Hopefully today has been the first day of the rest of my non smoking life….

I have always been a smoker really, off and on… stop for a period of time then start again. It was the conference scene that got me heavily back on the cigarettes from all the late nights in the bar talking search. Now that the smoking ban has arrived in England, as of July 1st, I really felt it was time to do something about it… plus Becky (wife) wanted to pack in and the kids were hassling us.

For the last couple of weeks we have been trying using the normal willpower method of giving up but it is so easy to start again, blaming stress at work, the fact it helps me concentrate and relaxes me. It just wasn’t working but it was just so hard to give up… but is it really?

Ages ago (the previous time we packed in) Becky bought Allen Carr’s book “Easy Way to Stop Smoking”, but bought it after we had stopped and we never needed it. So we dug it out last night and Becky read it - I just got the important sections to read - and today I am a non smoker. I haven’t given up smoking ( as that would mean I was making a sacrifice which instantly makes it harder to stop ) but I have freed myself from cigarettes and the nicotine.

Allen Carr used to smoke 100 a day for thirty odd years, and stopped 23 years ago. He did die last year of lung cancer which had been caused by his smoking but if he hadn’t of stopped he would have died much sooner. The way he explains why it isn’t difficult to stop smoking blows away all the myths about the withdrawl symtoms and the breaking of the habit. You just have to think of yourself as being free from having to smoke cigarettes, and that really it’s all a matter of breaking the addition that you have to nicotine.

You look back and think why didn’t I do this sooner and how stupid I was to start smoking again after I had given up previously. So word of advice, don’t do patches or gum or any other costly treatment.. just get the book.

Oh one good thing is that you can smoke while you read it!

Update: Miles got home for Christmas day, although I had to take him to hospital for 2 hours just to get an antibiotic booster.. which we have to do until 27th .. anyway it turns out he had Viral Pneumonia.. so he is on the mend 6 weeks time we should have the all clear :)

Dave

Ok Miles is my 6 year old son.. and last Wednesday took ill with abdominal pain and feeling sick.. at first I thought Tummy bug.. so I had a couple of days off work to look after him.. ( the joys of both parents working together, and Becky is much more important to the company than ME)

Anyway after a few trips to his doctor we found that he Blood and Protein in his wee. (That’s Bad) could be Kidneys or Liver problems.

So He taken to Hospital where he still is, I found out last night that he actually he has Pneumonia Basically an infection of the lungs. he is on an 48 hour cycle of IV antibiotics so …. Fingers crossed and I find out in 2 hours if i get him home for Christmas or if he needs another 48 hours in hospital.

DaveN

btw you should be able to tell because I’m writing this and not beside his bed that Miles is on the mend and nothing to worry about now, I just know a few friends knew and needed updating.. so Have a Good Christmas and I will see you all in the New Year

Added Yes I’M 39

and man the world looked pretty today ..

that’s 7am in Ripon today, seriously is that just amazing or what ?

DaveN

I so love the style of the VW Camper Van . and I guess my family are starting to see this..

A few months ago my wife Becky, got me a VW camper van keyring and today it’s my Birthday. Miles and Ethan ( my sons ) bought me a VW camper van “dude” moneybox, and Jen (my sister) got me another VW camper ..

Yer, it has a Nice guest room with it’s own en suite shower room.. so I will be taking booking in a few weeks, once i get the wifi sorted etc .. I think ChrisR has it for the first Month :)

So if any one wants to buy a House near me .. I have one to sell now :) , and I could include the 42″ sony plasma and sound system in the master bedroom, cause it will be a right sod to get off the wall .. lol

DaveN

I’m back!
For those of you who are not aware on the 2nd April my 2 year old son Ethan was rushed to hospital with meningococcal septicaemia and meningitis. It has got to be one of the scariest times of my life, as we were waiting hour by hour for signs that his treatment was working to save his life. We spent 10 days at St. James’ Hospital in Leeds where Ethan spent 4 days in Intensive Care (48 hours on a ventilator) before moving to the Children’s Ward.
Thankfully he has made a full recovery and is building his strength back up. My sincerest thanks go out to the local GP that saved his life by recognising the symptoms early and starting the correct treatment, and all of the doctors, nurses and staff at St. James’ hospital for taking care of my son and my family through these terrible times. Special thanks goes to the Sick Childrens Trust, www.sickchildrenstrust.org which enabled my family to stay in Leeds at the hospital with Ethan for 10 days in one of their “home from homes”.