“I decided to quit drinking whilst working as a nurse during the height of the pandemic – and it made my life so much easier.”

In 2020 Covid hit and the world was shutting down. I realised I had an option. I could become really chunky, drink every day and eat crappy food. Or I could see if putting vitamins in my body, staying sober, getting some exercise and reading more books helped more.

During that time I lost weight, I slept great and I really handled the stress. I was forced into patients rooms with covid and scared of what I was going to bring home to the kids.

I realised, why would I put poison in my body? Why would I want to hurt myself when there’s already a disease out there that’s really, really hurting people?

I am still amazed that I do not wake up so dehydrated. For the first six or seven months I woke up prepared to be hungover. That was my life. Waking up without a hangover is the best gift.

I can be available at any time. I’m not worried about how I’m going to get there or how I’m going to get home. My kids are big in the scouts and I’m always the health officer, the one distributing the band aids and the bug spray. It’s nice to be counted on.

People say to me, ‘I can’t believe you don’t drink anymore.’ And I say, why should I? It’s so last year!