Friday, 31 October 2014

Alternatives to Alcohol

Sober October has given me an opportunity to explore some non-alcoholic alternatives, with M&S being my primary source of inspiration!  Although the not-so-autumnal weather has also meant hot chocolates have been on the menu.


Two of my favourite finds in M&S have been their 'Spiced Normandy Apple sparking Juice', which tastes just like apple pie, and the 'Moroccan Mint & White Tea'.  The latter I enjoyed with a lamb and cous cous dinner and I truly believe that nothing else would have made a better pairing.


I actually had a go at trying to recreate the mint & white tea drink and I think it worked out quite well.  I made a large cup of white tea and pomegranate using a Twinings tea bag (for ease), and stewed this with 8 mint leaves.  I strained the tea and added another cup and a half of cold water, stirred in 2 teaspoons of sugar and a tablespoon of lemon juice and then cooled the mixture down, first outside and then finally inside the fridge.  I think it would be good with sparkling water and/or with gin!



There was 1 day when I deviated from not drinking, but this was within the rules.  Dave bought me a Golden Ticket so that I could enjoy a 34 year old port that our friend, Cate, had been saving to share with us.  After a couple of false starts over the years, and a delayed opening due to little Iona and then little Finley, there was no way that I was missing out on this tasting!


So, on my last day of Sober October, I am pleased to have raised a little bit of money for Macmillan (although certainly not turn away any more last minute donations!), I have had a month of healthier living and feel better for it, and I have surprisingly made some positive foodie discoveries.  I will now give a little more thought to what drinks I serve with dinner and give serious consideration to non-alcoholic alternatives.

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Testing My Teetotal Tenacity

I can tell you it has been a tough week since Sober October started.  Not drinking is difficult.  And I don't mean in the physiological sense, but socially it can only be described as not at all fun.  Boring, in fact.  And hard to avoid.

I have, unusually, had two steaks this week and not one of them was accompanied by a rich glass of rioja.  We ate grilled sardines with garlic and lemon at the weekend, not washed down with a crisp glass of sancere.  And I have spent a few nights with friends, not enjoying an IPA or Hendricks, instead having a fourth cup of tea or third glass of tonic water.

As expected, the challenge of Sober October for me is not the abstinence in itself, but the repercussions of being teetotal.  That is not to say that my friends or family have been disparaging about me not drinking, but it has meant a change in plans or a cutting short of an evening.

Now, I did promise to explore more interesting non-alcoholic alternatives during October and have not done a very good job so far.  My liquid diet has so far consisted of tea, tonic water and juice.  And more tea.  At the weekend, however, while out with Dave in the pub I ordered a Virgin Mary.  This really is a good mocktail that won't leave you feeling short-changed.  It packs a punch with pepper, chilli and lemon juice, so you really don't miss the vodka at all.  I have also bought myself some specialist herbal tea from the market and will try this out later on in the week.

Finally, I thought you might be interested to learn where the word "teetotal" came from.  The internet tells me that it was first used by a worker from Preston in a speech in 1833 urging people to be totally abstinent (total with a capital tee), rather than the laxer form of abstinence first suggested by some in the temperance movement, who thought that abstinence should only apply to spirits, not beer.

On that same subject, my friend Bob Eadie was the first to teach me of the Gothenburg Public House System while we were out campaigning in deepest darkest Fife.  The system originated in Gotheburg, Sweden, in the 1860s as a way to try and curb consumption of alcohol.  The problem was that hard-working miners and other manual labourers were spending too much of their wages in the pub.  Knowing that it would be impossible to simply stop people drinking, the Gothenburg pubs were established as a kind of community pub with the dual aim of trying to discouraging drinking but also whatever profit was made from drinking was ploughed into community projects.

The system took a strong hold in Scotland, hence why there are so many pubs now called "Goths" in Scotland, particularly around the mining communities.  At one point there were more than twenty in Fife.  While the environment in these establishments was unwelcoming, and gambling, dominoes and other games were banned, the profits funded charities, clubs, district nurses and buildings like community centres, libraries and cinemas.  Most of the goth pubs in Scotland now are just goth by name, but there are a handful that follow the original Gothenburg principles.

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Going Sober For October In Support Of Macmillan

After a year and a bit of particular excess, mostly attributable to a solid month of celebrations for our weddings, a period of sobriety is very welcome.  And I m particularly happy to be doing so in aid of Macmillan.


My very dear friend, Helen Eadie MSP, who passed away in November last year, introduced me to the work of Macmillan to support those fighting cancer.  She was a huge fan of the Macmillan nurses. The charity helps cancer sufferers deal with the myriad of problems and worries associated with having this serious disease - lightening the load in difficult times.

Over the coming month, I hope to raise awareness of the work of Macmillan and raise some funds for this brilliant charity.   For an organisation where 98% of its income comes from voluntary donations, fundraising really is key to make sure that it can carry on providing the care and support that many cancer sufferers have found invaluable.

Day 1

I am on my first day of #gosober and Dave has already tried to trick me into having a drink ("Do you want to try my beer?")!  And at a few points this evening I have thought a wee glass of wine would be nice.  I think this relaxed attitude towards alcohol is partially cultural and partially habitual, but there is also, for me as a foodie, an aspect of taste.  Quite frankly, wine tastes better than water!

So this, I think, will be my biggest challenge in October.  I need to keep myself interested in non-alcoholic drinks.  This evening I have treated myself to a very delicious grapefruit San Pellegrino with Dave in the pub, but I just did not fancy a second one in the way that I would not find it difficult to say no to a second glass of wine.  After that I have been on tea, which is probably why I am still wide awake at half 10!



For my blog this month, therefore, I will be bringing you the good, the bad and the ugly of the non-alcoholic drinks that I try.  If you like what you read, please donate.  If you appreciate the challenge I am facing, please donate.  If you believe Macmillan is a good cause, please donate.  Or, if you start to feel sorry for me and fancy buying me a "Golden Ticket" for a night off sobriety, please do so through my donations page.