A report hit the media headlines yesterday on the impact of cigarette smoking on life expectancy. Each cigarette a person smokes could shorten their life by 20 minutes, according to new estimates. The new figures are an increase on previous estimates, which suggested a cigarette shortens a smoker's life by 11 minutes. The data suggests if a 10-a-day smoker quits on 1 January, then by 8 January they could prevent loss of a full day of life. By 20 February, their lives could be extended by a whole week. If their quitting is successful until 5 August, they will likely live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke. The figures come from analysis commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care and carried out by researchers from University College London (UCL). The timing for the release of this report is interesting. It is published at just the time when the population as a whole might be thinking of New Year resolutions to be put into effect from Wednesday onwards which is, of course, 1st January. I suppose it might be interesting to see how many start and how many relapse from cigarette smoking but at a cost of more than £15 for a packet of 20 there is a massive financial incentive to quit smoking in any case.
Today has been one of the most curious of days. Last night, before I went to bed, it seemed that I was developing classic flu symptoms (feeling cold and shivery) so I dosed myself up on a sachet of Cold and Flue Relief powders which I keep handy in our kitchen medicines drawer. This morning when I woke up I felt no better and, if anything, a tad worse and felt that I was moving through treacle as everything was so much effort. So I decided fairly early on that I would not risk a walk outside to see our friends in Waitrose which is our normal Tuesday routine but, to be honest, I thought that I might be foolhardy to push myself on in this way. First thing in the morning, I gave myself a further dose of the Cold and Flu Relief but because of the paracetemol loading one should not more than four doses in the day so I timetabled myself to have further does at 12.00noon, 6pm and before I go to bed. Most of this morning, I dozed in my armchair and fortunately so did Meg who, fortunately or not, seems to have been asleep most of the day. I don't know if the same virus or bug is afflicting both of us but in the case of Meg she would not be able to describe her symptoms to me in any case. The young carer with whom we get on particularly well was detailed to come and do Meg's sit for her so I entertained her for a little showing some of the classic Live Aid concerts that were put on in Wembley I think and for which Bob Geldorf cajoled/ harangued or otherwise persuaded all of the major pop stars of the era (Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury etc.) to come along and perform for no fee. I think the pop fraternity really played its part and I suspect that they an hour's rehearsal at the most, a sheet with the words and music was thrust into their hands and off they went. Of course to the younger generation (our carer being born in about 2007) all of this was a complete revelation and I think she was quite amazed by it. The previous evening I had seen the film of Maria Callas's life and as I was full of this, I told the young carer some salient aspects of the life of Maria Callas ands then found one or two classic recordings on 'YouTube' so that she could experience one of the finest voices the world has ever known. After the carers had left, it was time to think about lunch but I had no inclination to think about food today. So I baked a potato and then added a tin of thick soup which I think is all that both I and Meg needed for the day. Meg has continued sleeping for most of the day but to provide a bit of a change to the Sky News on in the background, I played the Mozart Piano Concerto No 21 which is always a favourite of ours.
Tonight is going to be a bit of a dilemma - do I go to bed early and try to knock this 'flu on the head or so I stay up and watch in the New Year as I have done so often in the past (more and more often on my own) Because of the forecast high winds and rain, the celebrations in Edinburgh have been cancelled leading to massive disappointment amongst the market traders who were relying upon the celebrations to sell their wares. Already today, via Sky news, I have seen some shots of the celebrations in New Zealand and Tokyo for whom, of course, it is already January 1st. I have dusted off my set of New Year resolutions which are exactly the same as last year and I wonder how long they will survive into the New Year. Without wishing to sound curmudgeonly (what a word!) I think the pleasures to be derived from Christmas are far outweighed by the extra running around that is called for. Our domestic help is calling around tomorrow and I might try to persuade her that even in advance of 12th Night, this is a good opportunity to put away the decorations for another year.
Sky's Ed Conway often produces some outstandingly revealing graphs and diagrams. Whilst not being a 'new' fact per se, Conway revealed that the massive majority won by the Labor Party was by no means as dramatic as the results might suggest. Despite a huge majority in seats, the Labour Party only gained 40% of the popular vote which was one of the lowest proportions won by a governing party for some years. This helps to explain why the government as lost popularity so quickly in the first few months.
© Mike Hart [2024]