I suppose it all depends on the time of day, whether it’s first thing in the morning, a meal, or late at night and, of course where I am and what I’m doing.

Some years ago I had pneumonia. I didn’t know. It started off as a headache, much like a migraine, and what I usually did when I had a migraine was go to bed and try to sleep it off. That was on a Wednesday, about lunchtime. I was sick, intermittently, and, as was usual I had a big glass of water on my bedside table from which I took the occasional sip. I was in bed all day Thursday and until around 2 pm on Friday, when Julian came in and asked if he should make a doctor’s appointment. I guess I said yes because he came in around 4:30 and said I should get up and get dressed as we had to go to the doc’s. Eventually, I did force myself to get up but I found getting dressed a really difficult thing to do and had no idea what to do with my long, untidy hair (which I normally wore in some sort of ‘updo’.

In the car I found I couldn’t put a sentence together and started wondering if I’d had a stroke. We got to the doctors surgery with plenty of time to spare as we had the last slot of the day. After what seemed like ages, we went in to the doctor’s office. After much testing and listening and tapping, the doctor said she thought I had pneumonia and that we should go to A&E. So, off to the QEQM we went and spent several hours in a crowded waiting room, waiting to see someone. We arrived around 8pm and I think it was after midnight when I was, finally, officially diagnosed with pneumonia and dehydration. It was the latter that was causing my extreme brain fog. I was admitted to a four- bed ward, where I spent most of the night lying awake as I’d spent so much time asleep before. I had intravenous fluids to rehydrate me and antibiotics to combat the germs in my lungs. By Saturday noon I was feeling much better!

Back to my favourite drink – nowadays I tend to drink a lot of water. Luckily, I like the water that comes from the tap.

I also like instant coffee! Julian can’t understand why I prefer it when he has a swanky espresso machine that has to be carefully filled with just the right amount of ground coffee, which he grinds himself in his swanky grinder. Me, I put enough water in the kettle, switch it on, put a spoonful of my favourite brand of instant into a cup and Bob’s your uncle! (But it can’t be just any old instant!)

I like tea in the afternoon. I make it in a similar way to my morning coffee, but use a tea bag in my mug. When the kettle is boiling, I pour the water over the tea bag then, instead of letting it steep, I stir it at least 75 times which seems to equal the right amount of steeping for my taste. Then I add a smidgeon of milk and a little cold water. Recently, I’ve been enjoying a biscuit with my cup of tea which I have decided to call ‘cuppity’ (pronounced cup a tea). I call it this for Lola who then knows to sit next to my feet to ‘hoover’ up any crumbs from the biscuit.

But, of course, at dinner time, which is in the evening at any time from 7 to 8, I prefer a glass of very cold dry white wine. I don’t have expensive tastes – almost any old Pinot Grigio will do. On special occasions I might have a Gavi or a white cote de Rhone. Occasionally, but very rarely, I love a frozen limoncello after a meal. Weirdly, I don’t like champagne or Prosecco (but may drink a little sip of either if necessary when toasting someone’s special occasion.)

So, there’s no point in asking about my favourite drink! You just have to memorise the post above and you’ll be able to guess what I’ll have.

*A&E. Emergency room

QEQM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (my local)

Tap. faucet

Biscuit. Cookie

Addendum:

Since I wrote this post I have discovered the delights of Amaretto! At one of our favourite restaurants I recently ordered an affogato for my dessert. Until that day I had thought it consisted of a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream and a small double espresso which can be drunk or poured over the ice cream. I had always enjoyed trying out different percentages of coffee on ice cream but, this time it arrived with a liqueur glass of Amaretto. A little dubious, I tried it…….heaven! It was (and is) so good!

During this last summer I ordered an Amaretto on its own and was asked if I wanted it on ice. Another decision…..yes, I said. So glad I did! Doubly heavenly – ice cold amaretto!

On the other hand I still like all the other drinks I’ve mentioned above but for a special treat, AMARETTO, GRAZIE,