Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

EssexHebridean

I’m one of those seemingly rare individuals who has literally never smoked at all - not even a puff to see what it’s like. My Dad smoked until I was 3, then suddenly realised (as he told it) how ludicrous setting light to this little tube of vegetation and inhaling the smoke really was - and that was his attitude from then on - that it was a ridiculous thing to do. Partly as a result of that, I think, I just never saw any attraction in it at all! 

foxgloves

@EssexHebridean - Same here, really. I was so good at rolling them, that I think I went through a momentary thing of 'Shame I don't actually smoke them!' but having tried it, I just couldn't see any attraction at all, hated the ash-tray taste in my mouth & was also very much aware of losing my Grandad (a life-long smoker) to lung cancer. I was quite spendy enough back in the day without having a cigarette habit to finance as well. Walnut whips much more affordable.
F 

Sun_Addict

I’ve never had so much as a puff of a cigarette either despite all my friends, both parents and my legion of ex boyfriends all smoking. I may have done a lot of passive smoking though 😞

Pleased to hear Soot and Ash are back and Soot hasn’t forgotten how to pester for treats 😆

ladyholly

I have never smoked either except a couple of puffs when I was little that my dad gave me to put me off. It worked but I think the bigger deterrent was my mum being diagnosed with a pre cancerous condition of the larynx when I was about 13. I have however lived with smokers all my life so my lungs are probably not good. I must admit while I would prefer to live in a smoke free home I am so pickled it doesn't worry me too much.

PennysIntoPounds

Interestingly there are a fair few conditions that smoking can help ease as it dampens the immune response, but yes population-wide best not to

Smiling at Mr F and Soots' conversation, glad you're all back and settled 

weenancyinAmerica

Sounds like our cats. Want supper over 2 hours before it is scheduled. Complain loudly, especially the feral cat who lives outside. He has been trying to come to the back door first, eating, then going to the front door trying to convince us he is a different cat waiting to be fed. Unfortunately for him, he has very distinctive markings so we know better!

I never smoked. I figured out how many books I could buy with the money and it wasn't worth it. I lost my best friend in 2005 to lung cancer. She had never smoked but her father had smoked all of her life. She also spent a lot of time waiting for buses in Los Angeles, California, and her brother decided that the car and bus fumes helped to kill her. 

marionmgcars

I grew up in a home where M&D smoked until later life.  My father and mother both died of cancer.  Luckily I did not smoke.  I decided that I would much rather have my own car, and could not have afforded both.  My car is still my luxury to this day.  Spending most of my days in Scotland, means I don’t drink much alcohol with the zero tolerance for drinking and driving here.  

Blackcats

Glad you had a lovely birthday and enjoyed your holiday.
I was amused by the comment that being 60 is only 50 plus VAT.  As I've just turned 60 too I inadvertently made a good choice for our holiday - a VAT free island 😁. 

Interesting to read he smoking discussion - as a 17/18 year old I bought a packet of sobranie cocktail cigarettes - very pretty colours and I thought they were very elegant.  I used to hold them in what I hoped was a sophisticated way but never actually smoked them.   Didn't ever feel the need to bother with anything smoking related after that.

WinterWarrior

I have never smoked either and came from a smoke free home. As an asthmatic child it was hammered into me that a single puff would kill me, so I never felt the urge to join in with friends. I did go on to have a chain smoking (ex)husband though, so probably inhaled an awful lot and wasted so much money trying to prop up his habit, I was young and easily bullied 😖. I find it fascinating that the lungs can repair themselves over time if a smoker quits. 

I really want a walnut whip now! 😁

foxgloves

Hello diary readers,
Enjoyed reading your stories about smoking....or rather not smoking!
@weenancyinAmerica - I did smile about your feral cat friend trying another door in the hope you'd think he was a different (unfed) cat!

Well a pleasant Sunday here. I did get those seeds sown last night after chatting to you - 2 types of courgettes + trombacino, Guatemalan blue squashes & a couple of pumpkins - also sowed a tray of tuscan kale seed.
Today has pretty much been carrying on with that. Sowed the beans, stood all the outdoor tomatoes outside to start hardening off, watered all the veg, found space for a spare aubergine & pepper plant & potted up 3 little cuttings I took while we were on holiday. 
Sorted out a selection of bedding plants which are now both hardened off & big enough to be planted out around our front courtyard. That will be tomorrow's job.
Mr F weeded the shallots & garlic, hoed the potato bed & mowed a path up the lawn for access as we are doing 'No-mow May' again.
I have divided up the leftover Indian spiced chicken leftovers & there was sufficient for eating cold with salad, coleslaw & home made jacket wedges tonight & some spicy chicken & bean wraps tomorrow. There was also leftover garlic rice, dhal & chilli greens so that was split between 2 freezer containers with a portion of chopped chicken added to make a couple of nice 'free' work lunches for Mr F.
Apart from that, I've been quite leisurely. Have been reading the weekend papers, including doing the word wheel puzzle. The Saturday Guardian has started an entry level cryptic crossword which I am enjoying using to learn how cryptic clues work. I got quite a few today & then looked 2 or 3 up so I could see how they work. Have also been looking through my preserving books as the rhubarb is in need of serious curtailment & have got that cardi sleeve out to knit later.
Not quite a no-spend day as we did buy bread & went halves on an 'Observer', & Mr F saved £15 by shaving his head. That's about it for today. I am deliberately ignoring a large pile of ironing & feeling the better for it!
F x