Dry January Just Gets Harder
It’s more difficult for me to do dry January than it is for most people. I should explain. You see, as a younger adult, I spent many years dealing with the emotional trauma of being an Olympic athlete trapped in a beer drinker’s body. I overcame that burden with a new year resolution somewhere around 2002 to never again visit a gym: a resolution that I am proud to have maintained ever since.
It was my father who introduced me to beer when I was a teenager, in fact I celebrated my 18th birthday in our local pub, with Dad and other regulars, three years in a row in the 1970s. Since that introduction, beer and I have remained in close contact at all times, so a month without any, right now, is extremely challenging. Especially in COVID enforced lockdown.
Beer is one of the most wonderful things about being born an Englishman. Travelling around the world drinking different beers is one thing, but English ale is unique, and, let’s face it, better than all the other types put together. It’s always here to welcome us home from our travels, just closing my eyes and taking one mouthful means that pretty much all is well with the world. With no pubs open, there’s no draught ale, so clearly all is NOT well with the world right now. QED.
Dry January is nearly done. We’re nearly at the end. Know what, I’m never going to do it again. And that’s a promise.
10 Comments
Annie E Berger
Didn’t it turn out to be the best of months in retrospect to decide to have a dry January, Phil?! Think of the fewer temptations you faced at every turn with all your local pubs closed and unable to travel and then enjoy a pint or glass at the end of a day’s exploring. Can’t wait to know what you and Michaela will quaff come February 1 and whether it will taste as good as you’re both remembering and anticipating!
Phil & Michaela
Well…. for the first couple of weeks, yes, the “pubs are shut anyway” thing actually made it feel easier. Once that wore off though, it started to feel like self denial for its own sake! Sadly it’ll be a while before we get to taste proper draught ale again, this lockdown will be with us for quite a few weeks yet.
John and Susan Pazera
Cheers to the first taste of being back to normal!!
Phil & Michaela
Cheers, can’t wait👍
giacomoasinello
I wouldn’t even try! January is hard enough as it is without going dry!
Phil & Michaela
We won’t try it again 😆
Joe
Congrats on surviving your dry January! Just curious which of the many wonderful British beers you knocked back to celebrate your remarkable triumph? I am no expert like you, but I would have chosen a creamy Boddingtons or an ice cold Newcastle brown ale. Cheers!
Phil & Michaela
Well… there is a world of difference between bottled beer and draught ale, and unfortunately with everything shut for the ongoing COVID lockdown, there isn’t any draught available just now. Before the pandemic, the last few years have been brilliant, with literally hundreds of micro breweries starting up all over the country, meaning there are different regional local ales everywhere you travel to. As well as the nationwide offerings. My first ones on resumption therefore have to be bottles, with a selection of Cornish and Yorkshire in the house to get things going!
normareadtalktalknet
Hey ..It’s February 😆
Phil & Michaela
😆🍷