Baby Steps

I’m a smoker.  I have been since the age of 14.  I’m not proud of it, but I’m not ashamed either.

Many people seem to look down on you when you say that you smoke.  If you are a considerate smoker, i.e. never smoking around non smokers, I don’t see why you should feel ashamed.  It isn’t like I am saying I’m a heroin addict (which I’m not before you ask).

Over the years I have thought about quitting, but until now that is all I have done about it.  Think.

The trouble is, I love smoking.  I bloody love it.  It calms me down when I’m stressed, it’s enjoyable with a drink of something alcoholic or after a meal. 

Obviously I am aware of the health issue.  It has always been at the back of my mind but unfortunately that competes with the side of me that doesn’t like being told what to do and it someone says I shouldn’t do something, I more than probably will. 

Over the New Year however I was away with friends, none of whom smoked and as such, the amount of cigarettes I smoked went down.  No one likes standing out in the cold for a cigarette and particularly not when you are on your own. 

I am usually a 20 a day person.  Over the New Year I went down to about 14, which given the amount of alcohol consumed over that period is amazing.  It started me wondering when I returned home if it was something I could keep up.   So I decided to give it a go.

The end plan of course is to eventually quit.  Health issues aren’t going to scare me out of smoking but the fact that I could have a lot more money at my disposal is more than tempting.  At this points “shoes” runs through my brain.

So for now, my little challenge is to maintain the 14 a day I started with at New Year.  Then once I have a handle on that, well, we will see how we go from there.  Baby steps, not a marathon is more likely to work with me. 

The end goal, stop smoking (without a goal date though as I don’t like to be pushed).  Present goal, maintain what I’m doing for a month and then review.  If I manage to quit completely, my aim is to use a few months’ worth of the saved money for a pair of Louboutins.  Now that is something to aim for as I am after all at heart a shoe girl.

I’ll let you know how I go on.

New Years Resolutions?

Soooo, New Year’s resolutions.  Don’t really stand much faith with them.

People make them, and then break them.  I know people who already who have  broken theirs.  All drinking related, you alcoholics!

I do have a few things I want to change in my life, but making a “resolution” is not my thing.  So instead, am going to make a list of things I am going to continue doing instead.

1.  Keep ranting.  I love it and haven’t had any complaints (as yet) !

2.  Make sure that at least one holiday planning is on the burner.  You need something to look forward to.

3.  Find a way, any way, to watch every F1 race next season.

4.  To keep saying what I think and not agreeing when I don’t.  Not connected to ranting!

5.  Maintain the absolutely fantastic friendships I have got going.  I love my “jebs” more than anything.

Hope everyone had a fab New Year’s Eve xx

Holiday Times

After years and years going out on New Year’s Eve, usually spending a king’s ransom, getting pushed and shoves in crowds at the bar, waiting forever for a taxi at the end of the night and waking up the next morning wondering why I did it, it was time for a change.

So three years ago my friends and I decided enough was enough.  For what we were collectively spending on one night out at New Year’s, for just a little more we could have a holiday instead so that is what we decided to do.

The first year we decided on Portugal.  That was, and remains the best New Year’s Eve I have had to date.  A new place to explore, the 5.00pm cocktail hour, spending the night with people you actually want to see.

We spent New Year’s Eve in a small local Portuguese bar where we were made as welcome as any local to the area.  At midnight champagne was passed round and we then raced to the beach next to the bar, in time for the fireworks and a paddle in the sea. 


The year after was spent in a beautiful cottage in the Lake District.  Log fire, en suite bathrooms for all, champagne flowing and lots of fun times.  This year was more of the same.



These three years have been the most fun I’ve had on any of the New Year Eve night’s out before them, plus you get away for a few days, spend time with the people you want to, what is better than that?