1 Year

Today is the 11th of August

Which means at 10 30am

This time 

Exactly one year ago

I smoked my last cigarette

So today is my one year anniversary!

I'm very excited to have reached this milestone 

I was a dedicated smoker for 20 years

I started smoking when I was 13 years old

I was a 30 a day girl

And was spending €100 a week on my precious cigarettes 

Which was more than half of my weekly income 

I was constantly broke when I smoked 

So it's nice now to have a little bit extra money

I know I've written it before 

But let me tell you the story of how I gave up

It was last July

My uncle had brought me home two cartons of cigarettes from Turkey 

I had been thinking about giving up

So I decided I would smoke what I had

And then give up

I timed it so that I would be away in London when I gave up

As I thought it might be a bit easier away from home

So I smoked my way through the two cartons 

I smoked my head off

And enjoyed every one 

All too soon 

I found myself with one cigarette

I saved it until I really really craved it

It was 11 August 

At 10 30am

I went out to the garden with my cigarette and my book

Made a cup of tea

Settled on the bench 

And smoked my last cigarette

I relished it 

Thoroughly enjoyed it

I knew it was my last one

So I took a last drag

Extinguished it

And said my goodbyes 

I had no expectations on how long I would stay off them 

I just took it day by day 

But now 

Here I am a whole year later

And it feels great!

To celebrate

My sister is cooking my favourite dinner 

Which is boeuf bourguignon

So I'm really looking forward to that

My mum and sister left a card and a coaster for me by the kettle this morning

How thoughtful of them

You can see the photos below

Today is a good day 

A day to mark achievements 

I never thought I would be able to give up smoking

But it just goes to show 

That of you put your mind to something 

It can happen 

It really can