It’s the end of an unexpected lazy week and do you know what, am looking forward to getting back to routine tomorrow and getting back into working properly. 

Now, could easily have done that today but after being caught with the cold snap for a few days and a surprise Sunday off, there didn’t seem a point in starting again today when I probably won’t have a free Sunday again for two months.

The first bit of good news is I haven’t had a Nicorette today!  Just the first time since the opening day of this challenge.  I’m not going to make a drastic statement now and say I’m not going to have any more gums again.  There will be more strips!  But it’s a clear today without any help from the cigarettes.

I did have a few cravings today.  A couple of bad ones but none that made me seriously look for an excuse to go outside.  As I said yesterday, I’m feeling like an ex-smoker even if I’m not naïve enough yet to think I’m fully over the line.

The second bit of good news is myself and Sinead didn’t kill each other.  We’ve spent nearly five days in each other’s pockets but we’re still grand.  Had a mini fight with Kate one of the days but otherwise, was a lovely few days and the girls looked after me well.  Augurs well for the future 🙂

My first job tomorrow is bringing Kate to school, the second is visiting Mike’s grave, then home and shower and shave.  The mini beard is starting to appear so needs addressing.  And afterwards, it’s back to work.

It’ll be a fun couple as we try to rearrange around the revised fixtures.  We should know Monday the GAA fixtures and hopefully, Tuesday, the camogie club finals.  Had many articles written about the camogie before it was postponed.  There’ll be lots of articles appearing as soon as we know.

The weather is still going to be a factor but I am scheduled to be in Mullingar Tuesday for the school’s ladies football senior semi-finals.  Great to see Presentation Tuam and Glenamaddy CS on the same card and no doubt, a massive support will be there for both.

Galway play Kilkenny in the league camogie semi-final on Sunday and Dermot and I are heading off to school’s camogie final on Saturday.  And we are also out and about Friday night as well so no rest.

At the moment, I’m watching a five-year-old bounce between two cushions on a couch like it’s a trampoline.  It’s great how children can easily entertain themselves.  Has no relevance to anything we discussed, just put a smile on my face.

The most exertion I had today was playing Championship Manager on my phone.  Like many, it’s a very addictive game but was nice to kill some time.  I just have to make sure I don’t get hooked on it again tomorrow.

I realized I quit smoking cigarettes 7 years ago today.

I remember quitting and thinking "I'm sure I will pick up another cigarette again"

I DIDN'T!!!
I am so proud of my perseverance against something I was so addicted to.

— MelissaSweet1 (@MelissaSweet1_) March 4, 2018

Anyway, it’s a short entry tonight as nothing much to tell.  It just feels brilliant to be able say I still haven’t smoked after 13 days.  And I have saved €148!  Before anyone does the maths, I have deleted the price of two strips of Nicorette gum.

If anyone else is off the cigarettes, or considering quitting, I’d love to hear your story and your experiences.  Send me an email (sport@www.galwaydaily.com) if you would like to share the challenges you found difficult and hopefully, the ones you overcame.

Back to work tomorrow and look forward to chatting to you then.

Darren

The good news is we aren’t isolated from the outside world anymore but still a risky move to depart so opted to stay in Taughmaconnell today rather than risk venturing on those roads. 

Now, it was airing on the side of caution as the road to Clonkeen has been cleared bar some dodgy patches though the potholes have hurt this road in recent months still created a lottery.

I must say fair play to Sinead’s brother David and the residents here.  The tractors were out in force from the afternoon to create some pathway to the main road again.

As I decided to take the four-mile round trip walk to check out the area myself, it’s still amazing how much snow rested on the roads and have been pushed up to the side.  I’m nearly 40 and I’ve never seen that much snow.  I can’t compare to 1982 as I was only three years old.

I did feel guilty that I wouldn’t make it in for Mike’s mass and I’m sure the main roads are Ok.  But one dip or pothole could have taken the car off track.  And with warnings extended until 12pm on Sunday, felt it was best to stay.  I’ll be at the grave myself Sunday or Monday and remember him in my own way.

We didn’t have the option this morning regarding little Oliver’s christening as work was only being done when we inspected the conditions.  Even David said it would be hours before any safe movement could take place.  Kate and I had great fun checking but we were glad to get in from the cold snap.

Weather like this does affect routine.  You can get lazy in one sense and then restless in another. That has been my feeling today.  Because I wanted to talk about Mike, I never talked about our day yesterday and how we could have had a serious moment as I nearly broke my fingers.

After bringing in the turf, I opted to clean the snow off the car in case I ended up on the road.  Some snow was caught inside the bonnet so I lifted that.  However, the stick gave way and came crashing down on my resting three fingers.

Now, I was lucky in one sense.  The stick also broke the impact and stopped the bonnet coming fully down.  There was a slight pain and one cut but thankfully, nothing a plaster couldn’t fix and I was still able type and work like normal afterwards.

Had I smashed my fingers, I would have been in a right pickle as we would have had great fun trying to get me to an area I could get a vehicle into Ballinasloe.  But on the bright side, I would have had two nurses to address the problem so all wouldn’t be lost.

You can do anything you put your mind to.
200 days no alcohol.
34 days no cigarettes

— Dylan Garcia (@realdylangarcia) March 3, 2018

Speaking of which, I made my four Nicorette gums last three days.  I’m not getting any more for the next two days I reckon.  So, if I make it until Monday, I think we can start seriously talking about me as an ex-smoker which would be cool.

When I reached the head of the road today, it was the type of moment where you’d love to sit down and have a fag.  I won’t lie, I did think about it.  But never to a serious level to crave having one.  I turned around, headed back, and enjoyed a good dinner the girls made for me.

It looks like we’ve decided to rest up for the weekend.  Even a birthday party planned for tomorrow has been postponed.  While we’re over the worst, still can’t be complacent.  Stay safe everyone and look forward to chatting tomorrow.

Darren

Today, I want to talk to you about Mike. 

Mike was my best friend and I lost him this day two years ago to cancer.  It was one of the worst days of my life and I still get upset occasionally when I think about my friend being taken away.

In truth, I should have quit the cigarettes three years ago.  I said I would at the time.  I don’t know why I didn’t (briefly did).  But I never got my head around doing it and eventually slipped back on them.

Mike gave up the cigarettes for Lent in 2015.  It had been in his head and I can say with absolute certainty that he had only one more cigarette since finishing his last packet on Ash Wednesday that year.

He hadn’t felt right.  A man who worked all his life and retirement was never sitting with him.  I’m not going into the personal details of Mike’s health but in April 2015 (one month after he quit the smokes), we got the news that sent shockwaves through us all.

Mike had lung cancer and started the greatest battle of his life.  For a time, it looked like he’d get over the line but never managed to shake it.  As winter came and Christmas passed, it wasn’t looking good.  I watched my friend’s health gradually decline, his energy dropped and eventually his body said goodbye.

Anyone who knew Mike always had a story.  He was quick witted, never backed down from a verbal dispute (:)) and always made sure his family and friends were looked after.  He was the perfect example of somebody who always gave his time to others.

I remember my first conversation with Mike in the East County.  I could be an arrogant thing when I wanted to be and try give a smartarse answer thinking I was funny.  Mike asked me a question one day, I gave a sarcastic answer, he looked at me and asked the same question again.  Without getting angry or raising his voice, he put me in my place.  I learned that day you don’t mess with Mike.

I learned my barman’s trade under Mike’s guidance in the Main Bar of the Tunnel Niteclub.  I went for tea to his house nearly every night after work.  He wasn’t a big drinker but he loved the tea.  When you called to Mike’s house, you didn’t ask.  You just put on the kettle.

Our friendship grew over the years.  He was always the first I called if I needed advice and I became one of his confidants when he needed something.  And in recent years, every Monday night was discussing the weekend sport.

If Galway didn’t play well, I got the full breakdown.  And in return, I’d probably stir the pot doing the journalist thing and making the opposing point whether I agreed or not.  But there is nothing he would have loved more than to have been in Croke Park last September.

Mike had nothing to do with me taking up smoking.  We were actually friends four years before I ever touched them.  And he wasn’t too impressed that I went near them in the first place.  But strangely enough, I ended up on the Carrolls just like he did back in the 1990s.

I’ve been close friends with the McDonnell family and I hope they don’t mind me penning this piece.  Morgan (Mike’s son) hired me in 1995 when I got the East County job.  And it was outside having a smoke at Shane’s (his other son) wedding three weeks ago when this diary idea first came to my mind.

I’m not telling you about Mike to give some anti-smoking speech and preach the evils of the habit.  He’d have killed me if he thought I was doing that.  He’d probably kill me anyway for writing this piece.

I’m telling you about Mike because I miss my friend and I still think about him.  I’m annoyed about the weather because it’s stopped me visiting his grave today.  And I hope it doesn’t box me in tomorrow and deny me attending his anniversary mass.

I could write multiple entries about stories with Mike and some may make it to this diary before we wrap up the series.  Today, I just wanted to remember my friend and anyone who ever met him will vouch that he was one of the nicest people they ever met.  Thank you Mike and we will never forget you.

Darren