i am 44, smoked regular since i was 14 – more recent years 25+ per day. have, like so many others, tried everything from prescription meds, usual NRTs right through hypno and acupuncture. to be honest nothing worked as i could never replace the thing that was missing – the ‘feeling’ of smoking. recently i travelled to the US. had read about e-cigs previously and at LA airport found a cheap disposable for sale on the counter of an airport store. paid my $7 (i think) and took it on a flight from LA to UK. spent the weekend in UK and used it continually. smoked an occasional ciggie, but literally only a couple a day and by the end of the weekend realised that i actually preferred the e-cig. got the the airport at heathrow to fly home to Australia and the thing ran out. asked around at the airport and found out that Boots The Chemist (a major uk chain) had just got them in (‘Puritane’, made by one of the big baccy companies in a joint venture with Boots). bought a rechargeable and half a dozen carts (so bloody expensive!) and i was good for the journey and a week or so after i returned. got home and instantly went shopping (well booted the PC anyways – that’s as much shopping as i like). 10 days later my first proper gear arrives – flavours and all. man – i was (and am) hooked on being an ex. smoker. just ordered my third hardware setup and some liquids from and i can see myself turning into a real hobbyist. missus thinks i am bonkers and right now i probably haven’t saved a penny with all the gear i bought, but in the long run this will certainly be a helluva lot cheaper – that i know and besides – I have saved my life from the threat of smoking. In Australia, I am not able to purchase eliquid with nicotine or nicotine in the country – I have to import it. that’s not a major problem until it is outlawed, which seems ridiculous as I am perfectly able to buy tobacco. in some states they are even starting to make owning or possessing nicotine or the sale of any PV or e-cig gear illegal – in the state I live in (it varies state to state here too), I am currently ok. for any sceptics: trust me, i was one of you but you really have to try this! virtually overnight i moved from a 25+ a day habit to being a non-smoker. i feel healthier, more relaxed, happier and wake up with a clear head and no cough – EVER ! my missus even kissed me the other day and commented that i smelt and tasted of apples and i never eat them (but after an apple hookah in Bali, its a taste i love and have transported to my vaping). i really can’t put into words how this has happened – especially in light of all my previous failures and attempts – it just has and from what i can tell, i am not alone. smoker and sceptical? – please, spend $60 and just give it a go – you won’t regret it. thanks again to everyone who has supported me on my journey so far, and to the wider community and to companies that continue to support us by shipping internationally – if enough support is fostered for vaping, one day the damn governments of the world may get with the 21st century and onto the program. my fear is that unless we stand up for our rights to an alternative harm reduction option, too many of us will be forced to resume smoking tobacco as our only viable alternative. don’t let this happen – we have the power to make change. cheers guys – peace and love.