I have lost count of the number of years that I have been subjecting myself to an alcohol-free start of the year, but it is certainly more than 10. And it seems to get slightly easier every time so maybe that's a good thing. Anyway, I toasted in the new month yesterday evening with my first beer of the year in a bar at Düsseldorf airport.
The reason I have decided to do without in January(ies) is purely a personal one: to show myself, and Kathryn, that I can do it. I must say that I have never felt that I sleep any better nor lose any weight (in fact there are times when I find myself snacking when I would otherwise have had a drink in my hand). And yes, I know that a 5-2 regime would be medically better for me...maybe I shall try that as well this year.
Today is the occasion of the Iowa Caucuses in the US, the first time we actually get to hear from some real voters in what is always a very long process to select candidates to get their parties' support for their candidature in the November Presidential elections.
Every four years, when this cycle restarts, it brings back memories of the 1972 edition thereof. I was about 14 and at boarding school and can remember listening to the radio late into the night: there wasn't much choice of channels in those days and I often found myself switching over to Radio 4's coverage of what was going on in the US.
These were pre-Watergate times and Tricky Dicky as he came to be known had a relatively easy time of it. Two years later and I was still listening, enthralled as the whole edifice collapsed. Alistair Cooke's version of it was - indeed still is - fascinating: well worth a re-listen.
No idea what will transpire in 2016: my personal bet is on the first Lady President, but there's still a long way to go. Watch out for Mr Rubio...
P.S. Just writing this prompted me to listen to the 25th Anniversary Letter from America reviewing Watergate a quarter of a century later - worth a go at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yj9j0
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