☀️ So Who Might This Young Fella Be? 😉

And What Disgrace Would Soon Befall Him?!  

I don't have photos - well, very few. 
Never placed much value on them really. 

So I was amazed, while doing some decluttering, 
to unearth this one among my late father's belongings.  

I must have mailed it to him (from Gran Canaria).

~ 

I reckon it's from early 1989, so I'm 
not quite 34 yet (more than half my lifetime ago!).   

Long story short, I've jettisoned 
my successful corporate career 18 months 
or so previously, and sold up to go partying! 

Until my money ran out. 

I've sobered up - (I'm what the Big Book of AA 
refers to as a 'periodic') - and found work as a 
tour guide, based at Club Vistaflor, Maspalomas.

Commission only, earnings coming from selling 
tickets for further tours, shows, go-karting etc. 

It's five years before my alcoholic rock bottom, 
and between drinking bouts and benders, I'm still 
quite competent, and I was one of the top performers. 

And in view of my management experience, 
plus Spanish now quite decent, Alan the resort manager, from Florida, decides to promote me to 
a management role, with a decent salary plus over-ride. 

This requires residency (with Canarias being 
exempt from EU freedom of movement rules then). 

This photo is a larger print from the ID photos. 

Belter of a moustache though, you must admit! 😂😂

~ 

I should explain a few things: 

(1) I'm nowhere near then, to realising I've crossed 
     the line between 'likes a good bevvie' and alcoholic; 

(2) Or that alcoholism is always 
      progressing (but not in a good way!);

(3) Nor have I understood that for me (for any alkie), 
      one drink's too many, because 100 are never enough!

My residency certificate + ID arrive (on my birthday!), 
and so I'd be starting in my new role the very next day. 

Cause for celebration, surely?!!

Yes, I'd have a hangover in the morning, 🤕
but I'm hard as nails, very fit, and highly experienced 
in coping with those! Lots of coffee plus breath mints:

No problem! 

Hah! 

Huge bender! AWOL for several days. 

Fired before I started, and unceremoniously 
thrown out of the company's accommodation. 

So I spent my first two, of what would eventually 
add up to more than 600 nights, sleeping rough 
outside, not in some romantic 'under the stars' way!; 
but in self-inflicted and miserable, demoralised defeat.

Qué desgracia! 

~  

While having had some brush with addiction 
will in no way be a prerequisite for enjoying and 
gaining lots of benefit from my upcoming book:
 
THE WAY OF THE FEARLESS YOGI: How To Unleash
Your Divine Inner Power To Co-Create Heaven On Earth!
 
I do believe it will be especially relevant for anyone:

(a)who is struggling with addiction issues of any kind; or 

(b) is clean/sober now, but not experiencing joy in that.
 
If you're among the first three to respond by DM
(privacy and strict confidentially totally assured)  
and you are following me (that's easily arranged): 😉

Then I'll be happy to gift you a pdf
of the first six chapters, if you might like that.

No strings attached. Pro bono. 

But your honest feedback in due course, 
would be valued and much appreciated. 

Thank you. 

🙏❤️, 

'Yogi John'.