Reporter Mike Ribbeck's daily diary as he attempts to give up smoking

STILL going after 48 hours and I haven't yet succumbed to temptation, although I have found myself walking towards people who are holding burning cigarettes.

People say the worst part is the first three days but at the moment I am quite pleased with how well things are going.

My only problem is agreeing to write a daily piece and having my picture in the paper. I am sick to death of people coming up to me asking how the non-smoking is going. But knowing that everyone is expecting me to fail is helping me to keep off the cigarettes. At the last count 14 people have asked if I have cracked and had a sly fag . . . sorry, make that 15. And I am already working out how to spend the money I have saved when when my wage finally lands in the bank.

We are giving you the chance to join Mike and make a public pledge to give up smoking. Send us your name and address and we will publish a list of people who are trying to stub out their habit, in the hope that letting the world know will help boost their willpower.

Send your pledge to Mike Ribbeck at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, High Street, Blackburn, BB1 IHT, or by e-mail on mribbeck@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk - and good luck!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.