Health scares can be good for the health if you can learn from them. I am addicted quite seriously to cigarettes, but I don't smoke anymore. There are times when I miss them (when I have a cup of coffee or I'm waiting for a train, blah blah, yawn etc.) but I know myself far too well. I can't go there. Post- DVT, us smokers put ourselves at the greater risk of a recurring blood clot. It's a non-runner.

I have studiously avoided cool people my whole life. That's not meant as a slight on those I have been friends with. By 'cool' I mean people whose egos are largely driven by them being good-looking, or having a little bit of status.

Spend your days dreaming of winning the lottery? It's not time wasted. New research from Bates College in the US suggests merely the 'thought' of m...