But you got to know when to stop. I met a newcomer on Wednesday, gave him my phone number and he started ringing me from 6 a.m. on Thursday. Called me every hour on the hour to midday. We were all set to go to a meeting when he cried off, started drinking again, because his doctor had told him not to stop dead with the drinking. He told me he was going to just dose imself with one glass of wine. Later he rang me to say he had started the second bottle.

I asked him to ring me back when he was ready to get sober and in any event, to try to get to his local meeting (500 yards from his house!)

Being at a loose end this evening, I decided to just call by his house before the meeting, to see how he was. Back door wide open, garage open, van unlocked, keys in the back door (including keys for the Merc and the Fiat 500) no answer to my knock or shout.

Now I ain't going in anybody's house uninvited so I decided to leave. Saw one of his neighbours and said when you see XXXXXX, tell him Bill called in. Oh, he's out with the dog said neighbour.

I drove to meeting, saw him coming up the road, looking pretty fit, so I stopped for a wee chat. He said he had only had 1 can of beer today, but wasn't going to his local meeting becasue it was opposite some clients house and he thought that he might see someone he knew. (I get that, it's just as I felt.)

Anyway, we parted on good terms and I said hey, when you're ready, give me a call, but don't call me after you start drinking. basically the guy said he knows he needs to stop drinking, but he want's to try a home detox first, then get his head straight, then try us again. I agree with the home detox, but maybe then come to us rather than wait until his head is straight?

So I suppose I went a few feet farther than halfway, but I don't feel bad about backing away. It's progress. In the past I would have got the big white horse out, polished up the armour, sharpened the sword and literally kidnapped him to a meeting.