So, I can randomly disclose that earlier today I bumped into an old pal in town, hadn't seen each other for yonks.
Like the rest of us he's getting on in years and as yer do, he started telling me about his health problems. He's had his driving license revoked due to him having occasional blackouts, he's also suffering from arthritis in the soles of his feet for which he's having special insoles made for his shoes... etc etc
Strangely, he seemed to know about my problems, appears that he'd regularly bump into someone that we both know and they'd say "
Have you heard about Rats" ... didn't need to tell him about my shoulder problems, he knew all about them.
The thing that got me thinking though was when he asked if I was still fishing/shooting/ cycling!
Yep, it got me to thinking how so much had changed over the last few years. Each of those activities I can no longer do and I miss each of them very much, my shooting especially.
But my social life has changed also, my pals have also had problems and our 'sympathy corner' and card nights in the pub ain't the same. In the case of the card night, we still meet but don't play cards, this is because of a stupid argument between AW and Spanner about 5 months ago which led to nasty things being said and a physical situation only just being avoided.
They are friends again now, but no-one wants to mention cards.
As for our 'sympathy corner' gang, for various reasons, it's slowly dwindling away.
Boycie rarely comes, he was told by his quack that he had got to drastically cut down on his drinking. To be fair, Boycie knows his own shortcomings, one of which is his complete lack of will power. So, he decided to do the whole thing, pack in drinking completely, he ain't touched a drop since the beginning of July. If he does come in, he'll have a few bottles of some none alky crap that he sez tastes horrid and costs £4 a bottle.
He came in last week just to enjoy the craic, was there 2hrs and spent £16 on catpiss, then went home feeling depressed.
Then there's Big Andy (Cad)....a few weeks ago he suffered a complete nervous breakdown in the pub, at the time I was in the lounge bar watching rugby so I knew nowt abut it. Apparently it ain't the first time it's happened, he's on medication for it. Poor sod won't answer his phone, he 's a lovely fella so I hope he gets well soon.
AW ...well he' still battling the big 'C' so understandably he's reigned himself in a bit, although he is doing well.
Shag, well by the time he arrives in the pub he's already pissed after spending most of the afternoon in a little bar down the road. He then proceeds to talk a load of complete bollox, telling the most obvious and outrageous lies, completely ignoring the fact that I was with him at the time he was supposed to be doing these things.
He only gets away with it 'cos we've all known him so long and love him to bits.
Juggy, he's working in London and only gets home at weekends.
Winnie, he left his missus, found some old slapper, moved in with her and drinks t'other side of town.
Meerkat ain't working, he's skint, owes money everywhere and daren't show his face. As usual, none of this is his fault.
Similar story wth 'A' ...our Jocko pal.
Geordie Al, he gets out but is trying hard to cut down, he's similar to Boycie, don't know when to stop.
Greebo still gets out a bit, but has only just accepted that the reason he keeps falling asleep in his chair is 'cos he's old and fat, not 'cos he's got some rare undiagnosable disease.
'G' well poor old G has had a really bad run. After losing his job doing that solar panel thingy he began to suffer really bad gout in his knees, hands etc. This caused him to fall in his flat, bang his shoulder on the wooden arm of a chair and enter the same ward at the LRI as me, just as I was leaving.
His first op didn't work,had to go back in and have plates and screws fitted. He doesn't come to the pub anymore.
Spanner, well he's got his old Ma living with him, she's 94yrs old and fading fast. Spanner is a good son, his Ma comes first, he gets out when he can.
Psycho Dave still comes, as does Paddy, but things ain't like they were.
The times they are a'changin'.