Today is the anniversary of a special day. Exactly one year ago, I stopped smoking. I smoked between 40 and 60 fags a day.

Smokers often say they cannot give up yet because they are too stressed or other equally feeble excuses.

I say yes, you can do it. I did and a lot of my smoking friends thought I could not. Now they tell me I was able to give up because I had no stress this past year.

Smokers are funny people ... never believe one. They tell you all sorts of fibs, such as admitting to smoking only five fags a day when they really smoke 25.

They do not want you to leave their exclusive club. That's why they try to ridicule former smokers or make them feel guilty for giving up the smelly weed.

The coughing club did not get my subscription last year and it won't in the future.

-Peter Mitchell, Thyme Close, Shoreham