Every year, particularly at this time, many people resolve to give up smoking.
No matter where you are on New Year’s Eve, or who you’re with you’ll hear people loudly stating that this is their last cigarette. However, their enthusiasm and determination has usually diminished by the following day.

In most cases smokers need a little help and support in order to kick the habit, but they don’t know where to turn. The Department of Preventive Medicine and Cardiology in St. Vincent’s Hospital has been running ‘stop smoking’ courses since the early nineties.

Initially aimed at patients, they were extended to include the general public. The course is primarily group-oriented. Participants are asked to complete the programme even if they succumbed to temptation and resumed smoking. Comprising of a six week programme it deals with various issues and problems related to smoking.

These include how to prepare yourself to stop smoking, relaxation techniques and advice to help you stay stopped. A drop-in session is held in conjunction with the course. These take place every Tuesday at 1pm in The Education and Research Department in St. Vincent’s Hospital and are open to everyone.

However, the co-ordinators emphasise that this is not a miracle cure. It depends on the individual’s determination.

“If participants give up smoking, they’re given full credit for doing so”, they say.
The course enables people to develop coping strategies. For those contemplating giving up, Anne and Veronica advise people to prepare themselves by looking at their lifestyles and perhaps considering alternative activities.

They also recommend that people join a support group as participants can share their difficulties and temptations.

The next lunch-time and evening courses will begin on the 1st and 8th respectively and cost £35.

Buy an army and fight a battle with it this Christmas!

Well, if you are lucky enough to get model soldiers as a present for Christmas you could do both.

Ancient Egyptians used to fight mock battles on a table with wooden soldiers. Frederick the Great did so too.

Much more recently, even in the Second World War, Generals would manoeuvre miniature figures on a table and plan major tactics. These tables would have sand, hills and valleys, model houses etc. and, of course, model soldiers.

These Battles fought on table top are called Wargames.

Does anyone remember Airfix soldiers? These were plastic soldiers, and well within anyone’s budget.

More serious collectors would buy metal models made from lead. Humbrol paints were also available, as they are now. Many a would-be general painted his models so they appeared much more realistic.

With the rich British military history of the many battles fought in Europe and in other parts of the world, there are quite a number of clubs where mock battles are fought on table top with people of all ages.

In Ireland, the Irish Model Soldier Club meets in Wynn’s Hotel on the first Thursday of every month. It is well worth your while taking a look. This club does not enact wargames, but they will refer you to those who do. The Irish Model Soldier Club is mostly a collecter’s club.

Collecting model soldiers is another branch of the hobby. What these people do is they gather bits and pieces and information about armies, foot soldiers, cavalry, tanks,etc. They then paint them as accurately as they can.

Wargames need a lot of space! An average board can be three square metres, so if you have not got the room it is possible to buy what is called a Boardgame.These games are played on a strong cardboard board , measuring about half a square metre, with counters made of the same material, and they can be just as much fun.

Magazines on wargames are published at the begining of each month and available from large magazine shops, and will give more information on this hobby. Models may be purchased in Mark’s Models at 14 Hawkins St. and Dunlaoghaire Shopping Centre, second floor.

Wargames can be enjoyed by kids of nine to ninety!