Some Rules Are Too Rigid

[Bealman]

OK..... another Viz reader. 

My son-in-law gets me a subscription for Christmas. Too easy! 

[dannyboy]

For @Arrachogaidh and any one interested in the vaping and Covid subject, the following may be of interest -

If you smoke, you generally have an increased risk of contracting respiratory infection and of more severe symptoms once infected. Coronavirus symptoms may therefore be more severe if you smoke.
Stopping smoking will bring immediate benefits to your health, including if you have an existing smoking-related disease. This is particularly important for both you and for our NHS at a time of intense pressure on the health service.
E-cigarettes (vapes) can be an effective aid to stopping smoking and staying smokefree.
It is currently unknown what effect vaping may have on susceptibility to severe disease if you are infected with coronavirus.
For most people vaping remains significantly less harmful than smoking and it is very important that you avoid returning to smoking.

N.B. The underlining is my doing.

The above was taken from https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/coronavirus-covid-19-smoking

There are plenty of articles relating to vaping and Covid-19 on the web, most of them went over my head due to the medical jargon, but it appears that some of the problem is due to the number of times vapers raise their hands to their face - I did that as a smoker 

And on a positive note, my cigarette consumption over the last seven days was five a day - except yesterday - I only smoked four! 

[Railwaygun]

I think my mate Rob has a bad case of the vapers
(Not an attack of the vapers - that's a female affliction only it seems)

attack of the vapours ?

[Trainfish]

I think my mate Rob has a bad case of the vapers
(Not an attack of the vapers - that's a female affliction only it seems)

attack of the vapours ?

As long as he doesn't start turning Japanese we'll be ok.

Back on the subject of vaping, I've been vaping now for 6.5 years (2397 days to be precise) and I know that as far as my lungs, throat, energy etc go I am a lot fitter than I was 2398 days ago. Ok so I'm not a marathon runner yet but you never know. You keep at it David and remember, you'll never be an ex-smoker as you will often have the urge but do what you can. When the pubs were open before COVID I smoked on average 2 cigarettes per week simply because my mate who I went out with on a Saturday night smokes and sometimes it's 'almost' impossible to resist. There were some Saturday nights when I didn't have any cigarettes, others I had 3, hence the average of 2 per week. He comes round here every fortnight now so I guess my average will now be 1 per week. I think you'll find that you breathe in more toxins walking down the High Street than averaging 1 cigarette per week.
If you ever need advice on where to buy etc just let me know. I have a very good supplier and they are also very good at advising.

By the way, I have keep a spreadsheet of what I spend on vaping and I have saved myself just over £20,000 compared to when I smoked. Just think how many locomotives you can buy with that! Have you seen my collection?

Keep up the good work and ignore anyone who has never smoked and seems to think it's easy to stop. They haven't got a clue what they're talking about 

[dannyboy]

@Trainfish  Thanks for the above John. As I like playing with MS Excel, I may well copy the spreadsheet idea  . Louisa bought me ten packets of my cigarettes thirteen days ago - i still have six unopened packets and a nearly full one, so I am pleased with how it is going and that is not taking into account the money saved. There is one slight snag though - Louisa usually buys the cigarettes on a Friday, so it is Louisa who is saving the money - will have to think about that. 

[themadhippy]

and ignore anyone who has never smoked and seems to think it's easy to stop.

Rubbish,as a smoker i can honestly say stopping smoking is very easy,ive done it several times.

[Newportnobby]

But if your ciggie consumption is now 5 a day and you have nearly 7 full packets (let's call that 27 days worth), why did Louisa buy another ten packets 13 days ago. I'm sorry, but I think a stack of ciggies in a cupboard is not really a good incentive to cut down further/stop.
(or are they packets of 10? I don't even know if they are still available)

[themadhippy]

(or are they packets of 10? I don't even know if they are still available)

not since 2017,same with rolling tobaco,smallest amount allowable is 30g.All to try and make it less attractive/affordable for youngsters,All theyve achieved is people skimping on other things to afford a pack of 20 instead of the usual 10,or 30g of baccy instead of 12.5g,and surprise surprise the 20 fags or 30g of baccy  tend to go quicker than if your buying smaller amounts.

[dannyboy]

But if your ciggie consumption is now 5 a day and you have nearly 7 full packets (let's call that 27 days worth), why did Louisa buy another ten packets 13 days ago. I'm sorry, but I think a stack of ciggies in a cupboard is not really a good incentive to cut down further/stop.

Louisa bought the ten packets on Friday 7th August, cos I had none left. Off those ten packets, I have six unopened and another eleven in the seventh packet. So I have smoked 69 ciggies, which is, (starting Saturday 9th), 5.3 per day. As I have previously said, I am quite pleased with myself, especially as prior to getting the first e-cigarette, on 1st August(?), I was smoking a minimum of 20 'ordinary' cigarettes a day.   . As regards having a stack of cigarettes in the house, I am coping with the assistance of my mate Will and, to be honest, even though Louisa smokes, I am not really finding it difficult, especially as I have been smoking for more than 50 years and anyway, it is easier to put an e-cig in my mouth and press a button, than it is to take a cigarette out of the packet, pick up the lighter, and then make it give me a flame  ..... and then have a quick cough. 

[Mr Sprue]

"you'll never be an ex-smoker as you will often have the urge but do what you can. When the pubs were open before"

"Keep up the good work and ignore anyone who has never smoked and seems to think it's easy to stop. They haven't got a clue what they're talking about 

Sorry but I have to strongly disagree with what you have said there, okay the first 3 months can be really nail biting and you can have some strong urges for up to around a year. I haven't touched one or had an urge now for over twenty years or so, I even actually don't really care if someone smokes near me providing I'm not inhaling their second hand smoke.

What smokers cant see on their side of the fence is actually how good life becomes when you are free of the addiction, there are so many benefits to appreciate and benefit from once you finally make it to the other side!

FWIW if its any consolation to all you smokers, it does become easy in fact an absolute doddle, if you really want to 100% stop you can. It may take a few failed attempts to get there but it will be worth it. As for Vapes personally I think they are a bad thing, as people are still replicating the habit.

As for patches they are crap plus you get itchy arms where the patch was applied and an overdose of nicotine....not good! If it helps anyone Nicotinell gum worked for me as Nicorette was bitter and tasted absolutely foul. 

I would wholeheartedly support anyone trying to kick the habit and I know it can be frustrating experiencing so much anxiety, but with hand on heart I can honestly say I have been 100% urge free of the habit for over twenty years, so don't give up on giving up!

[dannyboy]

My original intention when I started this topic was just to let people know that I was quite pleased with myself and why. I appreciate that among the readership, there will be smokers, non smokers, those who are trying to give it up and those who have given it up. There are some who have given up who found it easy and others who still struggle. I did try last year with a different type of e-cig, but could not get on with it. The type I am using now, which is probably the cheapest you can get, ( ), seems to be suiting me. There is no right nor wrong way, as I have said before on the forum, we are all different, that is what makes life so interesting.

Actually, thinking about it, I started this topic to complain about having to be age verified to buy an e-cig holder. The original e-cig post was in the 'Happy Thread' I think. Oh well.

[Mr Sprue]

@dannyboy

Sorry I guess I did a bit of a soap box thingy, but it does annoy me a little when there is a defeatist attitude that the habit cant be kicked.....

Dave   

[OffshoreAlan]

@dannyboy

. . . . .. it does annoy me a little when there is a defeatist attitude that the habit can't be kicked.....

Dave

Me too. 36 years now since I had a fag. More than 35 years since craving totally disappeared to be replaced by anathema 

[dannyboy]

@Mr Sprue

Quite alright Dave - as I said we are all different. I asked a former colleague who had stopped smoking a few years earlier if he missed smoking. His reply was to the effect that he could have smoked one there and then!

[Newportnobby]

But if your ciggie consumption is now 5 a day and you have nearly 7 full packets (let's call that 27 days worth), why did Louisa buy another ten packets 13 days ago. I'm sorry, but I think a stack of ciggies in a cupboard is not really a good incentive to cut down further/stop.

Louisa bought the ten packets on Friday 7th August, cos I had none left. Off those ten packets, I have six unopened and another eleven in the seventh packet. So I have smoked 69 ciggies, which is, (starting Saturday 9th), 5.3 per day.

Ah, sorry I misunderstood. I read Louisa had bought 10 packets when you still had nearly 7 left.
On the whole I support anything that helps kick the habit although am still concerned no one knows what effects vaping may have. I tried everything. In the worst case patches caused itching, weird dreams and a bad case of the Chalfonts, which was a shock I bought an e cig but it made me cough more than ciggies did. I think having a heart op was a drastic stopping scheme but, by heck, it worked.
@Mr Sprue Having kicked the habit affects folk in different ways. 4½ years on I could still murder for a smoke, especially as I watch a lot of old cop shows where they've constantly got one on the go (Sweeney, George Gently etc). My mother stopped 20 years ago and she also wants one now and then.