A month ago, I’d never even heard the term “vaping”, although I had heard of e-Cigarettes and had been curious for a while.
A month ago, I was in a bit of a rut, realising that I had to stop smoking cigarettes for all the usual reasons, but knowing that I actually liked to smoke. Each time I had to find an excuse to sneak away from the kids, or from my desk to have a crafty fag, I felt guilty and was starting to become quite frustrated and angry about it all. I’d made promises to everyone that I would “give up” after a health scare early in 2010, and though nobody said it, I knew that my family were disappointed in me for not even really “trying”.
A month ago, I was shopping in a local city centre shopping mall, and there was a stall selling e-Cigarettes. I very nearly walked straight past. But I was curious, and decided to go and talk to the guy manning the stall that was selling E-Lites starter kits. Ever the sceptic, I interrogated the poor bloke for a good 10 minutes, and he comfortably answered all of my questions and challenges, all of which he’d heard countless times before no doubt.
I left the stall with the cheapest starter kit they did, and distinctly remember saying to my partner as we walked away “well it’s only 25 quid, if it doesn’t work out, no great loss”. I sat in Nando’s in Derby that Saturday evening playing with my new toy and started to realise that actually, this just might work for me. During the following few days, I started to suffer the shortcomings of the fag “look-a-like” e-cig that most reading this will know all about. I’d ordered a spare battery and atomiser, had an atomiser die on me already and was learning that a cartridge doesn’t really give you “the equivalent of 12 cigarettes”, and I realised that I needed something a bit better and was determined not to buy another packet of fags. It was too inconvenient to be viable. I still haven’t bought any more cigarettes, (although I did smoke a couple that were left in the car whilst waiting for a replacement atomiser to arrive from E-Lites).
So, I started to research internet forums and reviews, eventually stumbling across www.ukvapers.com, where I received advice and understanding from people who knew exactly where I was at. Very quickly, I purchased the Riva starter kit, and despite some battery / charger problems I haven’t regretted it once.
Now, a month on, I’m building my “kit”, with a Screwdriver, Drip Tips, Low Resistance Cartomisers and mixing my own e-Liquid, it feels like I’ve been doing this for ever, and I can’t remember cigarettes at all. In fact, I was talking with a smoking colleague last week, and thought to myself “Christ, did I smell like that for all of those years”?
I’m on the hunt for a quality 6v mod now, and am really enjoying my new hobby, which is what this is – it’s a hobby that satisfies my cravings for nicotine and gadgets. It could have been invented just for me!
I have a couple of blogs, and am famously indisciplined when it comes to updating regularly, but I shall try to use this one as a diary of my vaping jourmey, so I can reflect in the months to come. If anyone else reads it, that would be a huge bonus
