Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) A Smoke-Free Exeter.

Firstly, very sorry to hear about your Mum and Father in Law Spick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" /> Many of us in the older generation took it up before the health effects were well known, and many just weren't able to kick the habit. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/disagree.gif" alt="" />

To Mea:




Hi again Mea, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Where's your restaurant? Northbridge? Freo? I worked for a while at the Cock and Bull in Subi (about 30 years ago! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> )

Not sure I get the alcohol connection? If I was hooked on booze would it make you feel better about your being hooked on cigarettes? I certainly agree that alcohol abuse can cause as much personal and social damage as smoking.

But to answer the question, yes, I do drink - but not much. I haven't been to a pub for years but I do have a beer or a couple of glasses of wine at home or at friend's houses, maybe a couple of times a week. For instance, last night my wife and I polished off a very tasty bottle of Rosemount Cab Sav. Delicious! But 2 glasses is a cheerful amount, not enough to get rotten on. And the heart foundation claims that a modest amount of red is actually good for your health.

No I don't drive drunk either.

But of course even I was young once, so I've done most of the stupid things in life. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> I've drunk too much, driven too fast, done stupid things without considering their effect on other people, etc. But eventually, as I got older, and learned more, I weeded out most of the stuff that seemed worth ditching.

And I smoked too! A classic pack a day habit. I took it up many years ago when the health hazards weren't widely known.

I gave up for several reasons:

1) There is now no doubt whatsoever that it impairs your health.
2) I was wasting a lot of money.
3) I hated the fact that it was controlling me, and not the other way round. I’m sure that all smokers have experienced the feeling of dismay when they look in the packet and see that it’s empty and the pubs are closed, and "Geez, I just need ONE more before I go to sleep". I hated that feeling.

I won't bore you with the method I used but it was VERY effective. Some ex smokers report that they never quite lose the desire for a fag, but I made the whole business so aversive that I've genuinely never wanted one since. When I look at smokers, ashtrays, and the whole business now it seems odd that I ever thought it was good. But it is 25 years since I smoked.

Out of interest, I also did a calculation about how much I've saved by not smoking - and like the examples quoted above it has added up to a lot of money. Enough in fact to completely pay for a very nice sports car that I bought last year. It's a beautiful thing, 0-100kpm in 6.2 secs, top speed of over 240kpm, etc. It's a hell of a lot more fun than fags! And yes, I do admit I have just sneaked a tiny bit over the speed limit once or twice, early in the morning on an empty road - so, there, I do have a vice left.

Many of my friends and relatives smoked back when we were younger, but most managed to give up (including both my brothers and my wife). Believe me, the ones who kept going don't look too good these days. If you don't confront them directly, all the smokers I know have been privately willing to concede that they'd like to give up, but can't.

Good luck. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />