h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Since last Monday, we've had a ban on staff smoking on the premises. This doesn't affect my flat, which is a private area, but we're not allowed to pop out of the back of the kitchen or office for a sneaky one at will now. We can go out onto the street if it's quiet just as we can at any other break time. I've been looking forward to the smoking ban coming in for a while now; though I'm a smoker myself, it was great to go to Ireland a couple of years ago and be able to walk into smoke-free pubs and restaurants, and I found I smoked a lot less while I was there.

On the first day, I struggled through and smoked three in eight hours (according to my cousin, an unbelievable reduction), and when I went to the top of the stairs to the flat I was hit by the smell of stale smoke. I'd never noticed this before. I thought, while I was at it, I'd try not to smoke in the flat and go out into the garden instead - not a problem while the weather is nice.

I've gone from smoking anything up to 60 a day (on a stressful day with a few pints afterwards) to seven so far today, so there's been a significant reduction. I feel a lot better; my cough has barely registered, and the craving has diminished so much that I reckon I can do my six hours shift tomorrow with just the one smoke. I'm trying very hard to break the 'habit' cigarettes; the one I smoke before checking emails, the one with every cup of tea, the ones before and after a shower. And though I do enjoy a nice cigarette every now and then, I'm starting to miss them a little less.

I'm not planning to go the whole hog and give up, but I think ten a day for now would be quite an achievement.

Great to hear, Rich!

We run a smoke-free home - have done since we got married, way before any came along. Oddly, we both smoke, just less and less as time went by. I do 10 on a bad day and the best I have maanged is 2. Himself gives up at the drop of a hat Grounds for divorce, imho

Keep on taking it slow - and the day will come when it just won't be necessary anymore - that's what i am hoping for too

W

10 a day 'is' a great achievement! I keep trying to cut back and finding theycreep back up again after a day or two, youre making me want to try again though

Good work sir!

I'm going to have to unsub from this as it keeps popping up on the list and shouting 'Lovely Fags' at me, which really isn't helping at the moment,

I'm due for my once/twice yearly cut down thing again... Used to always manage to stick to ten a day cept for the pub days... which are, despite the evidence of the last couple of weeks, a lot less comon than they used to be

Skanky-wooh.

I see Roymondo is also having a go...

Might be worth talking to Ivan & PC who both managed to quit.

Yes, even a small temporary reduction means you realise how horrible it smells; which obviously acts as an incentive to cut down further. plus the money that literally goes up in smoke: do the thing of bunging into a pot the amount you save on cigs & you never know, you might save enough for the pair of you to come over here & finally visit me! In my smelly house... but the guest bedroom is a smoke free zone.

zdt

Good stuff Skanks

When I gave up smoking, the most wonderful redisovery was the smell of clean clothes Oh, and that of an unsmokey house

Unfortunately I also rediscovered the smell and taste of great food again which resulted in a few pounds extra weight But I reckoned if I could kick smoking I could definitely get rid of the pounds in due course. And I did

Good luck and stick with it.

Fb

im a smoker and im trying to give up
going cold turkey .what the best way to give up

I don't *want* to give up. Not just yet, though, because I enjoy the break a smoke gives me - if I could replace that time with something else, I might be able to. But it's ridiculous, isn't it?

1. At some point in the past, someone thought it would be great to dry the leaves of some odd plant, roll it into a tube and inhale the fumes. Why?

2. I've never heard a non-smoker, in reply to a smoker saying "I've been four hours without a fag", say "I haven't smoked for 50 years (or whatever their age) - do I get a badge?". You should!

3. You never hear anyone say "I've taken up smoking" at any age beyond 16 - there must be a reason for this.

It's a horrible habit. It stinks. It kills you slowly. It makes every one of your friends avoid your house, and for damn good reason. I hope Mina will pop in tomorrow and say 'yes your place stank' to give me extra impetus.

Tell you what. I created this page A3407951 when I first arrived here to help people give up dangerous habits, especially smoking. I give my word now that if you have given up smoking or drinking or whatever vice afflicts you, I will visit within twelve months. In fact, we could make it a mini-celebration Meet if you want. Elaine could make a big fag-shaped cake in your honour.

Anyone game?

i will keep trying to keep of the fags

Skanky, if i gave up all my vices; i suspect the would be very difficult to both bake & coat with icing.

zdt

as there say you can have your and eat it.

I did meet someone once who'd taken up the habit as an adult. Bizarre. Can't remember who it was now.

As for smells, why do you think I sneakily got my dog to poop? A far more natural smell and fresher too!












I have to admit to having no sense of smell whatsoever, just like DNA. So I didn't smell anything. I think this is a blessing, because I do have the occasional day when I can catch some smells, and the smell of old smoke is one of the most disgusting smells I can think of (worse even that one of Beauty's farts. Can't remember if she did that at your place, to give you something to compare it to)), and I've even refused to get into my dad's car on occasion because of it, and moved away from him even outdoors when it's bad, also I used to complain like anything if the person who'd had my day taxi overnight had smoked in it. Disgusting, nasty, .

Hope that helps.

Good for you Rich
I would love to give it up, but i have the will power of a wasp round a honey-pot
I did give it up for 6 years once, god knows why i was stupid enough to go back to it I am going to attempt to stop again sometime soon.

I'm full of admiration,Rich..To go from 60 a day to 7 is amazing.I smoked 20 a day for 32 years and needed the nicotine patches in order to be civil to those around me .Couple of months later,just needed the liquorice root to suck .It's an oral issue ,too ,isn't it? Especially when you asssociate having a fag with certain activities,(with a cuppa,after putting kids to bed, with a glass of wine/beer,after a row with your spouse/parents!!!)It does make it easier to give up when you can't smoke everywhere and it is an incentive to save the cash in a tin and treat yourself to a luxury you would otherwise not have bought.

I did quit, but after cutting down considerably. Quitting is different, and a bit more difficult. And I don't lecture anyone about it: on one hand, I enjoyed smoking. On the other, my asthma got much worse as I've gotten older, I share my home with a non-smoker, and I didn't smoke enough to make it worth the bother anymore.

Sometimes my hand still wants to reach for that cigarette when I have my morning coffee...

When I first started cutting down, though, I was in my early twenties, and worked for a retail establishment while attending school- both the school and my place of employment eliminated indoor smoking areas. Going out for a smoke lost its charm really quickly- January in Chicago isn't the best weather for lounging outdoors and quick smokes are a waste of money at $7 a pack!

I think reducing from 60 to 7 is an amazing accomplishment! You'll breathe easier. Even if you still enjoy the odd half dozen or so smokes a day, I don't imagine they're any less expensive over there, so you'll probably save enough for a fantastic vacation or something.

Good on you!

I've never smoked. I might try the "do I get a badge" line some day. I drink vanishingly little too. I must have some vices. I'll try to think.



TRiG.

TRiG ... is hoootoo your vice? Please don't give it up

Internet addiction? Quite likely, actually. But I won't give up.

TRiG.

Um I'm with Roymondo, having to because the title is an oxymoron to me. I started at 17, (finally, after many attempts) gave up at 38, can't stand being near anyone smoking now, or the aftermath stench. I also can't kiss anyone who's just had a cigarette, so if that's not incentive enough for you to pack 'em in, I don't know what is

Virtual from GB and with cutting down