Smoke this vile habit out

HAWAII plans to ban cigarette sales to anyone under 100. Quite right too.

It’s not quite as simple as that – it will rise in increments – and while I’m not usually pro the nannying state, on this one they are right.

I spent years of my life smoking, and recently worked out I must have got through more than 200,000 cigarettes. When I gave up, I was worried about gaining weight (I did but took it off again, see below right), losing friends (I didn’t), changing my personality (nope again) and any number of the other numerous side effects you assume will blight your life.

It took time. It was a good three years before I began to feel normal again, but it’s been 19 years now and I simply can’t believe how I allowed cigarettes to dominate. As I’m not the first to observe, it’s a slow and expensive way to kill yourself. Just stub it out. ❑

AN OBSESSION with selfies seems to bring out the worst in us so no surprise at all to see le tout Hollywood gurning at the smartphone. They’re clearly trying to say that they’re just like the rest of us, oh so normal, in spite of that superstar status… Pass the sickbag, Alice, as someone once said.

❑

APPARENTLY your chances of living to 90 are increased if you weigh the same in your 50s as you did in your 20s. Not at all sure I want to live to 90, but I actually weigh about a stone less than I did in my 20s. The secret, since you ask, is a very low-carb diet and a hardboiled egg for breakfast. And wine in the evening. Happy to pass it on.