General Chat

Well I stopped drinking 14 yrs ago and promptly had a heart attack Think that was thinning my blood. Dr. now tells me a glass or two a day is ok.. Did also stop smoking for 3rd time best thing I did do.

Carol ;-)

Dermot. Very moving.

One of my images of childhood was counting hundreds and hundreds of Kensitas coupons so we could buy a vacuum cleaner or teas maid or Dansette or similar.

Mum and dad used to chain smoke, so did I once I got to 16, so did my little brother.

Dad died at just 60 in 1978, mum at 63 in 1988 and brother in 2008 aged 58. All smoking related deaths. OH and myself stopped in 1984 aged 38 and 31 respectively and we are both 100% healthy (well, I am on usual old man tablets :-( :-()

It is a dreadful habit - a work colleague aged 40 has just had 8 stents put in. Chain smoking caused that. He is lucky and has a second chance. And someone at 50 - like you, Suzanne - is likely to make a full recovery (think that's right). And even at 80 your lungs can partially recover.

Thanks everyone.

i will stick to it becuse i feel better already,

but still worried that i may look like a baby elephant by the end :-D :-D :-D

Speaking from experience, to start with you need something that occupies your hands. I can't paint or draw either, but a pencil is a good cigarette substitute (you can suck it if you must!) so what about crossword puzzles, sudoku, letter writing or, without the pencil, model making, sewing, knitting or jigsaw puzzles.

Eating is a natural substitute, so try and stick to non-fattening stuff and avoid crisps and crusty bread!!

I think most people find it gets easier as time goes by.

Good luck.

In honour of my dad, a Woodbine smoker till the dreaded cancer caught up with him in 1975, aged 68. I had to use a good bit of 'poetic licence' to make the words rhyme. Dad wouldn't have minded a bit! And I do apologise if you have seen this on other threads.
------------------------------------------------

I was born & raised in Ireland where the air is fresh & clean,
In the village of Dureen near the town of Skibereen.

I always had the best of food & never liked the pan.
I grew up healthily & could cycle with any man.

Oh weren’t they the happy days when I was young & free.
I could dance & sing & have a drink wherever I might be.

Kathleen O’Houlihan was the girl I used to date.
But, because of unemployment, I was forced to emigrate.

It was back in 1960 that I left my childhood home
Determined to achieve success & make it on my own.

I stared work with Wimpey far from home & family
And made new friends & some enemies too across the Irish sea.

Oh well I can remember the day of my first pay.
I joined a jolly bunch of chaps down at the Travellers’ Way.

We drank some pints of Guinness but I’ll always have regrets
Because before I left that tavern, I bought some cigarettes.

For more than 40 years now, I’ve smoked 20 fags a day
Which means I’ve sent up in smoke an awful lot of pay.

I haven’t had a breakfast now for 20 years or so;
Cup of tea, light a fag & off to work I go.

The people whom I’m staying with look after all my needs;
And when I come home each evening, they put up some mighty feeds.

They really shouldn’t bother for my taste buds have disappeared;
And bacon, beef or mutton chops - they all taste kinda weird.

I met a young lad recently - he came from Donegal;
He’s a qualified accountant & thinks he knows it all.

He asked me how many fags I smoke & when I started;
I didn’t take much notice for I was trying to kill my thirst.

He took out his calculator & began to add it up;
T’wasn’t that I asked him - cheeky little pup.

And when he had finished, he looked at me and spoke;
“You have £67k pounds all gone up in smoke”.

Now, £67k is an awful lot of dough;
And to spend it on a poisoned weed is hard to take I know.

I used to think that all my friends would surely be impressed;
But now I think of all that muck I’ve inhaled into my chest.

I can never stop coughing - I even cough all night;
My eyes are kinda watery & my face is deadly white.

My memory has started failing & it’s often I forget;
Oh, what the hell about it - I’ll have another cigarette.

Sometimes I sit & dream awhile when I’m all alone;
About the days when I was young & weighing 13 stones.

I was then in peak condition for cycling was my thing;
And I hoped one day to emulate Stephen Roche or Christy Ring.

Oh God be with those happy days & things that might have been;
Had I the chance to stay at home & work in Skibereen.

Still, it isn’t emigration that’s caused my main regrets;
It’s that day in 1960 when I bought those cigarettes.

I’m lying in intensive care with my body wrecked with pain;
Oh what I would give to see my Irish home again.

In my mind, I have a vision of the fields of new moan hay;
And I see the sun ascending way beyond old Bantry Bay.

The doctor’s been to see me & his face was rather grim;
And the Matron asked me yesterday to name my next of kin.

If only I could breathe again the air I can’t forget;
I swear to God I’d never smoke another cigarette.

Am struggling with BM? Is that body mass? You are only overweight when you can't get in an M & S Size 10 (which according to OH is equivalent to 14 everywhere else) :-)

oh JOHN i could never paint,cant even draw very well.have not got time to take up pottery so it will just have to be enormous amounts of crisps and crusty bread instead,oh and also,ive had my BM done and im overweight :-(

Suzanne. The second para in OP. Deserves an answer. :-)

A friend of mine (Lime Street Lill) used to ask me that same question after she gave up smoking. I suggested pottery or painting to her. Perhaps that might help you :-) :-)

I am sure stats will prove that being 2 stone heavier and not smoking is a lot healthier than being normal weight and smoking.

A friend of mine worked for IBM and managed to get hold of an actuarial test for assessing your expectation of life. I was smoking 20 cigs a day and about 2 stone overweight. My life expectancy was 68. I was about 23 at time, and am pleased to say your life expectancy increases as you get older - otherwise my number would be up next year

I did two what-ifs. No smoking and 2 stone overweight made me 71. Normal weight and smoking made me 69.

So smoking was hugely more significant than having a bit fat belly. Plus all the associated health problems for you and loved ones from smoking. Please stop smoking everyone. :-0

10 stone at 5'4". You skinny ribs!! Expect you will make a lot of ladies jealous, Suzanne :-D :-D

im sure you will be invited John on account of you knowing important people, like Robin the Bard. :-D

Nanasue

im frightened of putting on weight cant afford to gain anymore as im already 10 stone,to much for my 5ft 4 height,but hey,its one or the other. :-D

Any chance of getting an invitation myself to this christening, Suzanne. There is a lovely woollen suit in Help the Aged that is just my size (32" waist, 42" chest) - can't aspire to New Look prices.

I was going to ask NanaSue to come with me - but worried she might start smoking again to get down to Size 8 for the christening :-D :-D. NS, plump I like - its suits you :-D ;-)

To be honest it is the worst thing I ever did - Feb 2012
Had to stop so I could have an op.

Stuck it out because everybody said I should - all that has happened is I've got fat.

Now it is a matter of money that has made me hold on. If I won the lottery I'd start again immediately.

Drinking I don't so that is not an issue.

yes J OHN as you know im on first name tearms with Kate and Wills due mostly to our bumping into one another in Tesco,im sure i will be invited to the christening and wouldnt be surprised if i was asked to be godmother :-D

must pop down to new look to get a new frock for the forthcoming christening :-D ;-)

My philosphy - growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.


...reaches for fag & wine......

Now my post makes no sense unless laptop buttons were stuck with spilt cherry brandy, Terryj

Oh, better not mention we are having a boozy time when poor Suzanne is having no fun at all. Mind, I bet she gets invited to forthcoming royal christening ;-)

yes bloody sticking laptop button strikes again 2 posts deleted

Three cheers for Terry - hic hic hooray ;-)

ah well
theres still sex drugs and rock and roll

that will keep you busy :-D

kids got me a zimmer for my surprise birthday party,im happy to say i dont need it yet.

still wearing the red frilly knickers,there"s life in the old dog for the time being.
ive become so boring that ill be joining a nunnery soon,HeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeP
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D