PT

Heard today that an old chum is seriously ill. Whenever I hear something like this, it always makes me think: should I change my lifestyle, give my liver and lungs and heart a fighting chance? But invariably I end up thinking about it with a ciggie hanging from my mouth and a glass of vodka in my hand, and deciding that what's going to happen will happen anyway. It's a crap philosophy, I know, but it's not so different from the "act normally" official line we get fed in the face of some other dangers, especially at the moment.

Common sense says this is rather mad. But then common sense also says that nowadays somebody of around my age shouldn't be facing a life threatening illness. Common sense is also something my acquaintance is rather good at, so I hope sometime they can read this bilge and get the chance to tear my opinion to pieces. So I raise a glass and a cigarette: To the sanest person I know - I hope you win.