DRINKS KITCHEN

I am now a widow, having lost my wonderful husband Mike in 2025, after 44 happy years together. He was my great love and my greatest supporter – and he had a particular talent for making my Spiced Rhubarb aperitif each evening, beautifully and with care. It became part of our ritual, a small daily pleasure we shared.

Even though I miss him terribly, I continue to live life fully and with curiosity. I believe deeply in finding joy where you can, staying connected to people, and choosing things that make you feel well – body and mind.

But my journey with alcohol actually began much earlier.

In my mid-30s, I was working full time as a Personnel and Training Manager in a large department store employing over 550 people. When the long-anticipated store closure finally came, I was confidentially involved in managing the wind-down and supporting staff through redundancy – all while knowing my own role would disappear too.

The pressure was intense and unrelenting. Alcohol slowly crept in as a way to cope. Evenings became drinks – first at work, then in hotel bars, and eventually at home. It wasn’t excess so much as reliance; alcohol became a prop for getting through.

The turning point came with a new job and a company car, which forced an honest reckoning. Giving up alcohol was difficult, made harder by the lack of decent non-alcoholic options at the time. But common sense, pride in my work and a desire to feel well again gradually took over.

Looking back now, I can see that alcohol was quietly taking more than it ever gave – clarity, energy and precious time.