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In post 14 I think Howard is referring to me. COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is the collective name for a number of lung conditions including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. The condition won't improve, but I can stop it getting worse. Yes, I used to smoke - although not heavily - but in my case there is a hereditary factor because both my mother and grandfather also suffered.
Being very much an outdoor person my developing shortness of breath I dismissed as a sign of advancing age, but after the very cold winter of 2010-11 it was clear something was wrong and I was not really surprised when COPD was diagnosed.
Not being one to cave in I decided that the best course of action would be to work life around the problem. Failure here means you will just give up and, for me, that's not an option. As Howard said I now avoid going out unecessarily in cold or wet weather, whereas in previous years this never bothered me at all. I carry a mobility scooter in my vehicle which helps me get to around because more often-than-not I am weighed down with some quite heavy camera equipment, this often includes a large format rail camera which would be a challenge to lug around even if I was 100% fit!
As far as the smoking ban. As I am aware this was the result of a Private Member's Bill tabled by Lord Ribeiro, former president of The Royal College of Surgeons, and not by an opportunistic Commons back bencher. Certainly the law is unenforceable in reality as the overstretched Police have far more important things to concentrate upon.
We are told 30% of the UK population smoke. This figure will be reduced by the number who actually drive, and then again by those who drive with children aboard. To illustrate the irresponsibility and selfishness - which is the target of this Bill - I feel a public awareness campaign should at least have been tried first to prevent yet another addition to an already top-heavy statute book.
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