The Beauty of Bitter Lemon!

Bitter lemon seems to be my drink of this month especially during Dry January.  It goes well with meals and also socially.  It's very refreshing with ice!  I save calories opting for the low calorie drink and it's just as nice as the original one.

Bitter Lemon served at a family meal!

Other soft drinks I've been enjoying is lime and soda, blackcurrant and soda, orange and soda (reminds me of Sodastream during my childhood!) and ginger ale! I now value them as much as alcoholic drinks and would now be very happy to order them on nights out.  They certainly have been my lifesaver during Dry January.  I have compiled a list in my mind of soft drinks and choosing will be my oyster!

Just another 11 days to successful completion and now thinking of the next health challenge which I can do!

Hang in there guys!

Choosing to have ice cream on a cold day!

One evening before we went to the theatre we popped in a local Gelato Cafe and treated ourselves to a sundae.  Usually we would have something stronger either in a pub or at theatre bar!

 Julie's enjoying a 'Tropical' Sundae

Just about to tuck in my 'Coconut' sundae

Despite being in receipt of a rather slow and disorganised service, we thoroughly enjoyed our 'tropical' and 'coconut' sundaes.  One wonders why we chose to have ice cream on a very cold day!  Anyway it was something different to do socially.  We would certainly do it again but perhaps at a different Gelato cafe.

Watching Dr TV and the TV Zombies at the West Yorkshire Playhouse has encouraged us to self improve in other ways as well as participating in Dry January.  I'm planning to sign up for Cycle for Health next month.

Almost Half Way with the love of tea!

I'm almost half way through Dry January so it's now the time to post about how I'm getting on during the week.  I have noticed a difference in myself.  I have more energy and motivation.  I can even cope better with work demands (I've entered a busy period at the moment).  I feel that optimism now reigns in my state of mind!

My Love for Tea!

I have rediscovered my love of black tea!  One evening I fancied being creative in making my dinner.  Usually I would be happy to have a bowl of pasta which a glass of wine would usually accompany it! I feel the perfect food companion for my tea would be what constitutes a quintessential 'Afternoon Tea'.  So I made some sandwiches which was followed by scones (with the full works) and Bakewell tarts.  I thoroughly enjoy my 'Evening Tea' and certainly went well with my (Yorkshire) tea.  I look forward to another 'Evening Tea' soon.

Mocktails Menu exhausted in Lucia Wine Bar

 We firstly continued with Dry January on our way to York and at lunch in York's Cafe 68 Gillygate

It is universally acknowledged that you don't have to turn to alcohol consumption to have a good time in one of York's popular wine bars in Swinegate.  Lucia's Wine bar and grill has a dedicated section of mocktails on their comprehensive mouth watering drinks menu.

Mocktails at Lucia's Wine Bar & Grill 

I continued my mocktails experience with an Innocent Mojito.  It contains mojito mint syrup, fresh mint leaves, lime juice and sugar syrup, supplemented with crushed ice and soda. The mocktail was heavenly and refreshing! You certainly can taste the beautiful combination of lime and mint.  My friends opted for Super Berry, Virgin Strawberry Colada and Tropicalisma mocktails.

Supporting Dry January!

The next mocktail round I had was the Friendly Zombie, certainly a new favourite! This mocktail is made up of apricot puree, cherry syrup, pineapple juice and squeezed fresh lime. Delicious indeed and you could taste the apricot.

Mocktails and great company makes up an exciting afternoon out,  My friend, Rebecca, is showing her solidarity by supporting our pledges to make our Dry Januaries successful ones. There was a bemused couple across from us chuntering and wondering about the what the fuss is about and why promote sans alcohol in a wine bar!

Rebecca (right) showing solidarity for our Dry Januaries.

The mocktails are to try for at Luica Wine bar.  They have branches also in Harrogate and Beverley.   Certainly saved more money on mocktails than cocktails on this occasional.  I travelled home feeling just as motivated to when I travelled to York earlier in the day!

So far so good!

Dry January seems to sail plainly so far! No hesitation in ordering non-alcoholic equivalents in bars when I meet up with family and friends.  Also no problem substituting wine with my meals at home for lime and sodas, bitter lemons and black teas!

I recently enjoyed a mocktail, a 'Daiquiri' mocktail, adapted from the cocktail at the 1871 Bar and Lounge in Leeds.  The staff are very flexible to adapting most cocktails to mocktails. They said, however, there is one cocktail they would struggle to adapt. This is the one containing coconut, which they use Malibu Rum for its ingredient, but I think coconut water (available in shops) can be used instead.  To be sure my drink was sans alcohol I watched the bartender prepare it and even tested with a straw for its consistency.  I noted the mocktail is made up of strawberry syrup and citrus juices shaken up and coolly served in a cocktail! Looked like the real thing! It was heavenly to say the least!

My 'Daiquiri' mocktail at 1871 Bar and Lounge, Leeds

I'm meeting up with friends this weekend and looking forward to sampling some more mocktails!

Dry January has begun!

Hello! Dry January has begun. and I'm all set! I've been buying and stocking up on my favourite soft drinks (including lime cordial and soda) which will substitute the alcohol drinks I would likely to have.  I have grown a love for Yorkshire black tea and I know this will quench my thirst and support the cause.

My friend is also doing Dry January so we can able to support each other and enjoy the world of soft drinks, mocktails and smoothies.  What I would like to get out of Dry January is better health and well being from abstaining from alcohol and personally see and feel the benefits from participating in this campaign.

Wish me luck and I'll be blogging my progress throughout the month and share any relevant information and tips including drinking alternatives.

A display promoting Dry January I've done in my office

Further information about Dry January can be found here and Forward Leeds is supporting this with their Like my Limit local campaign.  

An article about Dry January from the BBC News encouraged many to participate in Dry January.