A wonderful day with my Grandson at the Biggin Hill Airshow yesterday. Naturally he now wants to be a pilot and being only four, there is no reason why he can't be, if encouraged down that path. As an old git, I was stunned to be talking to some young smartly dressed 'kids' on the Battle of Britain memorial flight stand to find out that one of the 'kids' is in fact a Tornado pilot and another one would be flying a 'Red Arrow' that very afternoon!
Why didn't my parents and teachers stop me drinking when I was young and steer me down a far more exciting and rewarding path instead? Looking back I can only blame myself for being a drunken waster but I will sure as hell make sure my grandson doesn't follow suit. I gave in to drink, he will not be doing so!
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At last night’s excellent performance of Othello at London’s Globe Theatre I particularly noted what happened to poor Cassio due to drunkenness. Cassio is a sensible young man and a highly respected officer in Othello’s army.

There is a scene where Cassio doesn’t want to go drinking but is bullied into doing so by the play’s bad man, Iago.
Not only does Cassio end up hopelessly drunk and acting totally out of character, but he becomes abusive, gets in a fight and ends up stabbing someone.

Because of this he loses his job, the respect of all who know him and ends up a complete loser for most of the play, and at least until it is discovered that Iago is ultimately responsible for all the bad things that occur.

There are some wonderful words Cassio speaks which explain his reaction to having been drunk and that struck an accord with me:
 
CASSIO
I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly; a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance revel and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!
IAGO
Why, but you are now well enough: how came you thus recovered?
CASSIO
It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wrath; one unperfectness shows me another, to make me frankly despise myself.
IAGO
Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the time, the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could heartily wish this had not befallen; but, since it is as it is, mend it for your own good.
CASSIO
I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every inordinate cup is un-blessed and the ingredient is a devil.
 
There was a time not so many years ago when I was very drunk one afternoon and in a posh London wine bar, and I got into a drunken row over something petty with someone who was equally inebriated. The chap in question asked me outside for a fight, something even drunk I would never contemplate, but what really sobered me up was another chap handing me a knife for my protection and expecting me to use it!

It is unbelievable to think that drink could have led to what could have become a disastrous situation for all concerned.
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This week I was fortunate enough to go and see both episodes of the Imperium play at the Gielgud theatre in London. The acting was excellent and the storyline just as good. Set in ancient Rome and based around the writings of Cicero it contains all your usual characters from this period including Julius Caesar, Brutus, and Octavian.

Two things struck me. Firstly, how similar the political situation back then was to that of today. It was amusing to see the mega-rich General Pompey acting in a trump-like over-bearish manner, promising the people all sorts of never-deliverable wonders and worrying about his comb-over. We also had the Senate standing around clueless after having killed Caesar, with no prior plan what to do next, and so much indecision you could see the Republic fall apart around them – how Brexit is that.

Secondly there were two great drunks who made an appearance. The first was general Lucullus who was so drunk he lost his army – literally, and was to be seen red-faced and staggering about the set to the embarrassment of anyone who has been that legless. Then Mark Antony, the chap who had the affair with Cleopatra. He was also portrayed as a complete wreck-head and seen throwing up, falling about and generally being useless. Of all the people portrayed, Mark Antony was best placed to become an Emperor and rule the known World at the time, but alcohol was too much of a draw for him and he ended up losing everything and committing suicide instead.

I suppose it shows how much you relate to the issues drink causes once it is no longer an issue for yourself, but also how much it makes you realise how many opportunities of your own you have lost because you were a drunk. Thank God those days are behind me.

Go and see this show if you get the chance – brilliant.