Year Without Beer!

Carnival and Cachaça

Neil — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:45:21 +0000

I’ve just seen on Sky news that this year’s carnival parade contest in Sao Paulo, Brazil has ended in riots after a man stole and destroyed the judges’ results. Sky reports that a mob quickly formed, knocking over tables, damaging the trophies and fighting amongst themselves. Despite swift police action the violence spilled out onto the highway- with rioters setting fire to carnival floats and trying to tear down metal barriers. The man who sparked the violence was arrested and is being held without bail, according to local reports.

This is very sad to see. Carnival is Brazil is an amazing event and one that I was lucky enough to experience in 2011 when I was in Sao Paulo on business. I have very much enjoyed my trips to Brazil. I think this is largely due to some of the wonderful people I have met there.

One of my favourite things about Brazil has to be Caipirinha, the national cocktail made with Cachaça.

Also known as Brazilian rum, Cachaça is the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil. It is mostly produced in Brazil, where, according to 2007 figures, 1.5 billion litres (390 million gallons) are consumed annually!

I have recently booked another business trip to Sao Paulo and it going to be strange going out with colleagues without enjoying a Caipirinha, but I am committed to this year without beer so will have to see if I can find a local alcohol free cocktail or juice!

Buy Me a Caipirinha!

I am living an alcohol free life throughout 2012 to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK. Please support my Year Without Beer by donating to one of these fantastic causes:

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.
To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

Binge Drinking – It’s in Our Nations History!

Neil — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:08:18 +0000

With all talk in the news about binge drinking and the UK being a nation of hidden alcoholics you maybe led to believe this is new phenomenon, but the UK has a long established drinking culture.

More than 300 years ago, back in 1694, British Lord Admiral Edward Russell set the record for history’s largest cocktail. Lord Admiral Russell threw an officer’s party that employed a garden’s fountain as the punch bowl filled with a mixture that included 250 gallons of brandy, 125 gallons of Malaga wine, 1,400 pounds of sugar, 2,500 lemons, 20 gallons of lime juice, and 5 pounds of nutmeg!

A series of bartenders paddled around the garden fountain in a small wooden canoe, filling up the cups of the guests. The bartenders were only able to work for 15-minute shifts in order to avoid being overcome by the fumes and falling overboard. Lord Admiral Russell’s party continued nonstop for a week, although it did pause briefly during rainstorms when a silk canopy was used to cover the punch to keep it from getting watered down. The party eventually finished when the fountain had been drunk completely dry.

366 Days Without Booze

I am living an alcohol free life throughout 2012 to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK. Please support my Year Without Beer by donating to one of these fantastic causes:

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.
To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

Panorama – Hidden Alcoholics

Neil — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:44:38 +0000

I found Panorama an interesting watch tonight on BBC1. Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former spokesman, met some of the increasing number of Britain’s middle-class professionals for whom one glass of wine after work is never enough, and asked if we all need to reassess our relationship with drink.

Campbell himself knows from bitter experience the true cost of excessive boozing: his alcoholism contributed to his nervous breakdown.

The newspaper headlines about Britain’s drink problem, give the impression that teenage binge-drinking is the problem we all should be concerned with, but with nearly 9,000 people dying from alcohol-related diseases every year, our health crisis is much greater than this.

The program talked about the increase of drinking at home and questioned the sale of cheap alcohol in supermarkets. Campbell talked about his own hard-drinking days and how he was a “hidden alcoholic”, one of a number of professional people, successful on the surface, with a good job, a steady relationship, a mortgage, nice holidays, lots of friends, oh and a drink problem too!

Year Without Beer

I am living an alcohol free life throughout 2012 to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK. Please support my Year Without Beer by donating to one of these fantastic causes:

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.
To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

Year Without Beer – Don’t Forget to Sponsor Me!

Neil — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 18:16:14 +0000

2012 may be the year the olympics comes to London, but it is also my year without beer! During 2012 I will be spending all 366 days of this leap year completely alcohol free. For those of you looking to support my Year Without Beer, but unsure how to sponsor me here are a couple of options…

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.

To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

Adam enjoying a pint

My cousin’s son Adam was born with Cystic Fibrosis, one of the UK’s most common life-threatening inherited diseases. Throughout his short life Adam was an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to meet him. Despite being in hospital far too many times Adam never once complained, not even of a headache. He was a cheeky monkey too and the world is sadly much quieter without him. Adam passed away in 2003 aged just 18.

Cystic Fibrosis affects over 9,000 youngsters, clogging vital organs with thick sticky mucus. There is presently no cure. The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is the UK’s only national charity working for families with CF and to find a cure.

My Dad enjoying a pint

Sadly most of our lives have been or will be affected by cancer at some point. Cancer has robbed many families of their loved ones, including my Dad who passed away from cancer in 1998 and both of my wife’s parents.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. It works to fight cancer on all fronts, finding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat it to save more lives. It is entirely funded by the public. With your help, we can ensure more people beat cancer.

5 a Day? Try 17!

Neil — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:27:21 +0000

As you are no doubt aware the UK government recommends we all get 5 portions a day of fruit and vegetables. Well in Japan things are a little different as the Japanese RDA (recommended daily allowance) of fruit and veg is 17 different portions!

In Jason Vale’s new “Funky Fresh Juice Book” he has included a recipe for a 17-a-Day juice that he describes as:

“Best served when you really feel you need a massive boost of nutrients. Maybe you’ve been on a bender and feel like you’ve been run over by a truck”

Well as it is my year without all alcohol in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK I clearly haven’t been on a bender, but I have been a little unwell this week and so this morning gave this juice a go. It took a bit longer to prepare than most of my juices (due to the 17 ingredients) but it was delicious and hence I think was worth the effort. I felt much better after drinking it too!

Japan is home to some of the world’s oldest living people, so maybe 5 a day isn’t quite enough…

Donate a Pint to Charity!

I am living an alcohol free life throughout 2012 to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK. Please support my Year Without Beer by donating to one of these fantastic causes:

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.
To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

Essential Viewing – Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

Neil — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:15:39 +0000

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010) – Ready to start juicing?

I recently posted a comparison of Fast Food vs Juicing, comparing the results from Super Size Me and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. If you haven’t seen Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead I strongly recommend watching it…

100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb (22 Stone 10lb) man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn’t end well. With one foot already in the grave, the other wasn’t far behind.

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe’s personal mission to regain his health. With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long-term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.

While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it’s at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same rare condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well. What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection. Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Buy Me a Pint!

For those of you looking to support my Year Without Beer, here are a couple of options…

To donate to Cancer Research UK please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB66 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB66 £5″ will donate £5.

To donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust please click here to visit my just giving page or donate by text – send AYWB55 and the amount to 70070. For example, texting “AYWB55 £5″ will donate £5.

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