Calling all smokers

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:22 am

This a thread for all the smokers on FG. (It would be interesting to know how many of us do smoke, but sorry, can't do polls.)

Non smokers are very welcome here too but please don't nag us and tell us how awful we are. We're not a bad bunch, really.

So this is the place to hear about your smoking habits, how you've been affected by the smoking ban, how many per day (yes, we all fib about that one!), which brand you prefer, cigarettes from years ago (remember Woodbines, without tips?). Amusing stories about smoking?

The floor is yours...just don't stub your ciggie out on it

Trunk Monkey · Post by **Trunk Monkey** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:27 am

Are you talking to me? :wah:

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:32 am

Trunk Monkey;921932 wrote: Are you talking to me? :wah:

Now there's one very laid back chimp :wah:

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:50 am

Sometimes, on a Sunday, when I was a little girl in the 50s, my dad would look up from his gardening and say, "Jac, run along to the cottage in the lane and ask the lady for 10 Park Drive Tipped." He would give me a two shilling piece (a 10p nowadays) and off I would skip, repeating 10 Park Drive Tipped, over and over, lest I forget.

Now I don't know why a little old lady in a farmhouse cottage was selling cigarettes. I wasn't that interested...but I'd arrive at the stable door, hand over the money (think there might have been change) and take the red and white pack (if memory serves me right, and it might well not) and make my way home, eating handfuls of bread and cheese (hawthorn leaves) from the bushes in the lane.

When I arrived home, my dad would eagerly take out a cigarette, light it with a Swan Vestas match and hold it in his mouth as he continued digging. It was amazing to see how long the ash would get before it fell off. He was a "master!"

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:09 pm

grecianurn;921953 wrote: Random facts about my smoking habits:

Just started to "roll my own", cannot roll for toffee but will persevere (for at least 2 days) having spent a fiver on the kit.

^ This is partly probably because just been abroad where a pack of 20 were about £2.00... too painful to pay full price. At the mo.

(It feels faintly shameful to talk about one's smoking, doesn't it?

)

Haven't been in a uk pub since the smoking ban, but no prob because don't like them much anyway (pubs).

When I was young and pretentious I smoked Gauloises and sometimes Balkan Sobranies. When I was even younger you could get 5 Park Drive from The Singing Kettle but I didn't smoke then, but boys I knew did.

I recently visited the smoking room at a European airport - it was like a vandal-proof bus shelter only bigger. (And more hermetically sealed!) Very insulting, I thought!

I just can't get used to rollies. I've tried...but no, I can't find a mild enough tobacco.

I used to smoke Consulate (menthol). I had a boyfriend in my teens who absolutely hated smoking. One day we were having a row in the street and he grabbed an unopened pack of Consulate from my pocket and stamped them into the pavement. I was telling a friend about this a couple of hours later and we both went back to Brook Street to see if we could find them and piece them together. But no, they were gone.

When I worked in a drop in centre in the 1990s, for ex offenders and homeless people, one of the members showed me how to roll a cigarette out of dog ends. I followed him round the tables while he cleared the ashtrays and then he set to work. Okay, so I declined his offer to try one but, goodness, he made about half a dozen just from ends! It was fascinating to watch.

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:12 pm

grecianurn;921964 wrote: I'd forgotten they were called Black Russians - even more exotic!

My mother used to love those! They were a special Birthday/Christmas treat. Then in later years she turned to cigars

G#Gill · Post by **G#Gill** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:19 pm

I roll my own, and have done for many years. It's much cheaper and I find I don't smoke so many by a long way, because I have to roll them first and that takes time, so if I'm busy I wait till I finish the job. The only time I roll several up in one go is if I am going out, and I have a cigarette case to put them in. I could not go back to 'tailor mades' now, because I find there is little taste in them. Also they have far more chemicals in them than the roll-ups ! I am a leper, by the way, well that is the way I feel I am treated by non-smokers !:-5

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:28 pm

grecianurn;921974 wrote: Something a little more lady-like than this, I presume!

Not really, Grecia, not really...

I've got to admit that even being a smoker I used to hate being in a room with her when she smoked them. She never drew heavily on them, just puffed it briefly in and then heavily out. You couldn't see across the room, especially if she was stressed and had about three, one after the other. When I left, my hair and clothes would smell like a pair of old sweaty socks

QUINNSCOMMENTARY · Post by **QUINNSCOMMENTARY** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:28 pm

My father smoked two or more packs a day, he even rolled his own at times, they cost $.25 a pack back then.

I never tried it and neither have any of my children, or thankfully any of their spouses.

I also got to watch him slowly die of emphysema and heart disease. I remember seeing him hardly able to take three steps and breath at the same time.

He finally stopped smoking when the doctor scared him (to death as it turned out) but it was already too late.

Let's hope it is not too late for all of you.

Try a little willpower and just give it up.:-5

Trunk Monkey · Post by **Trunk Monkey** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:29 pm

(OMG...I hope you all know I'm kidding here...*deep breath* and move on ) :wah:

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:33 pm

QUINNSCOMMENTARY;921985 wrote: My father smoked two or more packs a day, he even rolled his own at times, they cost $.25 a pack back then.

I never tried it and neither have any of my children, or thankfully any of their spouses.

I also got to watch him slowly die of emphysema and heart disease. I remember seeing him hardly able to take three steps and breath at the same time.

He finally stopped smoking when the doctor scared him (to death as it turned out) but it was already too late.

Let's hope it is not too late for all of you.

Try a little willpower and just give it up.:-5

I am really sorry to hear about your father, Quinn, that must have been so difficult for all of you to witness.

I too am glad that my children and their partners never took up the smoking habit.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:26 pm

Trunk Monkey;921986 wrote: (OMG...I hope you all know I'm kidding here...*deep breath* and move on ) :wah:

Sure you are PJ...

;)

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:28 pm

Been smoking for a long time, I've managed to quit a few times, but always come back. It depends on how stressed I am as to how much I smoke.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:49 pm

Yeah, I quit about 8 times. 4 when I was pregnant, now that was hard:wah: Started with menthol Kools, then Marlboro's. Currently smoke Marlboro Ultra Lights. Agree with Shel, stress can really make you pick one back up and that is the end.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:50 pm

And yes, I used to smoke the illegal stuff. Haven't done that in years, but I do admit I love the smell of it.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:56 pm

qsducks;922303 wrote: And yes, I used to smoke the illegal stuff. Haven't done that in years, but I do admit I love the smell of it.

Me too and it's been a long time, and yes, it still smells good.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:58 pm

My neighbor smokes it out back and I sit on the deck and talk with her and I just love that smell. OMG, I'm probably getting a contact high:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:11 pm

qsducks;922316 wrote: My neighbor smokes it out back and I sit on the deck and talk with her and I just love that smell. OMG, I'm probably getting a contact high:wah:

If I walk by somebody and I can smell it, it's hard not to follow them. :wah::wah:

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:14 pm

:wah::wah: How long did you smoke it for?

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:25 pm

qsducks;922342 wrote: :wah::wah: How long did you smoke it for?

Started at about 14, then on and off for years until I was about 35. :wah:

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:28 pm

Same here. Can't help it, just love the smell, but it's got too expensive, plus I have impressionable teens.:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:32 pm

qsducks;922370 wrote: Same here. Can't help it, just love the smell, but it's got too expensive, plus I have impressionable teens.:wah:

I had to stop because I got into some trouble...not like the cops or anything, but some personal stuff :yh_ooooo...then I smoked some really good stuff, smoked way too much, I was almost sick from it. But I still like the smell. :wah:

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:36 pm

You can smoke it and quit, but that smell is always so good:-4

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:39 pm

qsducks;922379 wrote: You can smoke it and quit, but that smell is always so good:-4

mmm...mmm...good! Better than soup! :wah::wah::wah:

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:41 pm

Smoke it first and then eat the entire pot of soup:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:47 pm

qsducks;922392 wrote: Smoke it first and then eat the entire pot of soup:wah:

MUNCHIES!!! :yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:50 pm

Have you ever had those brownies?:wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:02 pm

qsducks;922406 wrote: Have you ever had those brownies?:wah:

Never had those brownies...but I heard they're kinda funny! :wah::wah:

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:11 pm

Takes care of the MUNCHIES:wah:

scholle-kid · Post by **scholle-kid** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:21 am

qsducks;922406 wrote: Have you ever had those brownies?:wah:

The first time I had 'those brownies with some really good home made wine , I found out what :yh_giggle high really meant,,,

oh and just cuz ya'll brang up the age of begining 13 and age of stopping not completely (only when an old friend stops by once in a while,):D

and cigs yes about 1 to 1 1/2 packs a day started them when my brother and I stole a carton of PallMall from our step mother he was 6 and I was 5 years old. Our dad made us smoke a really huge, ugly, nasty cigar ,but it only made us like cigs better :wah:

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:07 pm

I recall my ex husband getting me to smoke some funny stuff, he told me it would be good and I'd loose all my inhibitions. Well, it made me feel ill and totally ruined his planned evening of seduction, I went to sleep on him :wah:.

Got rid of the ex husband and guess what, lost all of my inhibitions :wah::wah:

theia · Post by **theia** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:11 pm

Betty Boop;923037 wrote: I recall my ex husband getting me to smoke some funny stuff, he told me it would be good and I'd loose all my inhibitions. Well, it made me feel ill and totally ruined his planned evening of seduction, I went to sleep on him :wah:.

Got rid of the ex husband and guess what, lost all of my inhibitions :wah::wah:

:wah:

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:14 pm

woo hoo a smoking room:D I have smoked rolies for years,, cant afford proper cigs,, but i much prefer them now, i dont mind the ban when it concerns a restaurant or a pub ,, anywhere indoors really cos i can understand the thinking behind it ,,, what gets me is when there is a ban outside!!!!! like in hospital ground,, you have to walk half a mile to get out the gates ,,, whats the thiking about banning it outdoors??? its just stupid red tape:-5

Bruv · Post by **Bruv** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:32 pm

I have smoked for too many years.

Started with Gold Leaf, Senior Service and ended with Players.

I am now smoking Old Holborn roll ups.

I remember going into a Pub and asking for a pint and half an ounce and was embarrassed when they said the 50 pence I offered was not enough, it was just after a budget rise......strange what we recall isn't it ?

I also remember certain smoke breaks, one was while working in the City of London, a wino day worker in the restuarant , gave me a roll up because I had none.

It nearly blew my head off, he told me he rolled them and left them to dry to increase their power.

Another 'borrowed' from a Pole who mixed his own from pipe and hand rolling tobacco, a really nice smoke.

I had given up completely for over a year.....but weakened.... and I am now waiting for the right time to quit again.

theia · Post by **theia** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:32 pm

kazalala;923063 wrote: woo hoo a smoking room:D I have smoked rolies for years,, cant afford proper cigs,, but i much prefer them now, i dont mind the ban when it concerns a restaurant or a pub ,, anywhere indoors really cos i can understand the thinking behind it ,,, what gets me is when there is a ban outside!!!!! like in hospital ground,, you have to walk half a mile to get out the gates ,,, whats the thiking about banning it outdoors??? its just stupid red tape:-5

It seems even further in our local hospital. I get half an hour at lunchtime and spend half of that walking to and fro the boundaries of the grounds!

Does anyone remember when you could save up tokens from packs of cigarettes and then exchange them for gifts from the catalogue?

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:36 pm

theia;923097 wrote: It seems even further in our local hospital. I get half an hour at lunchtime and spend half of that walking to and fro the boundaries of the grounds!

Does anyone remember when you could save up tokens from packs of cigarettes and then exchange them for gifts from the catalogue?

Oh ye my mam used to save them ,,, :wah: why cant we smoke outside though ,, what is their reasoning behind it?:-3

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:42 pm

Jester;923103 wrote: May I make one plea to you smokers...

Pick up yer butts... I can stand to walk around a smoker on the sidewalk, that dont bother me much... but It really bugs me to see hundreds of spent butts all over the place around an outdoor ashtray...

I know the non smokers didnt put them there.

Thank you.

Anything for you Jester :-4:D

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:51 pm

I always pick my butt up;):D

theia · Post by **theia** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:16 pm

kazalala;923100 wrote: Oh ye my mam used to save them ,,, :wah: why cant we smoke outside though ,, what is their reasoning behind it?:-3

I don't really know, Kaz. Some patients and visitors do smoke in the grounds, but staff would face disciplinary action if they broke the rules. We all moan though!

Post by **Betty Boop** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 1:19 pm

kazalala;923111 wrote: I always pick my butt up;):D

Glad to hear it luv, don't want to see your butt all over town :wah::wah:

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:25 am

Betty Boop;923151 wrote: Glad to hear it luv, don't want to see your butt all over town :wah::wah:

why not:-3 i have a very nice butt:sneaky::D

theia · Post by **theia** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:38 am

grecianurn;924100 wrote: Back to factory cigs, moi - baggy ole rollies (made by own fair cack-handed hand, couldn't find Dad's old "machine") too ... disgusting

Welcome back :-6 :wah:

That's such a shame about your Dad's machine :-1