If 'not funny' isn't for you then skip this one
Addiction - you name the vice, I'm probably related to someone who experienced addiction to it. I have a couple of fairly unremarkable ones myself, even one illegal one, but nothing especially threatening in a financial, social or physical sense. Not to the extent that I indulge in any case.

Most notable in my life on this score though is my brother. He was a tearaway knocking around with other tearaways from when we were kids, a lifestyle which saddled him with an on-and-off-but-mostly-on hard drug habit for almost 15 years until related skullduggery landed him in jail for 12 months where he went cold turkey and kicked it. He stayed off the hard stuff for almost another 5 years and never went back to it.

Don't get me wrong here - my brother could be a fucking idiot, but he wasn't a bad person. Not to the level of concentrated malevolence that can be perceived in most chavs in any case. He pulled some shit to get by whilst he was under the habit but never anything violent or harmful to others - he just wasn't the type for hurting people. That his heart remained in the right place whilst his head was walkabout is the reason we stuck by him, despite the fact that our words for him weren't always kind.

Sadly, so long in the habit had not left his system un-fucked and his health was very poor. He was warned by family, friends and doctors alike that he was much more fragile than once he was, but there was hope for some recovery provided he was careful. His personal demons made him short-sighted in his approach to this though, and his health didn't improve. He took to frankly dangerous amounts of alcohol after our Dad died a couple of years ago and this, combined with unforseen problems with prescription medication, relationship issues and harassment from some of the worthless scum he had to call neighbours resulted in him suffering a cardiac arrest that ultimately took his life a few weeks ago. He was 38.

I learned a lot of hard lessons the easy way from my brother's experiences, and wished every day that he could have shared in the insight that he gave me. I still do.

So the long-term legacy of addiction has taken the shine completely off of xmas for me and mine this year, and I for one can't wait just to get it over with. Once it is, I then have to figure out how to handle the next 30-50 years without my big brother - that's a tough one.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Fri 19 Dec 2008, 12:20, 5 replies)

...
have a hug - not much else I can do or say.
(twiceydrinker hmmm is it pint time?, Fri 19 Dec 2008, 12:25, closed)

I hear you
Lost my beautiful Wife, Natasha, in October 2007 to alcohol. She was also only 38. I had only been home 14 hours having been away on assignment for nearly 13 weeks and daughter had just left the day before for a school trip to Switzerland FFS! (I live in Cyprus).

I know its a cliché but time really is a healer mate. Hang in there. Big >-()-< for you.
(Festus, Fri 19 Dec 2008, 12:55, closed)

Hug from me as well <<<>>>
The first Christmas is the worst, you hang on in there.. They WILL get easier, promise..
(Beer Elf Thought this was like a campfire, anyhow, on, Fri 19 Dec 2008, 13:52, closed)

Thoughts with you Bloke
My elder brother chased the dragon for a couple of year. I've never felt so helpless and hopeless in all my life. Luckily he kicked it with the help of a special woman.

Soon be January mate.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Fri 19 Dec 2008, 13:57, closed)

Thanks All...
...xmas is almost here, and I'm still not looking forward to it. Still, your words and thoughts will make it a bit easier.

All the best.
(thatblokeoverthere not quite as much an arsehole as I thought, Wed 24 Dec 2008, 8:41, closed)