HSM and Beyond
03/12/11 • 1 Comment

Two months after my HSM and what have I discovered? That I can’t drink a fraction of what I used to – and even then I wasn’t a heavy drinker (just pretty consistent). I’ve also found that because I’d become so finely tuned to how my body loves feeling super, more than a glass of red wine lets me know about it the morning after.  That’s not to say I’ve gone a little overboard…just once. But one hangover is one too many, thanks. I’m already planning my next HSM as I enjoyed the last – and I think that’s definitely a key to anyone thinking about an HSM: plan. Give yourself a start date to look forward to, buy your boxes of boutique tea and bottles of soda water and softdrink, look up recipes for mocktails, book yourself a reward for the end date (dinner out, trip away), and have a [...]

The Night Before The Morning After…
29/09/11 • 4 Comments

…This evening ends my three months. Actually, I’ve already passed the 94 day marker. But, technically…I signed up on July 1, and it’s the 29th… So tonight I’ve finished work, am about to embark on a dinner of some poor unfortunate quail, and I’ve just opened a bottle of pinot noir for my husband and I.  I’m not sure how I feel. I’m not excited, per say, although I am looking forward to the taste of the wine with my meal. I think I’m a little aprehensive – I’ve been getting along just dandy with water, tea, or coconut juice. What will three months without a glass of wine do to me? Will I be sleepy, trip over my feet, talk crap? And then there’s the whole date thing. The orderly regime-monster inside me says,  ”it isn’t the 30th yet.”   Another voice says, “You must do what you think [...]

Three months is habit-breaker
12/09/11 • 2 Comments

Heading towards October means that I’m heading toward my three month mark. A month ago, I was worried about what that might mean: would I feel compelled to just jump back on the habit train and would these past months have all just been a memory / in vain? In my final month, I don’t my fears will be realised, and I certainly understand why, for me, three months is better than one or two. Months one and two still had me questioning, still tender to this new way of being, while three has the power to break an ingrained habit to the point where well-trodden neural pathways become overgrown and new ones are discovered (or perhaps they’re old ones rediscovered). Maybe this takes a month for some, maybe six, nine or twelve for others. While we all have a common goal of abstaining from alcohol for our alotted time, [...]

Love thy neighbour, thy council, thy builder…
26/08/11 • 2 Comments

…or not.  Yesterday and the day before have seen me stressed and momentarily (several moments, actually) truly wishing for time out with a cigarette and a glass of wine. I’m building an art studio in my backyard (my yard, that is, not the neighbours’) and one of the little darlings has complained to the council. It isn’t blocking any light, it is behind trees, and will be covered in vines in no time. Long story short, I was assured by the builder that it complied with specs and it wouldn’t need a DA, but apparently it does. This has thrown a spanner in the works and caused me to have to meet with a certain Mr Personality from the local council. I’ve had more fun with real lizards. The builder says Mr Personality is an idiot, Mr Personality says the builder is – and during the chest-beating match, neither seem [...]

Day #…I\’m Not Sure!
22/08/11 • 2 Comments

Six weeks? Seven? After a month I stopped keeping count. I\’ve just come back from Melbourne visiting my sister, going to gigs, movies, dinner. The soda waters were free and the strawberry daiquiri mocktail was, I think, the most fabulous thing I have ever tasted. And the coffees…I believe I have become mildly addicted – to the coffee AND the search for the ultimate location in which to drink it. In essence, I\’ve swapped my wine snobbery for a coffee one. Hmmm…