Tuesday 16 May 2017

Weekend Drinking?



Now before we get started here, may I make quite clear that all weekend, the only drink to pass my lips was a small glass of White Zinfandel with a large lunch, and very nice it was too. I was driving the rest of the weekend, so that was any further drinking well and truly off the menu for me, because as we established in last week's post Going 'Out' Out, I am a total lightweight!


Anyway, back to this weekend, and having enjoyed a very fun (and equally breezy) day at Dover Castle with D, his kids and Miss. D, followed by an equally fun time seeing the lovely Stuart and Jules at The Whitehorse Dover, we headed back home.


Miss. D, was (and I cringe with embarrassment at having to write this) just a little bit desperate to watch the Eurovision Song Contest. In fairness, I enjoyed it as a child, when Sir Terry tore each and every act apart, but nowadays, I really can't stomach it; sincere apologies to those of you whom love it. Anyway, she decided that since her Dad was watching it, she would spend the night there, affording yours truly a night off.  D was gigging again so I decided to pop along, why not? It certainly beat being stuck indoors on my own on a Saturday night.

Now this whole going out on my own thing, was a seriously big deal because whilst I'm out I'm happy to be on my own, but I don't like to walk into a venue alone, particularly a pub, so I arranged to text D when I arrived and get him to escort me in (because I am a lady and as my boyfriend that's his job...I think?). I must say, I was rather pleased with how I was looking and even more pleased to safely pull into the car park, but not as pleased as I was to see my lovely boyfriend come to collect me.


No sooner had I walked in and ordered a drink (Apple and Melon J2O, if you're interested), than one very drunk chap looks up the bar and proceeds to slur at me that it's his birthday. I turn round find a bar stool to clamber on to (I tried to do it gracefully, but I'm pretty sure I failed, those stalls are high when you're only just over 5 feet tall) and blow me if there's not another very drunk man sat next to me. Now I will say that this second chap, though very intoxicated, was actually a very polite and pleasant gentleman (and I don't use the term gentleman lightly). Throughout the evening, I was accosted by a total of five, yes five, drunkards, three of whom were completely hammered when I arrived at 8.30pm. Do people not realise that there is no last orders at 11pm nowadays? I was truly shocked, even when I did go out drinking, I would have considered 8.30pm far too early to be three sheets to the wind. I'll grant you that from a sober person's point of view it was truly hilarious, especially watching the birthday boy trying to dance when he could barely stand, and if I had a pound for every time he introduced himself to me I could have bought the whole pub drinks and still had change.



Next morning, I decided that after a long night a visit to the local Weatherspoon's for breakfast was a good idea. We got there a little after 10.15am, chose our breakfasts and went to the bar to order. Now, forgive me, but in my ignorance, I assumed that the normal beverage of choice to accompany a cooked breakfast (or otherwise), is a choice of tea, coffee, or a fruit juice; perhaps, if you're feeling very daring, maybe a hot chocolate. Oh, how wrong was I? Apparently, the trend nowadays, at least according to the older couple at the table across from us was a bottle of Shiraz. Red wine for breakfast, who'd have thought it? Oh and did the pair of them manage to  polish off that bottle, yes they most certainly did! D. then spotted the husband (who had just consumed half a bottle of bloody Shiraz for breakfast) driving his wife in a taxi! Yes, you read that correctly, he is a taxi driver!

Anyway, digressing again, sorry, when I looked around the bar, I noticed something, with the exception of the winos behind us, all the people eating breakfast were indeed drinking tea or coffee, whilst those not eating were sat with a beer, getting a nice early start, no doubt. So my question is this, because I am still confused and clearly out of touch with regards to drinking etiquette, but how early is it acceptable to start drinking, because surely anything before 12pm cannot be right and is it OK to be completely intoxicated to the point of falling over before 10.45pm? Answers on a postcard please, or maybe just in the comments box.




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16 comments:

  1. hehe, I'm a lightweight, if I drank at 10am i'd be in bed by 11!! It does sound like you are having a lot of fun lately though so 3 cheers for that. My life is actually so straightforward at the moment, work, be a mum, work, that I have nothing to write about. I also love Eurovision!!

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    1. Oh yes, life is certainly not boring with D :-). Pleased to hear everything is straightforward for you at the moment, but get writing...unless you are hanging around garden centres with your dating questionnaire, that's ok xx

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  2. If I am home I never open the wine until after 7pm....If I go out it isn't until about 8pm. Now I wouldn't dream of starting drinking so early. Years ago I may have started at about 3pm but took it slowly.
    In our local Weatherspoon's there is people there from 9am drinking pints of beer.
    Ohh! I would have noted down the taxi company and reported that man. Surely he would have been over the legal limit.

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    1. Glad it's not just me that thinks there is a 'too early' to drink time. In hindsight we should have noted the company and number plate, but we were too gobsmacked to even think of it x

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  3. Hi Lisa, that does sound extreme. There's early, then there's early, and wine for breakfast sounds far too early!I do enjoy the odd drink every now and again, but as it doesn't worry me I'm the one who ends up as the driver. I must say that I don't have much time for irritating drunks. Some are quite funny, but those who think they are, rarely are.

    It is very brave of you to share that your daughter enjoyed the Eurovision. It's not something I've ever watched. However Sir Terry could make anything entertaining, I loved that man!

    xx

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    1. Thank you Debbie, the whole Eurovision confession thing was a big deal for me, I feel quite traumatised by my child's love of it ;-) x

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  4. I only drink alcohol during the day if we are at a family party and there are lots of other people around to help out with the kids. I prefer to sit down with a glass of wine in the evenings (once or twice a week) when the kids are in bed so I can unwind and relax. #triumphanttales

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    1. Yep, having kids definitely impacts on alcohol consumption, there really is nothing worse than dealing with a hangover and kids x

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  5. what are weekend drinks? it's ladies night tonight, free drinks all round, but then my kids have left home and i don't work. Popping over from #TriumphantTales to say hi.

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    1. Ah, now the rest of us have to cram it into the weekend, well some people do. I actually prefer to be designated driver ;-) Hace a great ladies night x

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  6. I don't think I've ever had alcohol for breakfast! I know a few years ago when I was in my hat day (how old do I sound) we'd drink early but never for breakfast! Ah to be young! I'd rather be thirtysomething I think! Thanks for linking up to #TriumphantTales :)

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    1. I would agree with the thirtysomething, but I'm more fortysomething and loving it! Alcohol for breakfast is just the most horrendous thought, I can barely stomach water first thing in the morning x

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  7. I enjoy a drink but bloody hell, not for breakfast haha! I think 8.30pm is way to early to be wasted too. I bet you couldn't wait for your chap to finish his gig lol, what with all of those drunks around you :)

    Thanks so much for being part of #MMBC. Hope to see you Monday xx

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    1. Thankfully, they were all happy drunks and didn't notice that I was happy watching the boy drum :-) x

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  8. As I am a lightweight it doesnt take much for me to get drunk therefore I can be drunk by 9.30 but thats only after two hours of drinking casually. My rule for day drinking is never before midday and if in England and not on holiday I only have a light drink with a meal if its in the daytime!
    THank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back tomorrow.

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    1. Hi Lianne, oh yes, really looking forward to linking up again tomorrow x

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