Is it just me that’s getting envious of the office party? My husband regaled me with his December social schedule yesterday and I was, frankly, jealous. I so clearly remember when the Christmas run-up was a giddy whirl, when I looked forward to the steady all-dayer of Christmas Day itself as a nice rest from the hectic party programme of the month with the mostest.
When my husband actually had the temerity to bemoan his heavy-drinking schedule, I could only scoff. So what if some of these events are a little tedious – I’d be delighted to be bored witless on someone else’s tab, thanks! I believe there should be a National Stay At Home Spouse’s ‘Office’ Night Out – perhaps Christmas Eve, so the other halves can do all the last-minute wrapping, cleaning, cooking and weeping into Santa’s brandy.
My drinking envy makes it sound as though I wait at home with the corkscrew poised for his return of an evening, only to put it away disappointed when he comes home with hungover regrets. Au contraire, I take a glass up to the kids’ bathtime. In many ways, I prefer drinking alone, as then you get to finish the whole bottle.
But here lies the problem. My husband tends to treat our home like The Priory – somewhere he comes to dry out. Whereas I rarely go out, and therefore see the change of time from 5.59 to 6pm as my drinking cue, rather than his walk from office door to pub. Many of my friends tell me of their happy weekend evenings spent sharing a bottle of wine or two with their spouse. In our house I have to force alcohol on my husband. So while I merrily get merry in front of Strictly, he switches to Berocca after one glass, recovering from his Friday night work drinks.
Are we the only ones who drink out of synch?
Yes – this drives me nuts too! And then WE’RE seen as the alcoholic ones!! Grrrr…