“The vast majority of cases turn out to include no link to terrorism once they go to court,” the report found. The analysis “suggests the presence of few, if any, prevalent terrorist threats currently within the U.S.”

I love it when I’m right. Well, me and a lot of commentators who are much smarter than me. Just call me Smugly von Smuggerson today.

Two: I’ve quit smoking and I’m proud of it. Yet I still think this is extremely stupid. I watched Top Gear on Sunday night and found the pipe-smoking bit hilarious. I especially liked it when Jeremy Clarkson put the pipe in his mouth backwards – while it was lit, mind – and got tobacco in his mouth. It was great. I’m close enough to my ‘smoking roots’ (if you will) to still be rather adamant about smokers’ rights. It was a gag for a television show; get over it. If no one in the audience complained, where is the problem? So they flouted the smoking ban, big freaking whoop. Some people seem to have nothing better to do than complain about people smoking. Get a life.

And that’s my two cents for the day.

And by the way, the fourth day of quitting smoking hasn’t been too bad. The only thing that sucks is that I have to work until 6.00 every night this week (stupid rota). Thankfully the communications team has had a couple of interesting website tasks for me to do starting around 3.30 each day. They have kept me busy and not bored so that’s been good.

This morning started off fine but then I got to work. I am very tired for some reason this morning and it was really getting me down in the last hour. I think I wanted a cigarette or maybe I was just tired. I couldn’t really tell but I didn’t like the way I felt. To help matters I fixed myself a cup of tea and had a gingery Cornish biscuit (aka cookie). I think that helped. Hey, a little sugar here and there isn’t going to hurt.

I’m now downing a bottle of water as quickly as possible because it’s time for my next lozenge. The only thing that kind of sucks about the lozenges is you can’t eat or drink while sucking on one because it may block some of the nicotine absorption. I wouldn’t mind so much but this morning I had to stare at my ready-to-eat piece of toast while I finished the lozenge. I also can’t stay hydrated with the water while sucking on a lozenge so I need to drink up. All in all, today kind of sucks but I’m getting through it.

All in all it wasn’t too bad. After a couple of hours I did get to thinking ‘gee a cigarette would be nice right now.’ But I fought it with the lozenges, water and gum. Oh, and a pen in my hand helped quite a bit too.

Today is the first day in work without smoking. I find it’s been rather easy so far. I don’t get too stressed at work anymore so that shouldn’t be a trigger. I’ve got my gum, my lozenges and a nice bottle of yummy M&S peach and raspberry flavoured water. If I really have to have something sweet, there are some Irish truffles in our fridge which I will allow myself to have one of just to satisfy the craving. The mornings are supposed to be the worst but at the moment I’m coping quite well I think. I’ll let you know if there are any changes to that!

It may be boring as hell and not worth writing or reading but we’ll see. If nothing else those who know me and read this blog know that I’m giving it a go. I may not be successful this first time but I’ve always got the new drug Champix as a backup. My mother has been 30 days without a cigarette and she’s smoked for 40 years. If she can do it, so can I!!! Wish me luck!