Trains, Planes and Auto……matically feel the need to drink

 

So heading into Sober life Week 2 and it’s London bound for me! Navigating this ‘first’ is going to be slightly tricky as I normally look forward to these work trips with the knowledge that by 6pm I will be hopping back on the train, heading North and keeping the drinks trolley Company for the Duration. 

 

I open up my usual travel handbag and stumble on the emergency miniatures that frequent the bottom of said handbag, proudly clinking away like a grown up goody bag for the Borrowers. Hmmmm it dawns on me for the first time, that this trip may take a teeny bit of forward planning! 

 

Now Rob, who is already one step ahead, pre-empting the pending doom and potential pitfalls, is fussing, faffing and following me around like a persistent dose of thrush. 

 

‘Empty your bag ‘ he demands like a power crazed Border Control Officer on confiscated steds.

 

‘Fuck off’ I roll my eyes. ‘Give me a little bit of credit....... Anyway they are out of date',  I laugh, but he is not impressed at my attempts to make light of the situation and one by one empties the so called ‘sordid stash’ down the sink with a superior tut and head shake as he unscrews the teeny caps off. 

 

We get in the car and head to Runcorn Station. The car is silent and all I can think about is how I am going to keep busy and prevent myself from leering over the Avanti Gin collection in the lounge later that day. 

 

Def Leopard are doing their thing on the radio as Rob drops me off and pulling away, he is reunited with his vocal chords and I hear him cheerily singing ‘Pour some sugar on me’  

More like fucking Canesten, I mumble to myself, getting more and more pissed off at my guard like husband. 

 

The Working day goes perfectly and 8 hours later I am back in the lounge. 

 

It occurs to me that categorically speaking, without drinking in a train station there’s fuck all else to do, except lose your tickets, lose your bags and clearly lose your mind? 

 

Much to my horror the train is delayed! More time it seems to reminisce about my Boozy Suzy days gone by. 

 

Eventually over the Tannoy comes the announcement we have all been waiting for and finally the train is boarding. 

 

Bodies start to run to the platform and I mean sprinting, as if they are giving out free blow jobs for the Gents and free Beaujolais for the Ladies…….Come on people, show a little class I think to myself, rather ignoring the fact that barely 2 weeks ago I would have given Paula Radcliffe a run for her money. 

 

2 hours later, I am back up North, back in the car, picked up by Rob and back in the safety bubble. 

 

‘Sooooo, What did you order on the train’ he asks inquisitively?

‘A Diet Coke’, I confess rather chuffed with myself. 

‘With a side portion of smugness, he adds, with a wink? 

 

And there it is, my equilibrium is restored and another tick in the sobriety box (for now at least) Perhaps drinking is boredom related, something I will most definitely be exploring as the days roll on but for now its a minor win, Sue - One and Avanti - Nil.