Billy Connolly's life lessons

Sage advice from the Big Yin:

  • Tread gently on anyone who looks at you sideways.
  • Have lots of long lie-ins.
  • Wear sturdy socks, learn to grow out of medium underwear and, if you must lie about your age, do it in the other direction. Tell people you're ninety-seven and they'll think you look f*cking great.
  • Try to catch a trout and experience the glorious feeling of letting it go and seeing it swimming away.
  • Never eat food that comes in a bucket.
  • If you don't know how to meditate at least try to spend some time every day just sitting.
  • Boo joggers.
  • Don't work out, work in.
  • Play the banjo.
  • Sleep with somebody you like.
  • Eat plenty of liquorice Allsorts.
  • Try to live in a place you like.
  • Marry somebody you like.
  • Try to do a job you like.
  • Never turn down an opportunity to shout "F*ck them all!" at the top of your voice.
  • Avoid bigots of all descriptions.
  • Let your own bed become to you what the Pole Star was to sailors of old.....look forward to it.
  • Don't wear tight underwear on aeroplanes.
  • Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? He's a mile away and you've got his shoes.
  • Clean your teeth and keep the company of people who will tell you when there's spinach on them.
  • Avoid people who say they know the answer. Keep the company of people who are trying to understand the question.
  • Don't pat animals with sneaky eyes.
  • If you haven't heard a good rumour by 11:00am, start one.
  • Learn to feel sorry for music because, although it is the international language, it has no swear words.
  • If you write a book, be sure it has exactly seventy-six "f*cks" in it.
  • Avoid giving LSD to guide dogs.
  • Don't be talked into wearing a uniform.
  • Salute nobody.
  • Never run with scissors or other pointy objects.
  • Campaign against blue Smarties.
  • Above all, go to Glasgow at least once in your life and have a roll and square sliced sausage and a cup of tea. When you feel the tea coursing over your spice-singed tongue, you'll know what I mean when I say: It's good to be alive."