Couldn’t sleep last night. Must have been because I didn’t have a single drink yesterday. Of course it had nothing to do with the fact that I didn’t have a single cigarette either. Although, during the rare moments when I managed to nod off, all my dreams resembled scenes from Cheech and Chong’s Up in Smoke.
And when I woke, only one thought milled through my mind: You’re not allowed to smoke, you’re not allowed to smoke, you’re not allowed to smoke.
And I must admit, the fact that I’ve gone public with my quest to be a non-smoker is making it, if not easier, more important to stick to my non-smoking gun. I am a proud person, and don’t ever want to admit failure to the world: Just do it!
Cor, the new beau, knows this very well and I fell straight into the Venus (or is it Mars) flytrap when he convinced me to write a blog about quitting.
After my restless night that included numerous night sweats – and it’s not menopause, been there done that – I was at the gym at 6 this morning, naturally to the great surprise of our strict trainer, Michael-John Zurnamer. Good to keep men on their toes, especially those who also manage to challenge us physically. He has a sign at his gym that reads: “No smoking or perfume before training”.
If you equate the two in this way, it sure doesn’t bode well for perfumers!
Even though I did not sleep much, I felt good, as I haven’t been punishing my body the previous day. And on top of that I had an exciting day ahead. I was on my way to Klaarstroom on the other side of Meiringspoort in the Klein Karoo to meet up with film maker, South African industry icon Koos Roets, in his home town as well as other role players in a movie about the life and times of world heavy weight boxing champ, Gerrie Coetzee. The movie, Against all odds is backed by US money and producers and even Muhammed Ali’s former wife, Dr Khalilah Comacho-Ali. We met at the Klaarstroom Hotel where the agent and producers are staying until their return to OR Tambo and the US on Friday. (Read all about these interesting people and the movie elsewhere on our websites.)
What an experience! Of course I craved a fag when meeting all these celebrities, but it was great not to have to sneak off to go and stink myself up. I had stopped, remember? And I obviously had no cigarettes with me. Also noticed that not one of the other people present was a smoker. This is something I noticed increasingly in the past years: wherever I went I would be the only smoker or maybe one of two outcasts treated as lepers.
When I arrived back home late afternoon I immediately had a snack and by 6pm I was pouring my second gin and nibbling on nuts and crisps. Yes, I know I said that booze and cigarettes are partners in crime, but I just can’t give up everything at once. And I constantly want to eat. Got some chewing gum and wine gums – less indulgent than chocolate…
And now I’m off to play the Powerball that’s at a rocking R130-million tonight! Wonder if my health and the world’s social conventions will still be of any concern to me if I actually hit the jackpot? Or will it be a case of: Cuba, here I come!!
Seeing that the odds are 1 in 42 375 200 of hitting the Powerball jackpot, my life of early to bed, high irritation levels and Cheech and Chong dreams is likely to continue.
Meanwhile, Day 3 awaits.
