Still going strong

Right, let’s see, how’s the smoking going? Or should that be how’s the non-smoking going? So far so good. I have to admit that the first couple of days were hell but it quickly became easier and although I have wanted to smoke I#ve managed to get passed it by telling myself that I’m going to be much fitter once I have been off the fags for a year and life will not only be better health wise but I will have a lot more money! Anybody that smokes and complains of not being able to afford the things they want should look at how much they are spending on cigarettes and then tell me that they really cant afford anything. Even after less than a week Ive noticed a difference. I went to the shop today to get a paper and bought a packet of Halls while I was there. I spent less than a pound. That would never have happened before because I would have had a packet of fags too.

As you have probably guessed, the determination is still high.

I Quit!

I have made up my mind that its time to stop smoking.

Last night I felt heavy in my chest and had an acid attack and because I know thats smoking related I’ve decided that enough is enough.

The comments in my last post helped me make this decision. Thinking about how I feel about others that smoke and that I am actually exactly like them is not a nice thought. I do think smoking looks unattractive and I know its true that smokers smell bad to non smokers and as there are more and more non smokers around it seems obvios that more and more people are going to think I smell. I would NOT go out smelling of BO so why should I go out smelling of cigarette smoke?

Today I have not had my early morning fag before breakfast. I am leaving for work now and am not going to smoke during breaks or when I come home.

I am going to be a non smoker.

10 Thing To Improve

So far Januarys been a miserable month. I’m broke after christmas (nothing new) and all its done is rain. Its dark when I leave for the early shift and getting out of bed is a pain. Roll on april and lighter evenings, daffodils blooming in the garden and rain that isnt so cold.

On this particular january night I’ve been visiting some of my favoriute blogs and Leo had done one that I saw Sharon and Carol had already done and I thought it would be good to do it too because it might help me focus on things I really need to get to grips with this year. So here’s my ten things that I should improve.

1. Spelling. I am NOT a good speller but I would like to get better so I am going to try harder this year to improve.

2. Spending time with my daughters. Too many times during 2006 I had to put my girls off of visiting or doing something fun together because I had taken a extra shift at work. Work isnt as important as family.

3. Going out. I need to socielise more. Again its because I take on more work and dont spend enough time with my mates.

4. Work less. This one is obvius really. I got in to the habit of taking extra shifts when I was having trouble paying my mortgage and the other bills but money isnt as tight anymore so I need to work less and play more. (I’m not rich ladies, so don’t all come running! One at a time will do!)

5. Stop smoking. Its a dirty habit and I have to admit that when I meet women I am put off if they smoke because it looks so ugly and yet I smoke myself. That’s really out of order so instead of puffing away at the cancer sticks and being as ugly as I think other smokers are, I AM GOING TO QUIT!

6. Visit my sister in Malaga. I am not a fan of Spain and even though my sister has lived there for six years I havent visited her. I keep saying I will but always have somewhere else I would rather go in my holidays. This year I will spend at least one week with her.

7. Do the laundry more often and iron my clothes properly! I leave these things until the last minute and then get worked up when I cant find anything I can wear for work. I need to wash clothes as soon as the laundry basket is half full and iron them as soon as there dry. If only I could learn how to get the creases out properly!

8. Take my dog for long runs. I’m a lazy dog owner because all my dog ever gets is a walk around the block. A good run along the tow path would do us both the world of good.

9. Do more cooking (same as Leo). I do cook and after being on my own I’ve learned to rustle up a decent meal or two but I could do better and be more adventuruos so this year I am going to buy some new cookery books and get rattling them pots and pans.

10. Do the things above. I am the master of making myself improvement promises but rarely stick with them so my last promise to myself is to actually do the stuff I have said I will do.

Happy New Year

I’ve been at work today. Days like this drag because there’s not a lot going on and we work with a skeleton staff. But it doesn’t matter because its money in the bank for me and I wouldnt have been doing anything much else.

I went to my mate’s house for a few drinks last night. Him and his wife and the nicest couple you could ever know. There house is always open for friends and everybdoy is made to feel welcome. Last night they had invited 6 people for drinks and snacks and champagne at midnight (I dont like champagne). Fireworks were sent up despite the foul weather and a good time was had by all.

Anybody watch the Vicar of Dibley tonight? I got home in time to see the last half hour and am now feeling a bit sad that its all over. Its one of the best comedy shows ever along with Only Fools And Horses and One Foot In The Grave. All of them are gone now. I hope it isnt to long before they launch a new comedy that’s worth watching.

I am going to have a look around some blogs now and then I’ll be off to bed because I have work again tomorrow with an 8am start.

Happy New Year

New Years Eve

Will be off to my mates house for a few jars this evening. Will watch the fireworks and get a taxi home ready for work tomorrow.

I have been thinking about a new years resolution and have decided that mine will be to spend more time with friends. I keep saying I should get out more or invite mates over more but everything else seems to get in the way. Not this year though because I am going to take on less extra shifts at work and enjoy the company of friends, both those that I have known for years and those that are new and that I perhaps havent even met yet.

Happy new year everybody.

Alphabet

Leo has tagged me to do an alphabet thing.

A is for age: 41 and loving it

B is for beer of choice: Stella Artois (is there any other?)

C is for career: Shift supervisor (call centre)

D is for favourite drink: Water

E is for essential item you use everyday: phone

F is for favourite song at the moment: Vertigo (U2)

G is for favourite game: Football

H is missing from Leos list

I is for instruments played: Does playing the recorder and triangle at school count?

J is for favourite juice: Orange

K is for kids: Two daughters (17 and 14)

L is for last kiss: My dog. She kisses me every morning.

M is for marriage: Divorced but hoping that one day it might happen again.

N is for full name: That would be telling!

O is for overnight hospital stays: Three time. Had a kidney removed to be transplanted into my brother and had a nasty virus that meant staying in for three nights once. Also had my appendix removed when I was a kid.

P is for phobias: Don’t think I have any.

Q is for quote: I really cant remember any but I did see one of Sharon Js blog about wallowing in regret being a waste of time or something like that.

R is the for biggest regret: Not being at the birth of my second daughter.

S is for sport: Football.

T is for time you wake up: Depends on when my shift starts.

U is for colour of underwear: This has to be a joke!

V is for vegetable you love: Carrots

W is for worst habit: Picking my toe nails

X is for x-rays you’ve had: You really think I can remember them?

Y is for yummy food you make: Steak and chips!

Z is for zodiac sign: Aries

As I now know of a few bloggers I am going to tag Sharon J, Caroline and Carol to do this.

Change of Look

I know christmas isnt officially over yet but I have decided to get rid of the christmas template and change the look of my blog. Expect more changes over the comings days/weeks until I find a look I am happy with. Not that it makes much difference really but its sort of like wallpaper because even though you can still sit in your lounge and watch telly no matter what wallpaper you have we all like to have something we like.

I dont have a clue when it comes to HTML and the other stuff involved in making a blog or webpage look different so I will have to stick with the template that are provided but there are a few available so I should find something I like. Maybe I will try to learn HTML one day because I know they do courses at the college. I like learning new things and hate the thought of my brain going stale and to be absolutely honest with you when I first decided to get a blog I really didnt know what I was doing with this, thats how little I know.

Back To Work

Work should be banned during the time that Sharon on The Water Butt calls Twixmas (never heard that one before). Who wants to have to think about the smooth running of a bloody call centre after a few days of good food, good company and plenty of drink? Nobody.

I work as a shift manager for a call centre belonging to a large and although its been business as usual, nobody has been in the mood for sorting out peoples missing pin numbers, lost cheques, forgotten passwords and the zillion other problems a bank customer could have. The mood has been anything but festive and is very different to the way it was during the last few days before christmas. Some people had to work christmas and boxing day and although they get paid well for it and its mostly voluntary (as long as they get enough volunteering), few actually like doing it. I have done it once and that was enough. This year I will be working on new years day but thats ok because my shift doesnt start until 11 so I can still go out and have a drink with friends.

To anybody else who is back to work now, you have my sincere sympathy. To those of you who have the entire time between christmas and new year for yourself, you lucky buggers!

Boxing Day

I survived the big day and ate a tasty dinner at my parents house. After dinner we opened presents and I got the usual selection of socks, slippers and poloshirts from my daughters along with a photo of them. Otherwise I got after shave, a shirt, a superman dvd, an oasis cd, an address book and a book about status quo. I cant complain.

I was going to stay over and just drive down to get the girls this morning but when I found out my neice and her husband and five month old baby would be staying I changed my mind. My days of crying babies are over.

Now I’m back at mums with the girls. Mums making dinner and dads asleep and the girls are busy with my neice and the baby and her husband has gone out to meet some friends so I’m here on dads computer. Had the usual game of footie this morning but I think I’m starting to get to old for it. Next year will be the last time I think.

Get Stuffed

Right mateys, it’s time to say Merry Christmas and may your stuffing be tasty.

I’ll be visiting friends tonight for a few jars and a laugh. Tomorrow I’m off to my parents in Warrington for dinner and gift opening and then I’ll be back here in the evening to enjoy the company of my beautiful daughters. I’ll be playing footie on Boxing Day and will probably write here to let you all know how the festivities turned out. I’ll be looking forward to hearing your storys too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL