Day 49 – Taking the Piss!

It’s Friday. That means beers with the boys. Today is a tad late for this rambling but I am here. Tomorrow is Day 50, which is an even greater milestone than Day 40. Tomorrow will be the last time for a while that I share this blog to my facebook page. I fully expect my reader numbers to go down, but, if I am an example of a facebook user I’m sure I will be less of an irritant to some others. I know people, for a decade or more, who post their shit every day, and whom I have blocked. So I know how they feel!

There has been a crisis since I last supped with the boys. One of the leaders has split with his wife. Eighteen years of marital bliss – admittedly he says, forced upon him through ‘extenuating circumstances’ - has come to an end. We, the boys are very sad for him, we support him regardless of our views, but nevertheless, we took the piss out of him proper! He is living a paupers life (in relative terms before the tree huggers get too worked up), in his office at his warehouse. The comforts of his well established home have been abandoned; his earnings that have contributed to this partnership have been significantly eroded. He is certain. There is no changing of his mind. That is respected.

I have another mate who is about to get married. I know he reads these words and as I value his friendship I need to choose my words carefully. Finding the right person to settle with is, for some, a life long quest. To put two people under the same roof forever, as it should be, is alone a challenge that many fail at. To ask two people to share the same toothbrush and god forbid, the same values in life is an even bigger ask. To add children into the mix only ramps up the pressure for both involved. But the reward far outweighs the sacrifice. To have someone to talk to in the darkest hours is beyond price. And even more valuable is to have someone who understands and supports you free of questions.

I am not in a perfect marriage so am definitely not a role model but, that famous but, we have lasted fifteen years because there is a general understanding about the important things in life! There is more important things than money, there is more important things than belongings. There is no more important thing than mutual respect. It is my opinion that without respect there is nothing.

To my mate who is about to get married, have respect, have patience, but most importantly, demand respect in return!

My idea of writing a book is gathering steam. Many have suggested a topic but I am yet to find one that grabs me by the nuts. Perhaps, a greater incentive is called for; already it is a pinky promise of front row seats at the awards dinner, an anonymous starring role as a fictional character in the story line, the riddance of your partner or spouse in the grisliest manner of your desire and of course a ride into the sunset with yours truly. What more can I offer? Perhaps a share of the profit? A share of the limelight? A share of the celebrityness? (Does JK Rowling have this to contend with?)

Starting out is such a challenge and to be honest, such a compromise!

Until tomorrow.