Times Change.

It's interesting how things change over time. When I was a youngster in the 1960's I could buy sweet cigarettes, bubblegum cigars, liquorice pipes and coconut tobacco. Is it any wonder I used to dream of being able to start smoking as soon as I was able? In fact I remember having actual dreams about being able to buy and smoke fruit flavoured cigarettes and tobacco. In time I did smoke fruit flavoured tobacco in my pipe so I suppose my dreams came true!
I smoked for over 30 years and there was a time when virtually everyone I worked or socialised with smoked. I had an ashtray on my desk for much of my career, in fact there was a Civil Service standard issue ashtray which you could order through the stores department. The pub was shrouded in a haze of tobacco smoke, not any more.
Pubs now smell of stale beer as smokers are consigned to the outside huddled together in shelters. where once it was a social activity it is now thoroughly anti-social.
Smoking bans can ease the way to giving up; one of the reasons I packed in three years or so ago was the ban on smoking in places such as pubs. I didn't like leaving my beer in a nice warm boozer to stand in the freezing cold sucking on a burning tube of tobacco. I love beer more than tobacco.
I'm glad I stopped, I feel much better in myself and don't wheeze any more. I do occasionally yearn for a roll-up but I remember how bad I used to feel sometimes and put the thought behind me.
So all-in-all in my opinion giving up smoking is a good idea, something I would not have said ten years ago, but as I say, times change.
ttfn