Anyway, I had been smoking properly since I was 16, which is when I joined up. At that time even on a shore establishment you could get duty free cigarettes and tobacco, but you had to be a declared smoker. There were various regulations about how many cigarettes you could take ashore with you on a night out. Many used to say that they were made from the sweepings from the floors of the various tobacco companies. One thing I do remember is the nasty hacking cough that you developed after smoking these Blue Liners. So here I am a good few years on and I am smoke free. Those who know me will remember me from when I used to smoke. Some people are very observant and I still get the 'Didn't you used to smoke?' Well yes for about 35 years.
Do I feel any better for it? In all honesty somedays I do and somedays I don't. I guess that it all depends on what I am doing at the time. My main times for smoking used to be when I had my nose stuck in a good book, or when I was on the computer. I seem to have broken those habits, but yes at times I do get the feeling that just one cigarette wouldn't hurt. I know myself though, and I can have the breaking strain of a soggy Kit Kat and one would lead to two, and before I know it I would be a full time smoker again. Occasionally I do have a bit of passive smoking though. I suppose if I stopped and thought about things I would frighten myself if I calculated how much I had spent over the years just to have it go up in smoke.
Do I miss it? Too right I do. I really used to enjoy a nice cigar. The smell of them were my downfall the last time that I gave up smoking. Fortunately I am the only one who I have ever seen smoking a cigar in the village, apart from when we have had visitors. There are times when I do miss smoking more than others, and it is not the after meal smoke that I miss the most. It is the while I am out in the garden watering the plants. I had got into the habit of getting so far round and then sparking up, at least it used to keep the flies and the mozzies away. Now without the smokescreen to hide behind it is almost as though I can hear the mozzies, midges and gnats sharpening up their knives and forks as they prepare for a feast. The flies seem to be Japanese, as they tend to be Kamikaze flies who like crashing straight into your eyes. So what do I do now? For anyone observing it must resemble an uncoordinated Ninja sending a semaphore message. Maybe the flies just want to see me like this as they have a sense of humour.
So I shall carry on with my Ninja semaphore tactics in the hope that eventually the insect life will get bored and go and plague someone else instead. maybe Sir Winston Churchill had it right, as I can't remember seeing any pictures or film of him flapping his arms like a mad cricket umpire. Still it could be worse and I could be the Marlboro Man.
So like I said it wasn't easy but I managed to quit, and if I can do so then so can anyone else who wants to quit. This time I managed to do so with a combination of things. I switched from tailor made cigarettes to tobacco, I do miss that Old Holborn Yellow pack. I then tried one of those electronic cigarettes, and may I say that they taste awful. Finally I went onto the patches. I used a strong patch for two days and a weaker patch for two days. Like I said I don't intend being one of the Draconian ex-smokers as I do know how hard it is to quit, and it is oh so easy to start again.
Well done Neil and especially around me LOL and those that live here, you are quite right of course here in Bulgaria smoking is almost second nature
ReplyDeleteNot a problem for me hun, as like I said sometimes I do enjoy a bit of passive smoking :o)
DeleteThere are so many people, not only in Bulgaria, that are inconsiderate to others. Now that we are aware of the dangers of passive smoking it horrifies me to see people driving along in cars with children/babies puffing away! I have the greatest respect for a smoker that asks if I mind them smoking. Well done.
ReplyDeleteEven when both Net and I smoked if we had a non smoker in the house we would always ask them if they minded whether we smoked or not. We have always found that a little consideration goes a long way
Deletewell done ! I'm half-heartedly trying myself at the moment, after maybe 35 years on the roll-ups. Your story has helped. If you can do it...
ReplyDeleteJohn
Keep on slogging away at it John, I do know how difficult it is but if I can be of any help then just give me a shout
DeleteAH YES! Blue Liners. Three makes I believe.
ReplyDeleteGDS George Dobie and Sons.
S.Ltd....Sobranie (best!)
L.Ltd. Gallaghers,,,,
sorry..the last above should be G.Ltd....
ReplyDelete