About 10 years ago I found myself in the Himalayas on a mission for mushrooms and herbs. I made a small mistake and ended up feeling like Death eating a cracker!

What happened was, after a few meetings in Katmandu, I embarked on a mammoth trip to the Far West of Nepal, far from the madding tourist crowds. After 10 days and 100 miles walking, I arrived at journey's end. After so much exertion, I looked forward to a couple of easy days R&R before making contact with the head honcho in the area.

I hadn't had a drink in 3 years, literally, but for some reason I had this urge for a beer before bed time. What the hell, I thought, and like all good alcoholics I didn't want to drink alone, so bought a bottle for myself, my colleague and the two sherpas who had guided us up to the village. Artistic Intoxication is a very appropriate theme for this post, because I was the only one who liked the taste of the last 4 beers in the joint. Like a good alcy, I couldn't let any of it go to waste.

When I woke up in the middle of the night, I thought I was going to die! I can remember staggering around in the dark looking for somewhere to chunder. I apologise for being such a dog, but needs must and I coated a row of vegetables with the previous night's rice. I guess that afterwards, that feeling equated to Death eating a Cracker?

Hopefully this makes the cut for Linda's contest, I could do with a mug for all the non-alcoholic beverages I now imbibe periodically. Namaste.