Sometimes a cigar is just an excuse to go out in the rain and catch bronchitis.

I never smoked but both my parents did until health reasons made them stop. My mother was hospitalised and it was a case of 'you can't get out of bed and you can't smoke in bed. You'll be here for at least 2 weeks, get over it'. She stopped smoking there and then and went cold turkey, which actually helped as the nicotine was masking a whole heap of other symptoms. She was already going CT over drug withdrawal (prescription drugs - 8 pills, 3 times a day, 5 of which were to deal with side effects of the 3 that were supposed to be dealing with her condition) so getting over nicotine was a picnic.

My dad had to be told the 'stop smoking or stop breathing' way. He weaned himself off ciggies and fried foods eventually but it was too late to stop the stomach cancer that killed him.

Having seen (and smelled) my parents smoke endlessly, made me never want to do it - leastways, not once I'd got past 5yrs old and the 'copy what mummy does' stage.

When I decorated the front room at their house, I painted the ceiling white and they couldn't believe the difference. At one point, Dulux produced a paint that was affectionately known as 'nicotine white'. It gave newly decorated pubs that 'smoked in for 50 years' look.

I can see how people would want to be allowed the choice to smoke where they want, but they also have to realise, non smokers must be given the opportunity to sit in a smoke free environment. I for one, can't wait!

LTS