The one where Eric has to pass the ‘Dutch exam’
.
38 days and counting lads. That’s 912 hours, or 54,720 minutes or over 3 million seconds without a smoke.
You may have a pain in your eyeballs reading the smugness, but to me it is therapeutic. Every little bit helps as one conglomerate used to say.
Amsterdam Busters
As I mentioned last week, I went to Amsterdam for a friend’s stag party. Amsterdam is an amazing city and if you haven’t been before, I urge you to check it out.
Yes it has its very relaxed drug laws, it’s red light district, but aesthetically, you will struggle to find a more beautiful looking city.
Also, everyone and I mean EVERYONE has a bike. There is a major bike infestation problem in Amsterdam.
The nightlife is amazing and we did sample the local delights. Not the red light district, I hasten to add. We ventured down alright as it’s become as much of a tourist attraction as any of the sights and had a look, but we were like kids and giggled our way around.
Despite all the temptations and alcohol in tow, I managed to stay clear of the cigarettes and got through the whole weekend without having a single smoke.
This is huge. I genuinely feel that this is a significant moment in my attempt to quit. I knew Amsterdam would be my sternest test and I’m happy to say I passed it.
No rest for the wicked
No sooner had I arrived home on Sunday evening when I was taking off for another few days and nights, this time around Ireland. I am taking part in the Sprite Refreshing Truth Tour in association with JOE.ie and Her.ie.
It’s myself, Karl Spain, Viper Higgins, Fred Cooke and Handie Sandie touring around colleges doing comedy roast style shows but instead of an individual being roasted, we are roasting the county of the college we are visiting with one of the panel defending.
Last week we started it in Trinity College and I was there to defend the honour of Dublin from the snarling vitriol being thrown at it by the rest of the panel. Happy to say I emerged victorious and did not have a single smoke to celebrate.
We have our own tour bus with our ugly mugs emblazoned across the side and front of it. It’s a bit surreal to see your own face on a bus in fairness.
Monday saw us come to Cork, UCC and Handie Sandie defending it’s honour with great gusto.
Tuesday we arrived in Limerick and the lovely UL where Mr Spain was playing in the defensive role and on Wednesday night we traveled to Galway and NUIG where the mercurial Viper Higgins represented the West in some style.
We came back to the east on Thursday night for a fun evening in Maynooth College where Fred Cooke defended the middle east. The what? Well, it’s kind of Midlands/Eastern side of Ireland and that’s good enough for us.
It’s been an exhausting tour, but we have had a lot of fun. The crowds have been brilliant and we hope we can do something like this again in the near future.
Pangs very much
The HSE are slowly letting me stand on my own two feet and the last message I received was like a long-term lover asking to take a break. I shuddered. I’m an experienced quitter now it seems.
I’m still getting little cravings and I think I probably always will, but it just seems I’ve come too far now to throw it all away. I am doing this for my family, my health, my wealth.
I am doing this for me.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
