I blame it on the weather..

If you have read any of my earlier posts, you will know that I practise moderation when it comes to alcohol. Since my husband gave up drinking (initially temporarily for medical reasons, and then deciding he was better off without booze full stop) we have had no alcohol at home. Once or twice a week, I have a few glasses of wine when I go out.

Last Saturday night, I fell off the wagon, and I’m blaming the weather. Well, I have to blame something, right?

Two consecutive weeks of anti-cyclones and we have barely left the house. It’s been wet, windy and cool. I’ve been wearing jeans and fleeces and have even put the duvet back on the bed.

Reading Facebook posts from distressed tourists checking the weather forecast before their holidays have even started, sadly, I can’t offer much reassurance that their extremely expensive Indian Ocean holiday is going to result in a decent tan. I suspect the museums and shopping malls will be busy, though. There isn’t much else to do when beaches and boats aren’t an option.

In the calm before the storm of the next anti-cyclone, we went out for sunset drinks and dinner. And I went a bit mad after being housebound. Two ultra-strong mojitos, three bottles of wine between three of us, rum in the flambéed banana, and another rum to round off the evening.

My virtuous husband matched us drink for drink with zero-alcohol cider and 0.5% wine and was as fresh as a daisy on Sunday morning.

I wasn’t in never again mode, but I could certainly feel the after-effects. And I didn’t like it at all. Puffy eyes, dehydration and acid reflux are not the way to start a productive day. Various medications, a bacon omelette and a long dog walk on the beach got me back on my feet.

I thought the windy weather would continue to keep me out of bars and on the straight and narrow throughout the week. However, despite my good intentions, instead of abandoning ‘Wednesday Club’ happy hour, we merely moved to a less windy location.

The combination of rum and wine is definitely a bad thing. However, no regrets this morning after three glasses of white wine.

When moderation fails, remember: Don’t mix it!