I grew up in a family where both parents were smokers. My father started smoking when he was 12 years old as I understand it, and my mother started smoking the day she left home to go to University in Christchurch, Canterbury NZ. This was her “growing up moment”, she could make her own decision and buy her own cigarettes.
As a child we lived in a cigarette smoke household and as younger children, my sister and I used to steal some tobacco from our father’s packet to go for a walk around the farm to smoke our contraband!!!
When I achieved my driver’s licence at 16, I was allowed to take the family car to go for a night out in Rotorua for a movie. I also took the opportunity to buy some cigarettes (Capstan 10’s). Also, when we went to Church sometimes in a neighbouring area we walked to the local shop and purchased the clandestine cigarettes!!
The day I left home at 18, with my cousin, we drove to Christchurch 2 days away and a 10 hour drive!
The first thing I did was to purchase a packet of cigarettes and commenced full time smoking….
I then smoked up to 20 cigarettes per day - usually Rothmans, a packet of 20 cigarettes.
All through university and even when I applied for the Air Force as a pilot and struggled with the fitness required, I kept on with the smoking…
I passed my Wings course and was posted to a medium range transport squadron flying a Hawker Siddeley Andover.
Every year I had to complete a Pilots medical to allow me to be a “fit and compliant “pilot.
Having been recently married, my wife was a non-smoker, so I gave up smoking in bed!!! Also smoking at our dinner table after our dinner!!
In 1978 I underwent the normal annual pilots medical examination and the Chief Medical Officer sat me down and said “you have to give up smoking otherwise I will cancel your medical and ground you”.
This was an “Oh Shit” moment!
So the new programme to give up smoking began…..
I gave up immediately, however within three weeks I was back on the cigarettes!!
Tried again a month later and this time lasted a little longer… This was due to enjoyment of cigarettes during social occasions!
On the third time I came home from three days away on a freight shuttle flight and when sitting with my wife in front of the fire I finished the cigarette packet and threw it in the fire.
The next morning, I woke up and went out for a run. Hurt like hell, but I returned and from then on every morning I got up and ran. I also ate a lot of food that the Loadmasters gave to me with a coffee with two sugars!! I gained 4 stone in weight over the next 12 months!!!
Finally I had quit smoking.
I left the air force and, when overseas in the UK, I went for a run one morning and could easily run 5 miles without stress from breathing. I also lost all my excess weight through hard physical exercise/work in shearing 200 sheep per day in Wales and England.
I’ve never wanted to smoke again. I have been off the fags for 44 years now and have felt really healthy. My wife really appreciated the quitting of cigarettes as she also was having sinus problems due to my smoking. A win all around, and I love the healthy life I have!!!!
James Davey
June 2023
As a child we lived in a cigarette smoke household and as younger children, my sister and I used to steal some tobacco from our father’s packet to go for a walk around the farm to smoke our contraband!!!
When I achieved my driver’s licence at 16, I was allowed to take the family car to go for a night out in Rotorua for a movie. I also took the opportunity to buy some cigarettes (Capstan 10’s). Also, when we went to Church sometimes in a neighbouring area we walked to the local shop and purchased the clandestine cigarettes!!
The day I left home at 18, with my cousin, we drove to Christchurch 2 days away and a 10 hour drive!
The first thing I did was to purchase a packet of cigarettes and commenced full time smoking….
I then smoked up to 20 cigarettes per day - usually Rothmans, a packet of 20 cigarettes.
All through university and even when I applied for the Air Force as a pilot and struggled with the fitness required, I kept on with the smoking…
I passed my Wings course and was posted to a medium range transport squadron flying a Hawker Siddeley Andover.
Every year I had to complete a Pilots medical to allow me to be a “fit and compliant “pilot.
Having been recently married, my wife was a non-smoker, so I gave up smoking in bed!!! Also smoking at our dinner table after our dinner!!
In 1978 I underwent the normal annual pilots medical examination and the Chief Medical Officer sat me down and said “you have to give up smoking otherwise I will cancel your medical and ground you”.
This was an “Oh Shit” moment!
So the new programme to give up smoking began…..
I gave up immediately, however within three weeks I was back on the cigarettes!!
Tried again a month later and this time lasted a little longer… This was due to enjoyment of cigarettes during social occasions!
On the third time I came home from three days away on a freight shuttle flight and when sitting with my wife in front of the fire I finished the cigarette packet and threw it in the fire.
The next morning, I woke up and went out for a run. Hurt like hell, but I returned and from then on every morning I got up and ran. I also ate a lot of food that the Loadmasters gave to me with a coffee with two sugars!! I gained 4 stone in weight over the next 12 months!!!
Finally I had quit smoking.
I left the air force and, when overseas in the UK, I went for a run one morning and could easily run 5 miles without stress from breathing. I also lost all my excess weight through hard physical exercise/work in shearing 200 sheep per day in Wales and England.
I’ve never wanted to smoke again. I have been off the fags for 44 years now and have felt really healthy. My wife really appreciated the quitting of cigarettes as she also was having sinus problems due to my smoking. A win all around, and I love the healthy life I have!!!!
James Davey
June 2023
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