Tonight, I begin my trial of the Electronic Cigarette. To be honest, this is not really in an effort to give up smoking, more to reduce the cost of it. I have bought the cartridges that screw on to the battery, and the whole thing looks uncannily like a real cigarette, though slightly larger, and a good deal heavier. When inhaled, water passes through the nicotine cartridge, and the end of the cigarette glows, as if alight. The water vapour that is emitted, is completely smoke-free, and harmless to the atmosphere and surroundings, though the nicotine inhaled gives me the impression that I have smoked a cigarette, and eliminates the craving. That is the general idea, anyway. A quick trial has shown that it is just like smoking, except there is no burning, no tar, and no smoke left in the room, or on clothes.
In theory, these are legal to smoke in places where smoking is otherwise banned, such as restaurants, theatres, and offices. However, the impression of a ‘real’ cigarette is so strong, I believe that you would be constantly explaining yourself, making it too much trouble. The cost reduction is significant, working out at a quarter of the price of an equivalent packet of cigarettes, so the annual saving is measured in thousands of pounds. If it all works, I will at least be better off financially, and the reduction in the intake of tar, carbon monoxide, and hundreds of other chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes, must surely be healthier.
I now have to say goodbye to my wonderful collection of lighters and ashtrays, accumulated over the last 44 years of smoking. No more filling up my Zippos, lovingly replacing the flints and wicks. I will have to clean them all up, then add them to my collection of nice things to be admired. I have a few real cigarettes left, in what may turn out to be my last ever packet of Marlboro Lights, then it is a big hello to the age of electronic smoking.
I will let you know what happens.
beetleypete 
It seems you must do a follow up on the post “that just one person liked”! I am quite curious! x Michele Oh! so enjoyed the interview. x again-Michele
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Glad you enjoyed the interview, Michele.
I never went back to cigarettes, and have not had one since witing that post. I later bought a vaping device, which I still use most days. Much safer, and cheaper, than cigarettes.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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well good for you! And I found that post quite “likable”.
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I didn’t know much about vaping, Pete, so this was interesting for me. I did try to smoke for a while when I first left school, but I am very allergic so it never worked out well for me which is probably a good thing as I didn’t have much trouble stopping.
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It was one of the best decisions you ever made, Robbie. No doubt about that.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I knew you used a vape, but never realised it all happened back in your early bogging days. I’m about 8 years without a cigarette now, the kids coming along was the thing that swung it for me, but I never thought abut vaping.
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Vaping was the solution for both me and Julie. Dirt cheap, and the same feeling of smoking with around 90% less risk. I haven’t had a real cigarette since the late summer of 2012. If I had been rich, I doubt I would have given up, but I couldn’t afford £96 a week at the time to carry on smoking Lucky Strikes! 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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96 quid, that’s scary!
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God knows what they cost now, but after paying almost £400 a month out of my pension for three months, I knew I had to find an alternative, or go broke.
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Do you still use e-cigs then Pete? I stopped in 2004, though I did have one cigarette in 2006 when I went to my ex’s funeral. I have never used an alternative. Just willpower. Must admit there are times when I still miss smoking (after a meal) but I can’t stand the smell of them now.
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I haven’t had a real cigarette since 2012. But I now use a Vape device the size of a large fountain pen, with a peppermint-flavoured liquid. It is very cheap to use, and although still potentially harmful, (Popcorn lung) it is 95% safer than tobacco.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Popcorn lung doesn’t sound very nice.
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https://www.lung.org/blog/popcorn-lung-risk-ecigs
The company where we buy our liquid claims it does not use the most dangerous chemical featured in this article. It is not listed on the ingredients, but either way it is statistically safer than smoking real cigarettes. x
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Working in a hospital and in Respiratory in particular, I hear doctors talking about an increase in patients with ‘Popcorn Lung’ due to the moisture in their lungs caused from vaping. In fact, vaping is just as bad as cigarette smoking unfortunately. Lecture over, lol.
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I have heard about popcorn lung. But both the British Heart Foundation and Cancer UK are generally in favour of vaping replacing smoking tobacco. At my age, and after 40+ years of smoking real cigarettes until 2012, I won’t blame anyone but myself if that history catches up with me, Stevie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ah, fair enough then.
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Good for you, Pete. Healthy living never hurts. And for a change, it isn’t expensive too. 😁 Did it work out for you?
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I still use a vape device, but I haven’t had a ‘real’ cigarette since the summer of 2012. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow! Glad it worked out so well for you.
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