Respect and best wishes...

I'm in my late 50s, and over the last few years I've heard news of a few blokes similar age as me,
who I used to know around the south west music scene,
passing away alone in their bedsits after a squalid life of drink and drug over-indulgence...

My dad was a heavy cider drinker, borderline alcoholic,
who tried giving up in his 50s after Drs advice that he was on too many medications for blood pressure, etc.
But he started up again in his 60s.. and didn't see 70.

I used to be a heavy weekend party binge boozer, but absolutely tea total on weekdays.
A balance I managed with strong self discipline throughout my 40s.
Over the last 7 or 8 years I've voluntarily cut down to near complete abstinence,
because I've been on all sorts of tablets since 50,
and I don't want to end up like my dad and those other guys;
...also booze is too bloody expensive,
and I got sick of myself acting like a boorish arsehole in public...
plus my last remaining favourite local pub burned down.

However, I can still allow myself to enjoy bank holiday mini binges of cider and wine with the wife, at home on the sofa in front of the TV...
Maybe, if I'm lucky [or behave myself], a couple of bottles of decent malt at Xmas.