I never thought I'd say this, but a couple of my closest pals have decided to cut down on smoking.
Six weeks ago we were hardcore nicotine addicts, 'positive' smokers, if you will.
We mocked anti-smokers, loathed the smoking ban and ignored the government warning signs that vowed our favourite past-time was rotting us from the inside.
Even v
anity couldn't stop us as we planned to iron out the effects of smoking with as much botox as we could afford when the time came.
Needless to say I created some cracks in the united 'smokers forever' front when I quit in November.
But recently, three of my friends have also opted to cut down and there's been an enormous shift in their attitude toward the unsociable habit.
I took the plunge for a combination of reasons that included a stubborn chest infection and my mother's continuous nagging that smoking was going to kill me.
The start of the first British winter since the ban kicked smokers outdoors was also an enormous influence on my decision.
But I never expected any of my friends to follow suit.
I'm told that this is a trend in some friendship groups. The social appeal of smoking decreases as the sense of solidarity disintegrates.
When one or two people quit, the remaining smokers can add one more reason (as if there weren't enough already) to pack it in.
It's certainly made my life easier as I no longer feel like some sort of non-smoking freak among my friends.
Whether their attempts to cut down will last or not I'm keen to find out.
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