Day 19. 07:00 No alarm but naturally woke up. Body clock is back to normal after all these years of my addiction and waking up around 10/11am every day. Feels amazing to have re-set my body clock. Feel well again . . . .

Day 18 18:35 Very strange thing happened! A nurse knocked on my door holding one of the blue bags you get from the shop. The nurse proceeded to tell me that a jacket and alarm clock had been given to . . . .

Day 18 Dad’s 4 Year passing. 08:30 No alarm as wanted to get extra sleep due to a restless night of not feeling well. Woke up by a nurse taking my breakfast order, as the night nurse did not take . . . .

Day 17. Dad’s 68th Birthday. 06:30 Woke up with no alarm, new body clock has kicked in – typical, I am in isolation and can sleep in! Went back to sleep as still feeling a bit under the weather, my . . . .

Day 16. 3.30 am wake up. Woke up as my legs were very itchy with a slight rash. I could not sleep. Went down to the nurses and got some antihistamine then went back to bed to try and sleep. . . . .

Day 15. No more vitamins! So no need to visit the nurses every day. There must be a cold bug going around the castle right now, as many peers have been feeling they have the cold, and today I had . . . .

Day 14. 6am Wake up. Church was cancelled due to covid. Tough day emotionally. I was in the process of writing out more of Stage 1 when I received my impact letter from my Mum. I decided it was best . . . .

Day 13. DETOX FINISHED! No more Benzo – only vitamins. Another mad and crazy day at the castle! The day started well with another lecture on Step 1. The lecture was about admitting powerlessness and unmanageable behaviour of your addiction. . . . .

Day 12. 6 am wake up – it snowed heavily last night, so woke up to a magical white castle. Today felt like an amazing day. Meds have now been reduced to 2mg in the evening. No more morning meds. . . . .

Day 11. 6 am Wake up – small lie in awake in bed looking forward to the day ahead. Nearly finished detox, now a vitamin in the morning and 2mg of Benzo at night. I am happy with this as . . . .

Day 10. 6.30 Wake up. Medication is still the same. I felt today has been a turning point in my recovery. I now feel very settled in the castle environment and around my peers. Continental breakfast again! One of my . . . .

Day 9. 6.30am Wake Up.. Another good day where I am feeling more like myself again. Medication reduced to 2mg in the morning and 5mg at night. Sausages and Hash browns for breakfast, been waiting for that type of breakfast . . . .

Day 8. 6 am Wake up, however, decided to sleep in for a bit. 6:45 wake up. Had a good sleep. Today was a good day and the motivation is slowly returning. First breakfast in the main dining hall, continental . . . .

Day 7. 06:30 Wake up. Went down for breakfast and was informed that this was my last meal in the castle. From lunch onwards I can now join the rest of my peers in the dining hall at the other . . . .

Day 6. Still in detox, medication is still the same. Normal morning Benzo still. Continental breakfast. More relaxed day as it’s the weekend. I am feeling more myself again now that I am 6 days in with no alcohol. I . . . .

Day 5. 06:30 wake up. Still in detox so remaining at the castle for all meals. Medication is reduced to morning and evening, and emergency medication is still available. Starting to feel more comfortable with the set daily routine and . . . .

Day 4. 06:45 Wake up call with a bell in the corridor ringing. Breakfast has now been adjusted to reflect the breakfast in the main dining room, which I can go down to after detox. Until such time, meals are . . . .

Day 3. Breakfast was amazing again! Very anxious about moving to the main facility – the castle. Up again at 6.30 am. Upon arriving at the castle, all residents and staff made me feel comfortable. I was introduced to my . . . .

Day 2. Morning! Woke up at 6.30 am. I slept peacefully all night and can’t even remember the nurses popping in to check on me. Cannot remember the last time I slept so well. Breakfast at 8.30 am, then day . . . .

Day 1. It was an anxious and nervous start to the day. My bags were packed and I was ready to start the journey of new beginnings and a new chapter in life – Recovery. Alcohol has always been an . . . .