HOUSEHOLD TIPS NOT FOUND IN WOMAN'S WEEKLY

[Cathy]

Keep going Stanley. You won’t regret it

[Marilyn]

( but you couldn’t tell him previously ‘cos he didn’t want to know!)
But that is the way it is. You cannot give up smoking for others. It has to be for yourself.
You have weird dreams for a while...then you reach that day when you know you will never smoke again, you can enjoy life, and you are quite chuffed that you don’t stink any more and neither do your clothes.
Then you reach the stage where you can’t bear that smell on others too.

Hee hee...then you reach the stage where it is tempting to preach. But it is not well received!

[Stanley]

Thanks Cathy...
"Hee hee...then you reach the stage where it is tempting to preach. But it is not well received!"
Quite.

[plaques]

Ex smokers are the worst preachers. Those who have never smoked just shake their heads and leave it at that.

I did read that lungs tend to start repairing the damage after about 4 years of stopping smoking. All is not lost.

[Marilyn]

I was group clapped by staff at the hospital when I ruptured my disc. They gathered round my bed and clapped.
( very unnecessary as I felt like total crap at the time...I felt like I was in some odd, mind bending space when they did that)
I just stared back and thought “are you lot for real”!
Cazza worked out we had given up smoking over 6 years at that point...so probably 7 and a half years now...I don’t keep count.

[PanBiker]

Easy for me it's 11 years, I quit when I knew I was getting grandchildren. Ruby goes up to secondary school this year, (where does time go?).

[Marilyn]

Grandchildren is an excellent time to give up. Unfortunately, neither Cazza and I have grandchildren.
My only child doesn’t ever want kids, so I will never be a grandparent.
I still hold out hope for Cazza.
( but I still maintain you have to give up smoking for YOURSELF)

[Cathy]

I gave up smoking because I don’t want to be a ‘smelly’ Nana.
Still not a Nana

[Marilyn]

...and I hope to be a “non smelly” Great Aunt one day Cazza!

[PanBiker]

( but I still maintain you have to give up smoking for YOURSELF)

Indeed, you have to have the commitment and will yourself. I set a date and set my stall out. Made it a bit of a ritual, chain smoked the last few fags so I knew how bad it was for me then dumped all the ash trays. Put my trusty Zippo lighter back in it's little box and shoved it away. Stuck a Nicotine patch on my backside which was my weapon (and crutch) of choice and that was it. Finished the course and was done, never smoked since.

[Stanley]

Don't slack off with the routines you use to keep the sink and lavatory as clean as possible. They are even more important now.

[Stanley]

Last time I stopped smoking, about thirty years ago, I had lousy side effects, headaches (I never get headaches), insomnia and an upset stomach. Doctor said it was withdrawal from nicotine. This time round, no problem at all. Makes you wonder whether it was some change in my system that triggered this, it certainly came out of the blue and I can't say that it is particularly hard. Very strange but I am not complaining.

[Marilyn]

Sounds very positive.

[Stanley]

Thanks Maz, it is. I can't say there isn't the occasional pang but on the whole it's surprisingly easy and the results so far are great. The most surprising one is that I am walking easier than at any time in the last ten years..... I never expected that.

[Stanley]

We live in uncertain times but even so it's a good thing to try to keep to your normal routines wherever possible. Things like dog walking which is not only important for you but also for the dog!
If you meet someone on say a narrow path who isn't going to stand aside to give you space don't argue, move yourself and give them space, it isn't worth arguing about!

[Tizer]

Also hold your breath and turn your back to them until they've passed. If they're offended then they deserve it for not being considerate!

[Stanley]

That also Tiz! I have always done that when passing behind a vehicle with its engine running. And yes, I often hold my breath when I pass someone who gets my attention by coughing for example.
The funny thing I have noticed is that some people include silence in social distancing.

[Tizer]

I've always been more sensitive than average to the smell of diesel exhaust fumes and absolutely hate it. I avoid traffic jams wherever possible.

[Stanley]

Be aware of the fact that our air hasn't been this clean in our lifetimes, this also applies to noise levels and even vapour trails in the upper atmosphere. Because it has happened gradually we haven't noticed it. Take a moment, appreciate and enjoy. It will not last....

[Stanley]

Now is a good time for a telephone call to old friends. You have a very good chance of catching them in!

[Stanley]

Lockdown can be a a pain if you let it! The trick is to cheat and modify it for yourself as long as this doesn't damage the concept of keeping your distance from others. Look for what you enjoy and see if it can be modified to stay inside the rules.

[plaques]

Took my disposable gloves to the petrol station, you never know who has been handling the pump nozzle and pressing buttons. In all events I used their disposable gloves. Another 2p saved. It must be with working in Yorkshire for 40 years.

[Stanley]

I look back P to the days when John Wilfred Pickard was telling me about not touching door handles in public toilets because of the dangers of catching diseases off them. Over the years many have smiled at that story but who'd laugh today? He was dead right but a different disease.



John at Hey Farm in 1976.

So avoid touching anything with your bare hands while out of the house!

[plaques]

My bête noire is toilets in pubs. I'm ashamed to say a good portion of men never wash their hands after a visit. I've always thought that there should be an airlock passage controlled by automatic doors so that there is never a need to touch them. Expensive, but after this who knows.

[Stanley]

John Wilfred had the same problem. He used to put hid hand in his jacket pocket to grasp the door handle on the way out. Best strategy is to avoid going in them if possible.



No problems at Winewall! No doors. Perhaps we could see a revival of the old urinal, a lot to be said for them in terms of bio-hazards!