It makes sense when you discover its magical contents, and for the day that’s in it we’re recommending the ultimate New Year hangover.
Coconut water, and who knew that the ubiquitous Caribbean drink (other countries are available) will put you back on your feet.
It’s all to do with the potassium, electrolytes, fibre and natural sugars.
All in those coconut shells you see traders carving out by the side of the roads that cost pennies.
Of course it might be that all that dancing you did the night before.
And the fruit from your rum punch and water to rehydrate protected you from the ravages of the hangover.
Or the fact that you’re in Barbados for carnival that makes you blank out the lethargy in your head.
Fry and high
Of course, there are those, ourselves among them, who swear by…
The Ulster/Scottish/English fry of bacon, sausage, eggs, puddings, mushrooms, beans… it’s replacing the lost salt, you know.
And I will forever be indebted to Donna for putting Jevan and myself back together after our all-nighter at Foreday Morning.
And giving us the cold splash of reality that is a hosing down.
To remove the mud and purple paint and wake us up… never a thing for those trudging back from Edinburgh this morning.
Bru knew?
The Scottish hangover cure they say is to just carry on (behave!)
But what is true is that the Jocks do swear by the elements in the bubble-gum tasting Irn-Bru soft drink.
Yes, it’s a rush of sugar but also that iron, although there’s only 0.002 ammonium ferric citrate.
But according to an expert in this field, Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, who spent 10 years drinking in 30 cities across 14 countries it deffo works.
Now if coconut water, big fry-ups or Irn-Bru aren’t your thing (and why not?) then caffeine is a favourite fall-back.
Cup of coffee for the road
I developed my taste for coffee from 15/16 and having it thrust into my hand the morning after a school house party.
How you take it is your own beeswax but I’ve been a black only drinker since my days at uni in frozen Aberdeen.
When leaving the flat to go down into the bracing wind to the shop for milk became too much effort.
Particularly after the first al-nighters with Jevan when he introduced me to real Bajan rum, Mount Gay.
Now where is that streetside coconut water seller in Aberdeen when you need one?
Now I am nothing if not a service-provider and of course the ultimate New Year hangover cure is the sunshine you get.
On the road with the Further Adventures of Bandanaman.
HI JIM,
Happy New Year and I hope the hangover wasn’t too bad! I didn’t drink much last night as i have a chest infection so I slept as I’d spent the previous night in casualty. I saw the London fireworks on the TV today at the care home where Mum is spending 2 weeks respite while we sort out her long term care. My sister Caroline was looking after her but she’s been in hospital for the last 3 weeks with liver problems. She went completely yellow with jaundice and had to have a feeding tube as she wasn’t eating. She’s still in the Royal Berks Hospital for at least the next couple of weeks. Mum’s care home is next door to where i live so that’s very convenient. She doesn’t like it much because she wants to stay in her own home so we’re looking at live in carers at the moment. I haven’t travelled much since I last saw you because my bi-polar took a turn for the worse last year. I’m feeling much better now and have just booked a holiday to Krakow with my best friend from school in October this year. We’ve got a day trip booked that goes to Auschwitz in the morning,then lunch, then the salt mines nearby. Sounds like a full agenda so we’ll be relaxing around Krakow the rest of the time. WE’ve got 4 nights there and are staying in the Old Town so it sounds great. I’ve never been to Poland before, have you? There’s a large Polish community in Reading, along with Bajans, Indians, Pakistanis and other west Indians so we are very cosmopolitan down here. I’m planning a trip to the Windies in Mar staying in Barbados and then going on a clipper ship around some other islands. That’s my treat to myself. Any tips?
I’m also doing a sponsored trek in Morocco supporting a charity for disabled youngsters that I used to work for in Henley in May. Then I have to fit in a trip to Nantes in France to see my niece and her newborn. (and husband). I met my great nephew for the 1st time last week. He’s very cute but I’m a great aunt so that makes me feel old!
I hope your family and your better half are all ok? How’s the jobs going and how do you find to keep the travel blog up and running? We must meet up again some time. I have a friend in EDinburgh who I might visit in the summer so I’ll try and catch up with you then. That’s if you’re not off gallivanting somewhere!
Take care,
Sophie. (Nettle) Your Jordan travel mate.