It's starts now ... No Alcohol at all for 2016 !! No Excuses !!

So I guess this started off as a bit of a silly idea in the fact I didn't think I actually drank a great deal, so how hard could it be ... It's only alcohol and I only ever have 1 because 9 times out of 10 I'm driving or have work... But what's the point in the odd one ? However it seems the odd one may be the easier part of this challenge !!

I gave it the big talk as I always do and said its easy, I'm not an alcoholic, I can drink when I please and I'm more than happy to go a whole night without a drink while I'm out with the lads so why not just replicate that throughout the year? Easy !

On actually sitting down the first morning of 2016 (having not dank a sip NYE) I have slowly realised what I've actually agreed to, and the list isn't pretty -

January

Amy's sisters 30th -
Nothing major you might say, but in a log cabin for a week with Kelly "Cava" Carruthers and Cocktail specialist Phil Smith ... That said the in-laws will be crashing the party for 2 nights, Jackie is Kelly "Cava" Carruthers drinking mentor ... Taught her everything she knows... Need I say anymore? Oh yeah the vineyard birthday tour !!! ...What a way to start

February

My Dads 50th
Not the biggest drinker my old man, but who doesn't have a beer to celebrate your fathers 50th !? Mind you he'd rather have a G&T and I'm sure he won't complain when this year he'll be having two, one for each of us !

March

Football Aid Charity Match
So as most of you know we play at Villa park usually in a 90min match to support football Aid. We've tried a few other grounds, Wolves, WBA etc and it always ends up in a night out to usually celebrate the "win". Last year I missed out due to breaking my leg so this years will have double pressure to go out and get lashed with the peer pressure of 15 footy lads.

April

Hopefully a month off peer pressure, however I'm sure my boss and work colleges will chip in their fair share to cover. "Just a quick one after work" comes to mind !

May

Ryan Smiths Stag (in Tenerife)
So a good friend of mine, who actually taught me to DJ 7-8 years ago, is getting married and the stag is with 47 reps from 18-30 ... I deserve a donation just for these 3 days alone surely !!

June

Weather picking up, moss being brushed off those beer garden tables, sun just creeping out on the odd afternoon, oh yeah and EURO 2016 !!! ... I'm actually dreading this point.

If that wasn't hard enough there's Dave's stag in MALIA! For those that don't know I spent 3 years Djn in Greece when I was in my late teens and going back and not drinking is truely terrifying! 

 
July

The annual Football holiday
Last year , 3 days in Spain .... Originally disguised as Neil Geeling's Stag, who knows where it'll be this year. Unfortunately the location doesn't worry me, the free bar does.

August

Alex's Birthday
Another one of those "traditions" I've kept up over the past few years is taking my little brother out and getting him annihilated... Will be his carer for the night this year.

September

Another month off from peer pressure? Please ? No chance !

James Rowe's Stag
It's not confirmed yet but I have a horrible feeling that James Rowe's stag might just slide into a September date ... Oh the joys, a second sober stag holiday !!

October

Stop-tober is usually quite hard as the drinkers usually take pleasure in forcing a drink on you that little bit more, just because it's October ... I've done this before (and failed I'm sad to say) I'm just hoping I'll have a few companions that month on my side.

November

The big 30
Yes ! what a year to pick, Dads 50th, and now my 30th ! The yearly trip to Cheltenham races has unfortunaly taken a back seat as it's my 30th ... let's up the anti as we're getting close to the end of the year ... 8 DAYS IN NYC !!! Could this be game over! Not a chance ... not this close ... I hope ! 

December

Christmas without Baileys hot chocolates ... I mean ... Hmmm ... *Remove finger from "Delete" button*

James & Steph's wedding
Now as I actually started my annual drinking ban on Wednesday 30th Dec 2015 - I am going to celebrate my year off the sauce at James & Steph's wedding on the 31st (365 in total still completed), I hope they don't mind me sharing their day haha however it will only be "the one" as I don't want to ruin it by being off my trolley by midday !!

What a year to pick !!

So hopefully you can see that despite me making out its easy and I don't really drink, this has now become quite a challenge...in fact I think it's just hit home how hard this will actually be !!

Please dig deep, it's always nice to be charitable especially while putting someone else through pain haha.

Here's to 2016 ... Cheers *Glass of water*









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