I think something that makes giving up smoking difficult is that nicotine addiction also has a devious quality to it.

I wasn’t a heavy smoker, mostly only when I had booze. So the nicotine should be out of my bloodstream, and since smoking in pubs has been banned that’s my habit’s routine broken.

I’ve not had a fag for 19 days. So I should be feeling some of the benefits. But here’s how my nicotine addled brain is conceptualising some of those benefits.

1. Better breathing. This should be a good thing. It makes me a more efficient runner. But my brain says that’s bad, because I now have to run further and faster to get the same feeling of satisfaction as I did when I was a wheezy smoker.
2. Improved sense of smell. Before I smoked I had a very acute sense of smell. To the point I could sniff out who was in my house. An acute sense of smell is not always a good thing. Particularly when you are left feeling sick walking down London Road, Cheam because you can smell where all the dogs have done their business (and no I don’t mean their accountancy practice).
3. Saving money. Well I only bought rolling tobacco, and since I didn’t smoke that much I think I only spent about £5 a month. Now in a year that probably adds up to quite a lot. But, I’m crap at maths it doesn’t mean much. Since loads of money hasn’t appeared in my account I don’t feel as if I’m rolling in dough.
4. All the time saved not taking smoking breaks. I mean that’s clearly not a benefit. Well perhaps to the company I work for, and I’m self-obsessed so in my mind real benefits are the ones that benefit me.

And the other thing I’ve realised is the thing that makes me want to smoke more is adverts about quitting. I mean what genius thought it would be a good idea to have a 6ft cigarette running around? I can’t be alone in thinking a puff on that bad boy would be like a hit of heaven.