It’s all a matter of timing…
I think I can say, without contradiction, that it has been an ‘interesting’ 18 months for everybody, everywhere. As things stand the light at the end of the tunnel is still flickering, but gradually getting brighter.
As the dates loomed for the gradual re-opening of hospitality, and in particular pubs and bars, grew closer the anticipation started to build. After all there was an ever growing list of potential London Beer Guide entries that needed to visited and evaluated.
In mid-April bars were allowed to open again, albeit only being allowed to host customers in a beer garden or other outdoor space. Finally I was able to get to visit a couple of places including the new BrewDog venue in Ealing. Life was slowly getting back to a form of normal.
The next milestone to look forward to was bars being allowed to serve customers indoors from the 17th May, meaning bars with no outdoor space would be accessible again. Plans were being drawn up as to the logistics required to start clearing the Guide to-do list. Excitement was building.
On the 6th May I had a hospital appointment. Just another one of the many routine appointments I have to manage a life-long condition I thought. It didn’t quite work out like that. During the course of the discussion it became clear that I would have to undergo some tests while they checked something out. It’s fine, I’m always having tests. There was one slight difference this time, I was told to stop drinking alcohol whilst they did the tests. For six months.
No alcohol, at all, for six months.
I think it is safe to say that this came as a bit of a hammer blow! 6 weeks on and I still haven’t truly come to terms with it. Having to watch as everybody else is happily reporting on their return to the pub scene has been hard. Very hard.
I have to be pragmatic. Health is important and I have to be sensible. Tough as it is I will do as I am told. The tests have already begun and hopefully they will get to the bottom of it.
I just wish the six months abstention could have happened when everywhere was closed…