Smoke Stop

One year on

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:32:00 GMT

AFTER my 65-day quest to become a non-smoker, I'm still on the bulbous side - a year later.
At first, I was quite impressed to have enormous boobs. I never thought they'd grow THIS big. Then it struck me, the rest of my body had grown at the same rate. Typical!
Hence, I've just bought a skipping rope (97p, Tesco). It's even got sparkly handles.
Now all I need to do is find a secluded spot to try and skip off those unwanted inches. I can't be blubbering about in public, not now I'm a reluctant size 14.
I've tried being in denial, but squeezing in to size 12 drainpipes just leaves a spare tyre hanging where everybody can see it. Yuck!
I'm typing this as new research, conducted in America, points to passive smoking having less of an impact on heart disease than previously reported. The authors of the report, supported by 'freedom to choose' campaigners, say this means bans on smoking in places such as pubs were a little hasty.

Just call me Skippy!

A garden pond from scratch

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:53:00 GMT

In the light of my total failure to give up smoking, I'm poised to start a new blog - a garden pond from scratch.

Comments,tips and personal experiences welcome - just email me.

Visit www.midweekherald.co.uk (blogs)soon!

Time to get tough

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:36:00 GMT

I've had a cold for about six weeks and it won't shift.

The amount of gunk I'm coughing up is unbelievable.

Smoking is certainly not helping matters.

Perhaps I've been a bit silly to dismiss trying to give up again.Very silly, in fact.

My parents both died young. I'm going the same way, I fear.

Time to break my New Year resolution not to make resolutions - by making a resolution to give up smoking the moment my current hoard of cigarettes is depleted!

Watch this space!

Resolutions

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:04:00 GMT

IT'S that time of year when people ponder on the future and dream up New Year Resolutions.

My resolution for 2009 is to stop making resolutions! I never stick to them - as this b log proves!

Janice is struggling

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:31:00 GMT

TWO weeks after starting a course of Champix, my mate Janice was still puffing her way through 30 cigarettes aday.

"I woke up feeling a bit sick one morning, but felt fine after a cigarette," she told me.

The inevitable then happened... She got a call from the NHS, asking how she was getting on.

"When I told them I was still smoking, I was told to set a quit date," Janice revealed.

She is now on rollies and hoping upon hope she can kick the weed - before her prescription is stopped!

Let me know if Champix worked for you - Belinda

My mate Janice

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:25:00 GMT

SHE'S a 40-a-day-er and, up until now, she's never thought twice about it.

Suddenly, my friend and fellow puffer, Janice, is going all out to kick the habit. She is not going to bother with patches, inhalers, etc.

Instead, she is going on the tablets. Champix?

Like Janice, I've heard really good things about this new aid.

If it helps her, it will certainly help me.

After my nine week effort earlier this year, I can report that my weight has only just returned to normal. It has taken four or five months to lose the pounds I piled on.

Yours, slimmer but more breathless

Belinda

Peak flow

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:07:00 GMT

Just under 300.

The body snatcher

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:04:00 GMT

MY nicotine intake was substantially reduced during my recent holiday to Cornwall and North Devon. This was mainly due to lack of designated smoking areas in and around my hotel. Also, I was busy exploring and taking in the views.

Now I'm back to the grindstone, the number of cigarettes I light up is gradually increasing.

Spurring me on is a strange dream, one which I've had for three consecutive nights. It's scary...

I'm watching my funeral from the doorway of St Paul's Church. As my coffin is carried back to the hearse following the service, there is a strange noise and then the ghostly figure of a highwayman and his horse can be seen galloping down High Street from the direction of Monkton Road. As the horse approaches the hearse, it rears up and the highwayman, brandishing a pistol, says: "Give me the body!" He has bright yellow buttons on a green waistcoat, barely concealed beneath a long cape.

I can see Margaret Lewis, curator of Allhallows Museum, standing to one side with a hand over her mouth. The yellow buttons and his words give the highwayman away - it is the ghost of legendary Honiton highwayman William Jennings; he who dispensed with the cliche "Stand and deliver" and got straight to the point, saying "Give me your money".

I don't know what the dream means. I only know one thing - I want another cigarette!

Not my forte

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:24:00 GMT

Let's just face it, I will one day be a non-smoker for good - when I'm dead!

In the meantime, I'll have to contend with the fact that I'm a permanently LAPSED non-smoker.

Willpower clearly isn't my forte...

Day 2

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:05:00 GMT

Life can be miserable at times - without cigarettes!

Quit Day II

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:59:00 GMT

I haven't got a chest infection, it transpires. After a thorough examination, I have been advised the source of my pain is most likely a pulled muscle.

The doctor, who took my temperature and even checked my blood pressure, listened to my chest and declared it to be "clear".

However, I have been inspired to stop smoking - again.

I'm sporting a nicotine patch and am using a fully-loaded inhalator like there's no tomorrow.

Mr D'Arcy!

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:53:00 GMT

ALL the signs are there - runny nose, aching back and fatigue. I've got a chest infection. I'm certain.

It was a bad omen when I spotted my GP as I was queuing up to pay for a Sunday paper and buy 20 Mayfair at the same time.

I gestured for him to go first, because I didn't want him to see me make the purchase. It was one of those rare days when I faced the world 'bare', with not a hint of make-up to colour my washed-out complexion. He looked at me in a dismissive way, as if fully aware of my failure.

A few years ago, I wouldn't have collected a pint of milk from my doorstep without two coats of foundation and lashings of mascara, at the very least. These days, age seems to have got the better of me. I slop about in jogging bottoms and slippers at weekends, and snatch my milk from its perch with such lightning speed that I convince myself it's highly unlikely anybody will notice I'm still wearing my dressing gown. However, my towelling robe is bright pink so, maybe, I'm kidding myself.

The encounter with my doctor took place at Uplyme Garage, a week ago.

I first noticed the signs of a chest infection last Wednesday. Having failed so spectacularly on the SmokeStop course, I decided not to push myself forward too quickly for a prescription of antibiotics. Instead, I decided to eat healthily, avoid alcohol and cut down my nicotine intake.

My valiant efforts are not working. Forget five-a-day, I'm eating fruit and veg till it comes out of my ears!

Last Friday night was hard work. My house was full, on the account that my daughter had invited two friends to sleep over (a third friend went home early, when he realised he was the only male!), and I felt dreadful. I was coughing and my back was aching to such an extent that I was forced to take two Paracetamol tablets to ease the pain. I was struggling to get comfortable, but forced myself to stay awake for A Touch of Frost.

I had a good night's sleep and awoke, slightly later than usual, feeling not too bad.

However, after repatriating the guests to their respective families and having undertaken the weekly shop at Morrisons in Bridport, I was pretty much back to square one.

Saturday's Daily Mail didn't help. I was looking forward to an afternoon in front of the telly, watching Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The free DVD was going to be the highlight of my day. Unfortunately, I had to hang fire and buy Part Two of the film (the conclusion) with yesterday's (Monday) Daily Mail!

What am I coming to?

I've lapsed back into a nicotine addict slob, with a chest infection, and what am I doing about it? Hoping it will all go away, that's what!

I'll end up, as usual, phoning the surgery and pleading for a same-day appointment.

Of all the unpopular Government initiatives NOT to be cast aside by me is the one that recommends local GP surgeries should be open weekends and evenings.

I know my body. I know my lifestyle. I know when I may need antibiotics.

It will be my own fault when the moment arrives, but arrive it will...

Monday night: I was first in the queue at Tesco in Honiton this morning - to ensure I get the concluding episodes of Pride and Prejudice. I'm just about to watch them, having typed up 12 stories from tonight's Honiton Town Council meeting. I'm seeing my doctor at 4.30pm, after deadline. While I'm there, I'll be pointing out the lump that has appeared on my face. It isn't a spot, I fear.

Chest infection

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:47:00 GMT

I've got an appointment at the doctor's tomorrow.

Only myself to blame, I know...

Heidi's little 'dot'

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:58:00 GMT

MY fellow 'quitter', Heidi, has made it.

Unlike me, she has breezed through the final stage of the SmokeStop course to almost being a non-smoker.

Yes, she's on the final hurdle - the dot-sized nicotine patch that is the last step in an addict's quest to become 'free'.

When she showed it to me, my eyes almost popped out of my head.

The patch is the same size as a corn plaster.

It took me back to the time when I actually had a 'corn'. It was so painful, I was certain only surgery could cure me of the agony.

When I was presented with a tiny, circular plaster, I could have cried.

"How is this going to help?" my inner-self screamed.

By God, I soon found out my questioning was ill-placed. The little plaster was a miracle worker. It drew out a big lump of hard skin and I've never looked back.

Maybe, the last stage of becoming a non-smoker is similar.

I'll let you know - as soon as Heidi tells me!

Why hasn't Mugabe banned us from Zimbabwe?

belinda.bennett@archant.co.uk — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:53:00 GMT

I'M a tad disappointed that the Midweek Herald has not been banned from Zimbabwe.

Although the newspaper is only distributed in East Devon and West Dorset, it does cover the affairs of all those in the patch - including people who have been jailed by bogus president Robert Mugabe. His regime has banned the BBC.

The Reverend Merfyn Temple, a retired Methodist minister from Honiton, was imprisoned for speaking out about Mugabe's tyranny in 2005. At the time, Mr Temple was 86 years old.

Although now 89, he is one of the most informed and impassioned local voices on the present day crisis in Zimbabwe.

Mr Temple wants Mugabe to face trial at The Hague - for crimes against his own people.

We have reported Mr Temple's views. We are unable to access Mr Mugabe for a reply.

When I agonised over my page 2 report of Mr Temple's imprisonment, a colleague quipped: "The Midweek Herald will be banned from Zimbabwe."

Everyone in the newsroom laughed.

Suddenly, I recalled the recent case of a Worksop man (Entwistle) convicted of double murder in America. To ensure non-biased reporting, the small weekly newspaper in Worksop sent a reporter to America to cover the trial. Honest!

As I read the reporter's daily web reports and admired her video clips, including one of a fire engine racing up to the court steps following an alarm sound, I could see myself there. I could envisage the Midweek Herald crossing borders of such magnitude that maybe a camel should be placed on order.

Then it hit me - I haven't got a passport!

Any unlikely foreign assignment would have to go to my Axe Valley reporter, Angela Brennan, who could fly off at a moment's notice. (She's just raced into the newsroom after two days in Germany.)

I rarely venture past Cribbs Causeway, you see. I know practically every street across the West Country - in case I'm ever called upon to cover them as a reporter - but the wider world is unfamiliar territory. I holiday every year, with no complaints, at The Toorak Hotel in Torquay. Occasionally, I venture as far as The Rembrant in Weymouth. (I've got a cat, so I can't go too far.)

Up until last Thursday, I thought my lack of travel could be viewed as a form of ignorance. I'm feeling more upbeat about my preferred stomping grounds - thanks to a captain of industry.

I spent last Thursday afternoon with the managing director of a world-renowned factory. Although his business falls slightly outside the Midweek Herald's patch, he specifically approached me to talk about a matter dear to his heart.

During our meeting, he revealed he lives in Midweek territory. We picked over last week's paper together and, obviously, came across the page 2 story about Mr Temple's imprisonment.

I told the businessman about the office joke and admitted my great failing of not owning a passport.

He replied: "Do you know, I'm a bit like you? I rarely travel past Bristol."

How's that for solidarity? An international businessman preferring to stay 'local'!

The Midweek Herald doesn't venture much past the Devon border with Somerset.

What if the Herald WAS banned from Zimbabwe? What could I say in response?

Probably loads, because that's ME.

Meanwhile, it would be great to do a telephone interview with Mr Mugabe!