Zaridity

That is, semi-dry. I've decided to Cut Down in preparation for the operation. I shall limit myself to one glass of wine a day, apart from Saturday when we're all going out for lunch to a pub with its own brewery, so I shall have a glass of beer as well.

It's always a puzzle, knowing what to drink if one wishes to keep off the sauce. I mean, nothing else tastes right apart from beer and wine, because everything else is fruity or sweet - apart from water, of course. And I don't understand why one would be able to drink a sugary-tasting drink with savoury food - well, or without it. Anyway, I'm going to try tomato juice before a meal and the single glass of good wine with it.

All the various electrical appliances that have been squirrelled away over the past few years have gone to the tip. I mean, the recycling centre. And so far I have removed two boxes of books - and saved another boxful - still, I'm tackling the bookcase in the cloakroom next. The thing is, I've got a whole lot of books that were my mother's that need to find a home rather urgently - Al and Dilly hung on to them for a long time for me, but now need the space themselves. I just can't fit in any more bookcases, and besides I really don't have to feel obliged to keep every potboiler novel or out-of-date reference book, just because of a reverence and affection for printed paper.

I filled in forms from the hospital today - it's all on for next Friday, unless I'm suddenly declared to be unfit for an operation on Wednesday, for which I can't see any reason at present. And, of course, I'll be able to say that I've more than halved my alcohol consumption in preparation.

I think I'm going to make a big pot of coffee now. What is there to drink when you don't have alcohol?