I’VE given up alcohol. Well, not completely, I have pushed out the boat on special occasions and downed a the odd glass of white.

I won’t bore you with why as so many people bang on about their ailments. Suffice to say it’s for health reasons – and, no, it’s not cirrhosis or of the liver. Nor is it alcoholism.

Now, for someone who has often been referred to as “a party girl” and has a reputation for being a controversial and entertaining drunk – or at least that’s what they say to my face – this has been a considerable life change.

Firstly, I like alcohol, the warm, fuzzy feeling of well-being that comes with two large glasses of wine and the lack of inhibition a full bottle provides.

Secondly, most of my close friends are big drinkers and, prior to my health shock, the idea of spending a night with these wild women and not drinking would have been like coming away empty-handed from Santa’s grotto.

Of course, everyone understands my reason for abstention and they’d rather have me sober than not at all, but sobriety brings a certain amount of uneasiness with it. I was paranoid that I’d seem boring and I didn’t want them to feel they had to behave. There’s nothing worse than being reminded of how you fell off your heels and showed your big girl’s thong.

So, I had a decision to make. Either never go out with my friends and take up macrame, or go out and not drink.

My first outing was a lunch date and my friend decided to be supportive and drove so she wouldn’t be tempted. Our last lunch date went on until 7pm and resulted in us being over-charged for several bottles of wine we couldn’t remember drinking. But this was a low-key affair, adult, responsible, just nice and not at all dull. Result!

My second was with a lovely friend who I always consider to be the ‘sensible one’. She was drinking because it was her birthday. I know it’s not much fun being middle-aged, but she cried several times over dinner about everything from child abuse to animal neglect. Considering she’s the sensible one, I wondered what on earth I was like during our past drinking sessions.

Friend three was the true test. This lady is hilariously wacky. She’s had her Christmas decs up since October and I was greeted by an enormous blow-up Santa in the garden. We talked and laughed into the night and the best bit of all is I remembered everything the next day.

I’ve always appreciated my friends, but being sober has caused me to stand back and look at them in a way I never have before. They’re witty, intelligent and great company and I really don’t need a drink to enjoy being with them. So I’ll drink (water) to that, just don’t call me boring.