The Best Laid Plans.......................

It was all going so well..............

And then I get a call... phone rang at 19.20..... My gorgeous, but alcohol seasoned Nephew trying to keep my gorgeous, and absolutely alcohol unseasoned Son from hurting himself, and others....a 16 year old boy that chooses not to drink usually, because he knows he can't cope physically with the effects of alcohol, but moreover, chooses not to drink because he does not like the way it makes people behave.

But just for one night, at his first works Christmas party, he chooses to follow his adult peers, and go with the status quo....To near disaterous consequences, frankly!!! Not for me though, really, when all is absolutely said and done; Been there. Done that. But my boy has paid for his choice.

I was just about to leave for the Fat Boy gig, and said Nephew calls in a right state, saying he can't control C, they've been thrown out of a pub and he's trying to start a fight with the world and his brother! He won't listen to a word of reason, nobody will help my Nephew by calling the Police, when he's begging them to!

Apparently a girl in the pub had accused him of pinching her bum (which I truly cannot see being the case, even with alcohol under his skin) and he denied it as strongly as he could. She wouldn't have it, and was shouting at him and other blokes were getting involved. He got seriously stressed, and the rest continues............

I'm in Windsor, they're in Richmond. Terrific!

So I jump in the car, telling my Nephew just to keep sight of him and to try not to do anything daft, but he'd had plenty to drink himself, and really didn't feel in control.

In the end, he pinned C to the ground and dialled the Police himself.

When they got there, they arrested C for drunk and disorderly.

I was over at Twickenham Police station within 40 minutes, and by the time I got there, he was KO'd in a cell, sleeping off what turns out to be just a few beers, but also tequilla I think, judging by the smell of him the next day. God I hate that shit, and for damn good reason, but that is another blog entirely!

Anyway, I sat there for 2 and half hours, waiting for a doctor to look at him and decide if he was fit to take his caution and 'Ticket' - a new scheme that gives a ticket instead of a court appearance, that costs £80.

The upshot is, he was far from fit, still staggering around and just needing to lie down and sleep so I had to leave him there all night, and go back first thing Saturday morning, without even having glimpsed my son. Not nice.

He woke up in the morning, with no clue where he was or why he was there. Could not, and still cannot, remember a thing.

He's so sorry, and really resolute that he was right; drinking is not for him.

It is a first for us both, and I am over the disappointment about not making the gig in the end.

I was absolutely shitting my pants on the drive over to Richmond to get him, and it's a mother's lot in life to forget anger, and just let relief work it's magic.

I'm really proud of my Nephew. He was really upset that he'd had to have C arrested, but he knows it was the best thing to do now.

So, I shall resolve never to be so bloody smug about my plans ever again!! That'll learn me!