Just on the smoking convo, my old man was a big smoker from age 17 (could have been earlier, not sure) and he just could never give up and he was such a stubborn prick, he just didn't want to. He loved a drink also but the cigs were way worse.
Through his 40s, 50s and 60s he just kept right on going and finally, after visiting about 10 doctors and hoping one would say he was doing the right thing, he succumbed at age 66, way too young. Had a big heart attack in front of the TV watching SBS, but it must have been peaceful because Mum went to bed, never heard a thing and woke up the next day to find him gone. It was a normal thing for him to go asleep in his chair, his Type 2 diabetes made his legs swell and laying down on the bed was painful.
She got up that morning, saw him in the chair, thought nothing of it and went out to hose the garden. She then came back in and started the vacuuming. When she got near the old man, she said, "Move your feet Eric." Of course he didn't because he couldn't. He was gone. I had married by this time and moved away so I was a bit shocked to get the phone call to say he had died.
Thankfully I never took it up because I could see what it did to my Dad. It is why it absolutely baffles me why anyone would want to take up smoking, especially today when we have a bit more evidence that it can take years off your life. I'm baffled especially why young people do it, especially young girls. I guess they all think it's cool and think they are invincible at a young age.
When I was younger, if I fancied a girl that suddenly pulled out a ciggie, I was turned off immediately and I didn't care how hot she was. I almost didn't marry my wife as I found out she was a social smoker after going out with her a few times but on our honeymoon she went cold turkey and never touched another one again.
It is a weird thing why people like to smoke, I don't understand it and I'll never forgive Sir Walter Raleigh for introducing it to England in the 1580s. Anyway he lost his head so well deserved!
