Bad memories

[Cbdave]

G’day 

 

 

G’day 

Yep had a smoker stay over. He and his $64 a packer of 40 got banished to the back verandah. Had to open a tin of beans for him to put his butts in. I must be super sensitive but that ashtray I could smell it at 3 paces and it was far from pretty. Used to like cig smoke when someone first lite up but not anymore. I think we all used to slipstream when we all first gave up but not now I’m pleased to say I can’t stand it. Chokes me up close and it catches my breath. Haven’t felt like that since I was a little kid. How did I ever start smoking? 
regards Chris

 

[QuittingGirl]

Hi Chris,

 

So your friend spends $64 on a pack of cigarettes or is that for a carton? Because $64 for a pack is insane.  Here in NY they get about $15 a pack.  I'm a newbie non smoker although this is my second time quitting and my last.  The first time I was quit for 6 years and smelling it never really bothered me, although I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either.  I guess I was indifferent to it, and that's how I am now after 3 months.  I don't think I would like to be in a room full of smokers but just to smell it on occasion it doesn't bother me.  Maybe in the long run I will change.  I am looking forward to the day when I am quit as long as you!!

 

Ohh, btw, that tin can/ashtray does look gross!!

Edited August 31, 2023 by QuittingGirl

[Cbdave]

G’day 

Thats Australian $64.00 a packet of 40. So 20 is $34.00 or $1.70 each. I’ve been free for near 8 years now. Couldn’t afford it now.
I’ve not had anything to do with smoking for so long it’s actually a bit of a shock to have a smoker in my house. Apart from one other person I don’t know any smokers now. 

Having a smoker in the house is an eye opener. Hearing that back screen door  open ever hour or two so they could feed that craving is amazing. I’m so glad they have been here. I’m so conscious now how free I am from those constant   need to smoke to stop those cravings hour by hour day by day. 
They were a guest and of course I know better than to preach to a smoker. They get defensive pretty fast and off course they defend themselves. 
I was of course asked if I still craved cigs. Pretty easy to answer that. 
Simple and direct No… with drawls craves … long gone… I’m free from all that. And left it at that…..

[Reciprocity]

Well said @Cbdave! 

 

Shocks me that there's still any smokers left in Australia with the exorbitant cost of cigs you have there. Highest in the world I believe.

 

I feel the same way. The smell of stale smoke or cigarette butts is just gross to me now. When I smoked, I couldn't even smell all that stuff at all.

What struck me as oh so true was what you said about how your guest acted going out back to smoke every once in awhile. I haven't thought about the control nicotine addiction had over me in quite awhile but yeah, what you saw in your guest is a stark reminded of the senselessness of it all.

 

Nice reminder of the freedom we've all found!

[Gus]

I stayed with my youngest brother after he had surgery last week. As soon as he could grab his cigarettes he was back out the door smoking when he got home because his transport didn’t allow smoking in their vehicle. He was on crutches mind you. Up and down, in and out. By the next day when the surgical meds were out of his system and he was hurting, he was smoking in his bathroom with the vent running. Up and down, back and forth. Still on crutches. The following day when he was really hurting and couldn’t or didn’t want to understand why, he was smoking in his bed because his leg was bothering him so bad he could barely move it. When he finished a cigarette he would just drop it in a plastic cup he had left some water in. Talk about stinking?! I absolutely refused to have anything to do with that cup. He had never smoked indoors because he just didn’t like the odor in the house and then he had kids too. So it was sad to see just what the nicotine cravings reduced him to but I was also so very thankful that I am so over nicotine. I’ll never go back to being a nicotine junkie. I can’t. He asked me to go to the store and buy him a couple of packs of cigarettes before I went home on the last day and it was $16 and some change for them. I was in shock. I honestly could not afford to smoke now. I’m in Georgia. 

[Reciprocity]

It's interesting to have a personal perspective on both sides of nicotine addiction, isn't it @Gus

 

Interesting yet frustrating when a friend or relative is involved and still smoking because as we all know, you can set a great example for a smoker by quitting and showing them it's possible but they need to make that commitment to quit on their own terms. Preaching the quit just alienates them!

 

[Gus]

56 minutes ago, Reciprocity said:

Preaching the quit just alienates them!

So true! I only reminded him that he has quit once before so we know that he can do it again if he wanted. 

[QuittingGirl]

16 hours ago, Cbdave said:

G’day 

Thats Australian $64.00 a packet of 40. So 20 is $34.00 or $1.70 each. I’ve been free for near 8 years now. Couldn’t afford it now.
I’ve not had anything to do with smoking for so long it’s actually a bit of a shock to have a smoker in my house. Apart from one other person I don’t know any smokers now. 

Having a smoker in the house is an eye opener. Hearing that back screen door  open ever hour or two so they could feed that craving is amazing. I’m so glad they have been here. I’m so conscious now how free I am from those constant   need to smoke to stop those cravings hour by hour day by day. 
They were a guest and of course I know better than to preach to a smoker. They get defensive pretty fast and off course they defend themselves. 
I was of course asked if I still craved cigs. Pretty easy to answer that. 
Simple and direct No… with drawls craves … long gone… I’m free from all that. And left it at that…..

Wow that's still a lot.  In US$ for the 20 cig pack the conversion for A$ to US$ is $22.   Way too much.  I was getting my cigarettes from overseas not paying any tax and it they cost me about $34 for a carton which contains 10 packs, so it was very cheap.  But then they had a problem with the shipping and the cigarettes weren't coming, so I decided to quit because even at $15 a pack here in NY, that is way too expensive for me.  I still get cravings every once in a while since it's only been 3 months for me, but they definitely aren't as bad as that first month.

[Doreensfree]

Australia is leading the way foward 

How anyone can afford to smoke there is beyond me ..

I have a Neighbour who smokes ,

Listening to him sit on the step hacking up his lungs us the most horrible sound .

I know hand on heart i will never ever take another puff ..

Nevef had a smoking quest ,so i carnt comment ..

I know i tried for many years to get my beloved friend to quit with me 

No such luck ..she told me to 

Stick Allen Carr up my Arse ..as you can imagine i gave up trying 

She has been passed away 5 years 

Died with Pancreatic Cancer due to smoking ..

Never ever take another puff !!

 

[tocevoD]

When you pack in and stand back you realise how utterly selfish it all is. We have all been there. They feel like they should be allowed to smoke anywhere. As I say, we have been on that side aswell. You only see that perspective knowingly when you pack in. Such a selfish act being a smoker.