncertain, we don’t know where we’ll be able to go next. Currently we feel our best option is to stick around here until we have received our COVID vaccination and then see what’s available travel wise.
Joe
I know what you mean. The vaccine can’t get into our arms quick enough. This shutdown must be especially hard for you, with all the excitement to begin the year, and then the abrupt and complete change of plans. I am looking forward to seeing you guys back on the road real soon. In the meantime, I hope you remain healthy and in high spirits.
Phil & Michaela
Thanks Joe, you too