General Chat

Dermot, I have non-smoking friends with bad breath! :-S

well said sharon.
the next big thing is the organ donation issue.
here in wales(im not sure about the rest of the country)they are going to be able to take your organs without permission(but you will be able to opt out,how many will remember to opt out though?)if that goes through it will open the flood gates to all kinds of things,we will no longer own our own body"s. its scary.x :-D

That's a salutary warning, Suzanne. Mind you (being a bit flippant) even if I opt out, I think when I go, everything will be 'clapped out' anyway, so it won't be a problem :-S

If you do smoke in your car.....be prepared to lose a huge chunk of value come trade in time. You can't get rid of the smell and people won't buy smoked in cars. One of my local dealers has refused to take them apart exvhange because he knows he can't sell them on.

Andy

Well I started smoking in 1957 age 13, father found out, not annoyed I was smoking but spending dinner money on it (in those days no one thought it was bad for you). Smoked till 1976 when I was pregnant with son. Stopped for 15 yrs while having children, then started again. Move on 1998 has heart attack, never smoked since, still here. So true Andrew, people who smoke think you cannot smell it, it permeates every fibre. Please don't smoke.

Carol

Well done for getting the letter published!

Fully agree about car fumes. In fact, those advocating banning smoking in cars state that 'openng a window increases the danger' - that'll be because they're then breathng in the car fumes that we non-drivers, who now have to walk to work because of the public transport cuts, endure every bl**ding day!!!

Are the government making public transport easier, cheaper and more inviting, thereby reducing the number of cars and pollution? I've not noticed it. (aforementioned cuts in the number of buses).

We now have one every hour (hour and a half between 15:45 and 17:15) whereas we had one every half hour before October 1st , and pay £1.10 to travel about a mile - but the 'park & ride' ie those with cars, (which is about a quarter of a mile away, and could easily make a 3 minute detour) get parking for the day for £3,and up to 5 people can travel anywhere around Winchester for this!!
Seems to be a case of s*d the locals. (rant over)

As for being banned from smoking in your own home - some are!!
My friend lives in a Housing Association flat - and there's a 'No smoking' sign on the outside of the building........he doesn't comply with that dictat!!!

I declare I am a smoker. I do not drive anymore because of ill health, hubby does. He's an ex smoker (as you'll assume because he runs marathons).

He never moans at me for smoking in MY cripmobile - paid for by my DLA.

I don't smoke if there are other non smokers in the car (apart from hubby) and never near grandson, even outside I get as far away as possible.

But to LEGISLATE is just damn bloody stupid.

I'd sooner meet a driving smoker coming the opposite way than an idiot with a mobile phone stuck to their ear! or a selfish sod who has 'just had a couple of drinks'.

Well done Ann for getting published again.

BTW there is smoke coming out of my ears!!!!

Sue

LOL Sue - I go outside to smoke- even in my own home - if my grandchildren are around - but they always follow me for a chat!!!!

I even smoke outside when my younger daughter (no children) stays - and she's 29 in January :-S

Strangley, in the winter, providing the fire is lit, and I'm sat near it, she doesn't notice it when I'm smoking indoors (smoke gets drawn up the chimney)

a lot of the new build apartment are "no smoking" i no a lot of landlord put it in your tenancy agreement to that no smoking is allowed :-\

I used to smoke gave up 12yrs ago my OH on the other hand tried to stop but the reason he stopped in 2007 is he had a heart attack at age of 48yrs old they showed him his heart trying to work and a good heart and said that is what ciggarettes do to people so he has not smoked since

Well if your post wasn't attacking smokers I'd hate to see one that is!

Sue

Jiminy Dearest, Down the bottom of Moorgreen corner, there used to be a man who grew his own tobacco, when I was young. He taught me at school, and regularly chugged on his pipe, in class.
It did not kill him, but a young drink driver did, by hit an run, on the crossings in Kimberley, a few years ago. Brilliant teacher. Kept a size 12 plimsol on the desk, just to warns us to behave,.
I know which way he would have preferred. Good job some of those yobs he kept in line, didn't get their hands on the driver.
Respect was what he installed into us, despite his pipe and baccy.

Julia in Derbyshire

yes most of your opinions agreed with,but you also get heart desease ,strokes and all matter of other things by not looking after yourself and your diet,over eating,no excercise, being a couch potato.,diabetes type 2 ,heart desease (due to bad diet)and strokes cost the health service twice as much as cancer treatment does. also drug addicts and alcoholics also cost the health service a lot of money,why just pick on smokers,nobody is perfect,thats why we work and pay into our health service,so us the not so perfect ones can have treatment when we need it. :-(

On a topic of what is good for you - jogging is supposed to be. However the man who made jogging popular invented it/promoted it - I believe was an American and some 10 years ago or so dropped dead with a heart attack.

If the smokers all die early the government will save on pensions etc especially as public are by and large living longer! Plus they contributed to the economy by paying heavy taxes on tobacco!!

my aunty smoked like a chimney and drank bottles of sherry for years,shes 89yrs old and has been in hos once in the last 20yrs,she worked full time for 30yrs and paid into the health service...but up to now has neer taken up on the services,my grandad died age 38(before i was born)from cancer,he never smoked and kept himself fit,was a pm in the 2ww, and died early(mum was only 10)my friend has dad breast cancer twice(shes never smoked)so how do you explain this,you cant say that smoking is costing the n.h.s millions,loads of complaints are costing millions.x :-)

I am a smoker and a batchelor.
Perhaps that is why I never found a wife :-) :-) :-)
And I rarely have kids in the car

From my point of view, if I was making a long journey, then I would find it intolerable not to be able to smoke in the Car.

In fact, I also have Free Rail Travel for a certain number of journeys per year but gave up travelling by train when they banned smoking.

Yes, it is most certainly addictive and it helps me to keep calm and focised. What sort of driver would I make if all I was thinking about was my next "fix"?
At the moment I can quite happily smoke at least one fag whilst sitting in a Traffic Jam on the M25. ;-)

Theres a lot of smells i dont like ..wouldnt pays us all to be the same..

Not only does the smell of boose make my guts turn .. its about time the goverment tackled drink drivers first...ive even seen mothers getting children from school after drinking and driving ..

My sister died three years ago from cancer.. never smoked

Just to add a few more smells i dislike so much is garlic breath..onions.. some perfume and after shaves ..

jgee ..

From the paper yesterday and not to be confrontational, just for interest:

Scientists have calculated that at least 134,000 cases of cancer diagnosed in Britain last year were triggered by causes such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, alcohol or not breast feeding.
This was an article saying how simple lifestyle changes can prevent 4 in 10 cases of cancer. They published a chart which might interest some.
Cause.......................................................Percentage of cancers triggered
Smoking 19.4%
Dietary factors (Incl too much red meat/salt 9%
Obesity 5.5%
Alcohol 4%
Job (exposure to harmful chemicals) 3.7%
Sunbathing/sunbeds 3.5%
Lack of exercise 1%
Not breast feeding .9%

Breast feeding for at least 6 months would protect against 1,500 breast cancers and 1,200 ovarian cancers. Researchers say that for every 12 months a woman breast feeds she reduces her chance of breast cancer by 4.3%.
Women who have mammograms halve their risk of death from breast cancer says another study.

Oh the whole thing just hacks me off.

I want the state to BUT OUT (pardon the pun)...I'm sick to death of being told what I am and am not allowed to do.

I pay huge amounts in extra taxes being a smoker AND a driver....I'd like to be treated like an adult and left to do what I think is best for me and my family. They're happy enough to take my money they should just leave me be. and keep their noses out...x

something to ponder on - if everyone gave up smoking or if cigarettes were banned, something the government would never ever do - what measures would be put in place to cover the shortfall of tax!!!?? Most of the cost of a pack of cigarettes is tax

by the way, may I point out I am not a smoker - I was once when I worked for a tobacco company and we had free cigarettes with our pay every week