I'm sure this will get a healthy debate. My first of the day is a nice Tyskie, very tangy and with a kick.
Being a lager drinker this was the best on offer. Only £3 though. Given the state of the boozer it's not surprising the lack of variety.
Reams will be on the train down from Wrexham now - Virgin has done him a deal whereby he can travel in the bike rack to save money. He will be wearing his best (& only) suit which he saves for christenings & court appearances. His match day appearance will be topped off with a pair of Gola trainers and a can of Tennants to hand.
You try telling George Best and Jimmy Greaves that. Alcohol destroys individuals and Family's. I am not saying alcohol per se is bad but when it becomes more than having a few drinks, it is like any addiction. It controls you rather than you controlling it.
Yep, been some terrible alkies involved in football in recent times too - Gazza, Paul Merson, Reams...
My sister & brother-in-law used to own a holiday flat in Newhaven just near the quay (decent boozer at end of quay BTW) .... so none of your lip Elf... nice quiet place is Newhaven
Spot on, DP. Booze almost killed me. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. I used alcohol to numb the pain of my myriad mental health problems, yet it was only when I dried out that I realised there were alternative methods for calming the storm. I wish I could be one of those people who have the odd pint or two before heading home, but I just know one or two would lead to 15-20 pints and a bottle of vodka. So I now abstain, with the constant reminder of my wife and kids in my head and my heart. It's tough to stay on the wagon, but it's better than an early grave, which is where I was definitely heading just a few short years ago.
Well said mate. I have been fighting the black dog for a lot of my life. Alcohol is not the answer. I have got other things in my life like drama, getting out in the country, my Family etc I only have the occasional drink now. When I worked in the City it was getting out of control. Every lunchtime and most evenings. I never felt like I was addicted though but it was heading that way.
Crikey Ponders, well done for overcoming those awful circumstances. I hope you can always hold the advice of loved ones close to heart. Alcohol is like gambling - it's never a problem, but only for people who don't have a problem with it. Drinking culture is as old as our industrial society, and it is often romanicised in fiction. But like gambling, it can destroy lives when there are other complicating factors involved. I don't think Elfs meant any disrespect with the thread title (comes across as tongue-in-cheek to me) but along with the enjoyment of drinking, there is a serious side to the whole debate as well. For my part I only drank to excess occasionally during my youth - I'll confess the hangovers were so crippling they outweighed the enjoyment for me. I enjoy the occasional can or pint every now and then, but too much junk food and not enough exercise are my real vices. And being an Addicks fan.
I've never begrudged anyone a good drink; in fact, I envy those who can enjoy their alcohol without the dependency. I miss going to the pub (although they became a bit crap after the smoking ban), but the temptation would be too much for me. I miss playing darts for my local, and the banter with the barmaids used to keep me warm on a cold night. Like DP, however, I've found better uses for my time and money: poetry, walking, charity work, travel etc. Yet the greatest gift is spending time with my family and actually living in the moment, instead of attempting to piece a few fractured memories together the following day. Every time I feel weak and tempted, I think back to the days of waking up in my garden, covered in piss, vomit, blood and - depending on the weather - a film of frost.
Do you have the same problems as my sister? She is a vegetarian and when invited out for an evening the hostess always makes an issue (not the same person btw) about having to cook a separate meal for the veggie.... my sister always takes it with a smile but thinks to herself "well why invite me if I am going to be a problem" .... my sister would be happy just to have vegetables ... she's quite an easy guest but people do like to make a fuss and then complain about it!
