31 December 2008

Happy New Year

I have managed to find time to escape to the computer to write this. I am not doing anything clandestine; it is just that with my mother staying here for two weeks, as well as Kay on school holidays, I am distinctly out of routine and have for the most part been rushing around like a headless chicken preparing and serving meals, washing up or just simply talking to my mother, who does not get much company when at home, so naturally wants to talk when she is with me. I have had a bit of time to dip in and out of my favourite bloggers' posts and even comment on them at times, but this is the first opportunity I have had to think and write.

Christmas went well. I always enjoy all the build-up and even the day itself, even if I am very busy prodding turkeys or slicing vegetables or making cups of tea. Greg was sober the entire time, I am relieved to say. I was nervous, I'll be honest, that this big excuse for a drink would scoop him up and spit him out an alcoholic again. But thank goodness, he is still on the straight and narrow. On Christmas morning, as we opened our presents, he disappeared to the kitchen and smells of cinnamon and cloves wafted up the stairs. He suddenly appeared with four glasses of mulled wine, at which point my jaw must have visibly dropped, because he immediately stressed that it was made with the Sutters Alcohol-Free Wine I had mentioned before. I think the mulled ingredients actually improved the taste!!

We were all happy with our presents - even Snoopy who was delighted with his
Pedigree stocking and immediately demanded a biscuit and the opportunity to play with the squeaky Santa ball. The lunch was a success - I managed to cook the turkey and six vegetables (no two people like the same vegetables, so I had to cook a selection of sprouts, peas, carrots, red cabbage, broccoli and parsnips) all in time for a 1.30 sitting. What with starter and pudding, we were finished well in time for our monarch's speech on the TV at 3pm. After that the choice of TV viewing was a bit dire, so we watched one of Kay's presents - a DVD of Mamma Mia which made excellent Christmas afternoon viewing. No sex or violence for my 85-year-old mum and a sing-along for the rest of us. The rest of the day was spent slouching around watching soaps, Doctor Who, Wallace and Gromit and Strictly Come Dancing, interspersed with five-minute naps to help digest the copious amounts of food, nuts and chocolates.

On Boxing Day we went to a few shops to look for a few sale bargains that we needed to replace decrepit electrical items at home - the shops were heaving with people all doing the same, so we came home empty-handed, as the queues for the tills or assistants were horrendous. The next day Kay and her friends went to the West End to see Hamlet for the sole reason of seeing the lovely David Tennant, alias Doctor Who, but unfortunately because of his recent back injury he was still unable to appear in it. However, the understudy has had brilliant reviews and the girls thought he was good, but he was still not David Tennant (sigh). Kay bought home a poster of David Tennant posing as Hamlet as a consolation prize!

After five days of 101 Things to do with a Turkey (don't tempt me...) we today moved on to BEEF meatballs with pasta and there was a collective sigh of relief in the Alcoholic Daze household. Unfortunately for me, I am now going down with man-flu (aka a cold)... the right sort of incubation period since I last mixed with the human race on Boxing Day. I am coughing and wheezing, but so far it has not developed into anything else. I imagine I shall spend New Year cuddled up to a hot-water bottle and sipping hot tea and downing paracetamol. Rats! Some New Year that'll be.

As for Greg he is talking for England. He has opinions on every subject under the sun and whatever subject is raised, he can go one better. If anyone tries to get a word in edgeways he shrieks out "LET ME FINISH!!" which is very irritating and driving us all mad, seeing as we cannot even get to start let alone finish! But I guess it is still better than having him drunk. It is still early days, so he is allowed his foibles - under sufferance, I hasten to add. On the other hand, by this time next week, I may have murdered him !

I am taking Mum back home at the end of the week and staying with her for a day or two to buy in food and do a few odd jobs for her. Then back to London to start a fresh new year and hopefully a new year afresh. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and again, many thanks for your support. Have a drink on me... I doubt I shall be able to snatch one on the quiet for myself.

22 comments:

Laura - Are We Nearly There Yet Mummy? said...

I'm glad you had a good Christmas!

Happy new year to you and .... happy blogging!

Laura x

Grumpy Old Ken said...

Keeping my fingers crossed for you in the new year. Do you mind if I ask, does your husband have access to your blog. How do you get it done, it is really remarkable that you do as much as you do.
Good luck

ADDY said...

Ken - At the time when I started this blog, my husband was truly out of it and had no idea I was writing it. As he returned more to normality, I told him about the blog, but he showed no interest in reading it. He would rather I stopped writing it, but I feel it is helping me offload any pent-up feelings (far better than Al-anon could do) and people's comments do help me. My husband and I have separate areas in our computer with separate passwords, so he is unable to get into my area but I would give him the blog address if he showed any interest. Which he doesn't!!

Flowerpot said...

All the best for 2009 and enjoy that drink when you get it - take care and hope all goes well for you.

Robert said...

I'm glad the Christmas/New Year season has gone so well for you. And isn't it great that Greg has stayed off the drink!

Best wishes for 2009!

Ellen said...

It's good to hear that you have had a lovely, sober Christmas period. It sounds like everything is going well for you. Let's hope this is a turning point and the start of a very Happy New Year. Best wishes.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

And a very very happy year to you Greg and Kay too. Keep up the good work.

Gone Back South said...

You got through it in one piece - well done! And well done to Greg, it can't be easy. I hope the new year brings good things for you & your family.
x

Working Mum said...

Glad you had a sober household for Christmas. Hope that things continue to improve for you and Kay in 2009. Happy New Year to you.

WM x

DogLover said...

Sounds like a really good Christmas and New Year! Hurrah!

Very best wishes to the Alcoholic Daze Family for 2009.

doglover

abcd said...

I am so glad you had such a good Christmas, Greg has done amazingly well, but then so have you to survive this far! Very Best Wishes to all of you for 2009. I dearly hope Greg continues to stay sober and that you can start to think about yourself a bit more.

ChickPea said...

All best wishes for 2009 - thank you for your blog - finding you after you visiting me has been a great treat !
BTW - cranberry juice makes a fabulous base liquid for 'mulling' a non-alcoholic seasonal cup (so very important when there's drivers involved). In fact, the second year we mulled cranberry juice for the Christmas concert, it was MORE popular than the mulled wine.......

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

So far so good ... to follow up on Ken's comment, I would advise NOT getting Greg involved in the blog. He could perceive it as you "talking about him behind his back" and will imagine that everyone knows who he is, and could use that as an excuse to fall off the wagon. It's just happened to some bloggers I know, in a different context, and peoples' reactions can be surprising. Change your password regularly.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Sounds like you all had a lovely Christmas Rosiero and I'm so pleased for you all.

I'd like to wish you all a Very Happy New Year and truly hope 2009 continues to be a sober one for Greg.

A x

Anonymous said...

That sounds great and arises a lot of hope. I wish you and your family a happy new year. may everything be better than in the last one.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year. I'm so glad Greg managed to stay sober. And as for David Tennant, what a shame about his back. I haven't been called for a massage yet.

CJ xx

nuttycow said...

Happy new year! Hope everything continues to go well in the AD household. Glad you had such a peaceful Christmas and fingers crossed for 2009.

Kit Courteney said...

Very best wishes for a happy and healthy 2009.

So very delighted Christmas went well for you all. I hope your cold comes to nothing.

I'm with your daughter on DT... phwoar!!

Gill - That British Woman said...

A happy New Year to you and your family, I am glad things went well for you.

I am mentioning your blog on a post I am doing on my blog on Friday (9th).

Gill in Canada

Nota Bene said...

A very happy New Year...read this when you posted it, but must have forgotten to post a comment in the bleariness of the dawning of a whole new year. Sounds as though that was a better festive fortnight than you would have expected...brilliant.

All the best

vincent turner said...

Hi, just wanted to begin by saying that the blog you have created is
a remarkable achievhment, i have only read a through entries but what i have read makes compelling reading and shows the strengh of you and your daughters characters.

I work as a community support worker for those with a dual diagnosis usually mental health and drug and alcohol problems, and am only too aware of the tradegies caused by addiction, and how the fracture the foudations of the family home. YOur blog gives hope and reflects the true grit of a loving mother and wife. i will add your site to my blog as i think everyone should take note of what you have to say.

best wishes and all the best for 2009

Vincent Turner

Millennium Housewife said...

So glad you ha lovely christmas, you deserve it, Happy New Year to you Rosiero, I hope it brings you all you hope for....MH