Sober Long Haul

After a year off the booze, I'm finding that doing most things sober has become the 'new normal.'

But then, every now and again, you do something for the first time, and it's hard.

Yesterday was my first sober long haul flight, and in my mind, flying is totally connected to booze.

Firstly, there's the excitement of going away somewhere, or the misery of returning to reality - both of which really necessitate a drink.

Secondly, there's that whole 1950s PanAm glamour thing.

Even though flying has become more and more painful, what with all the sticking cosmetics in see through bags (why? Can you really bring down a plane with a mascara? And, if so, why does being able to see it make it less deadly?) and taking off belts and shoes, it still has that halo of sophistication, which goes nicely with a glass of bubbly.

And thirdly, however much you sort of get the whole science of lift and drag, and differential air speed over the curved wings, it still seems counter-intuitive that such a massive hunk of metal is going to stay in the sky.

Plus there's always that fear that your baggage is on an entirely different aeroplane, or that forty five minutes really isn't long enough for you to make your connecting flight.

A drink helps take the edge off that knot of anxiety.

So, I found not drinking on the flight really hard, and was acutely aware of the 'snap' of the lids of all those little miniature bottles of vino going off around me.

And you know what? Long haul flights feel really long when you're sober.

Everyone else had a drink after take off, and wine with lunch, then happily snoozed for a good long stretch. I, meanwhile, was wide awake for ten hours! It's almost impossible to doze in an economy seat without the anaesthetic of alcohol.

So I was a bit cross.

Then I reminded myself that for the last few years I'd found long haul flights really rather difficult.

I was convinced that BA had had an efficiency drive, and reduced the amount of wine they served on flights (I still have no idea if this was really the case, or if it was just me that had changed). Two of those teeny weeny bottles of wine were nowhere near enough on a long journey!

I used to get really edgy waiting for the interminably slow progress of the trolley down the aisle, and then, when I'd finally got my hands on, and finished, my allowance, I'd wrestle for hours with the dilemma of whether it was worth the embarrassment of asking the hassled stewardess for more...

It wasn't relaxing, or glamorous, or exciting any more. It was stressful!

So yesterday, although I was slightly annoyed, was so much easier. And I didn't arrive with that terrible dehydrated, groggy feeling. I bounced off the plane, all bright eyed and bushy tailed (in as much as that's possible at the age of forty seven).

And I know that the return flight will be that much easier. And eventually, sober long haul will feel entirely natural.

After all, it wasn't so long ago that I couldn't imagine a long haul flight without chain smoking! And doesn't that image belong in a whole different era?

(Didn't you meet the most interesting people in the smoking section of planes? Yet another corroboration of my theory that addicts are the best).

Now, here I am, sitting on my terrace, sipping green tea, watching the sun set over a turquoise Caribbean sea, and listening to the faint thwock of croquet mallets connecting with wooden balls on the perfectly manicured lawn below.

Thank you, thank you for all your comments on my last post! If the whole plan comes off it will be as much down to all of you as it is me.

You're awesome. In fact, everything is pretty awesome.

Love SM x