SoberlyCo Newsletter #2: French Holiday Survival (When Every Meal Comes With Wine Recommendations)

Still buzzing from an incredible week.

Not buzzing from wine (though there was plenty on offer). Buzzing from the realization that I just had a great holiday - completely sober.

Seven days near Cannes with six mates. Beautiful châteaux, incredible food, and approximately 47 opportunities per day to "just have one glass with dinner."

The pressure was real from day one.

"Come on, Paddy—you're in France! The wine is practically free. When in Rome..." (Wrong country, but you get the point.)

The heat was intense. Everyone else was day-drinking by the pool by 11 AM. And honestly? There were moments when a crisp, cold beer would have been exactly what my body was craving.

But I had a plan.

The French Holiday Reality Check

Day 1: Arrive at this beautiful villa. Kitchen stocked with local wines. Everyone's excited to "taste the region." I'm excited too - just not about the alcohol part.

Day 2: First trip to a local market. The cheese, the bread, the charcuterie - incredible. But every vendor wants to tell us about wine pairings. "This Sancerre would be perfect with the goat cheese, monsieur!"

Day 3: The heat hits 35°C. Everyone's lounging by the pool with beers at lunchtime. I'm starting to feel left out of the "holiday vibe."

This is where my "first year hurdle" process kicked in.

Instead of fighting the urge or feeling sorry for myself, I had three strategies that completely changed my week:

Strategy 1: Movement Medicine

When that familiar "I need something to take the edge off" feeling hit in the afternoon heat, I started doing something that felt completely mad at first - stretches by the pool.

I've been using this app called Bend that combines gentle movement with what I call "active meditation." It's like yoga but less intimidating, more practical for blokes who feel awkward in downward dog.

The magic happened around day three.

Instead of reaching for a beer when the 4 PM slump hit, I'd do 5 minutes of stretching. The urge would literally move through my body and out. Plus, I started sleeping better than I had in months.

My friends thought I'd gone completely mental at first. By day five, two of them were asking for the app name because they'd noticed how relaxed I seemed.

Strategy 2: Becoming the Food Detective

Here's what nobody tells you about French food culture - when you're not drinking, you actually taste everything.

Instead of numbing my taste buds with wine, I became obsessed with the food. Every meal became an adventure:

• That local honey we bought at the market? Incredible drizzled on fresh bread with morning coffee

• The cheese market stall that usually gets rushed through? I spent 20 minutes talking to the farmer about how each one was made

• Evening meals lasted hours because I was actually present for every conversation

I became the designated "let's try this" person. While everyone else was getting progressively more drunk, I was the one suggesting we walk to that bakery, try that local dish, or visit the farm shop.

Result: I probably had the most authentic French experience of anyone in the group.

Strategy 3: Board Game Champion

Evenings were the hardest part. While everyone else got louder and sloppier with wine, I needed something to keep my hands busy and my mind engaged.

Enter my secret weapon: a bag full of card games.

• Exploding Kittens (sounds ridiculous, is absolutely brilliant)

• Monopoly Deal (faster paced simpler version of Monopoly)

• Casscadia (building habitats for different animals)

Here's what happened: Instead of the usual drunk philosophy sessions at 2 AM, we had proper laugh-out-loud gaming sessions. The conversations got deeper, not shallower. People were actually listening to each other instead of waiting for their turn to talk.

By night four, the games were the highlight of everyone's evening. Even the heavy drinkers were saying, "Should we get the games out now?"

The Unexpected Benefits

Energy levels: While everyone else was nursing hangovers and struggling with 10 AM starts, I was up early, ready for adventures. I saw more sunrises that week than in the previous six months.

Money saved: Not buying alcohol meant I could splash out on amazing local experiences.

Memories made: I remember every conversation, every sunset, every moment of laughter. Nothing's fuzzy or lost to alcohol fog.

Relationships deepened: Had proper one-on-one chats with mates I'd known for years but never really talked to when we were always drinking together.

The Real Test: Day 6

This was the hardest day. We visited a vineyard. Beautiful setting, passionate winemaker, everyone else getting properly into the tastings.

For about 20 minutes, I felt like I was missing out on something essential. The FOMO was real.

Then I remembered my "first year hurdle" process: instead of focusing on what I was giving up, I focused on what I was gaining.

I spent those 20 minutes having a proper conversation with the winemaker about the business side - how he transitioned from corporate life to following his passion. Fascinating stuff that I would have missed if I'd been focused on drinking.

That evening, while everyone else crashed from the day's wine, I was energized enough to cook dinner for the whole group using ingredients we'd bought at the market.

Best meal of the holiday, according to everyone the next morning.

This Weekend's French-Inspired Challenge

Whether you're on holiday or just trying to make your weekend feel special, try this:

1. Find one new food experience to focus on completely - really taste it without alcohol

2. Download a simple movement app (I genuinely recommend Bend) and try 5 minutes when you'd normally reach for a drink

3. Introduce one social activity that doesn't revolve around drinking (cards, games, walks)

4. Notice the difference in your energy levels and memory of the weekend

The Bottom Line

I thought a sober holiday might be boring. Instead, it was the most present, energetic, and memorable week I've had in years.

I wasn't just going through the motions of a holiday routine. I was actually experiencing France - the food, the culture, the landscapes, the friendships.

And I remember every single moment.

Hit reply and tell me:

• What's your biggest holiday or weekend challenge?

• Have you tried using movement/exercise to manage cravings?

• What's one non-drinking activity you'd like to try with friends?

Here's to holidays you'll actually remember,

Paddy

P.S. That Bend app? Game-changer. Not affiliated with them, just genuinely helpful for anyone looking for practical ways to manage cravings through gentle movement.

P.P.S. Next Wednesday's email: "Wedding season survival—what I learned about peer pressure at my mate's wedding." Because apparently, some people never grow up when it comes to pressuring others to drink.

📧 Questions about sober travel or holiday strategies? Just hit reply – I love hearing your experiences and challenges.