Day four

Well, this is strange. Sitting at the computer with my morning coffee and something seems to be missing.

Last Friday around midnight I smoke the last cigarette in a pack, then had a nicotine patch slapped on my upper arm.

I figured if I was going to do it, I should just do it. Some sensible planning required. No brainer to realise that it would help if, for a couple of days at least, I was somewhere else, somewhere I had no association whatsoever with smoking. Suggested a visit to his sister on the Sunshine Coast. She was very happy to issue invitation.

All good Saturday morning. Bit of a twinge after stop for lunch, but okay. Saturday evening fine, Sunday morning was fine, Sunday afternoon was fine, Sunday evening was fine.

BIG dump of snow overnight. I was very glad guy with lots of serious winter driving experience was going to be behind the wheel of his bigger, heavier-than-mine vehicle. I never used to mind driving in snow – until the great Boxing Day wipe out of 2016. Since then I get flashbacks even attempting to drive short distances on the island in snow. So, good thing he was there with his car. If it had been me and my car I would have just stayed on the Sunshine Coast until the snow melted.

So, anyway… All reasonably good until this particular test. I knew it would be a tough one. As I’m typing I keep reaching for the pack of cigarettes that isn’t there. And when it’s not there there’s a little twinge in my stomach. Sure hope that passes. Otherwise the odds of any of these novels ever getting written will shift from slim to non-existent.

Despite my warning that I hate having my photo taken, sister sneaked one in (literally behind my back) on Sunday when we all went for a walk.

I’ve decided I like to think of this as my turning-my-back-on-smoking-and-looking-forward-to-the-future photo. Wish me luck.