Hartley Neita

I started smoking cigarettes during my late teenage years. At first, smoking was a social pastime. Then I was soon enjoying a daily habit of puffing immediately after eating breakfast, intermittently during the day until just before going to bed at nights.

I smoked Four Aces, Gold Flake, Royal Blend, Craven A, Lucky Strike, Chesterfield, Woodbine, Rothman's, Benson and Hedges, and other brands too numerous to mention.

I stopped about 15 or more years ago. I do not know why. I just stopped. During those years, I puffed over 300,000 cigarettes, inhaled 1,000,000lb of smoke and ingested 20,000lb of brown nicotine mud; and the tubes in my lungs and my tongue were lined with square inches of tobacco tar.

I did not own any shares in Carreras or Machado's but made the directors pounds and dollars rich. They were also first-name friends with the presidents of international banks while I did not know the names of the tellers.

I was enjoying a false status. I recall an official dinner at King's House and at the end hearing the governor's invitation: "Gentlemen you may now smoke!"

puffed cigars

The ladies left with the governor's lady to powder their noses and titter and tatter, while the men puffed cigars and discussed the state of the little island.

I also recall visiting the home of an early lady love and being joined by her father - 'for a brief while', he said - and then proceeded to quiz me on my intentions. It was only when I offered him a cigarette and he took it and we puffed together for a while that he realised I had made him my equal.

He left us shortly after.

Over the years, I acquired numerous cigarette lighters. Some were bought, others came as Christmas gifts. Every table in my home had an ashtray.

I remember my daily first pleasure was the joy of a smoke after my morning cup of Blue Mountain coffee - with condensed milk, if you please.

smoke after love

Before sleep at nights, there was the sign-off of another cigarette. Even more satisfying was the smoke after love.

I did not know then how awful was the smell of cigarette smoke in a car, especially one which was air-conditioned. Today, I do. Now, I never drive in the car of a smoker.

And yet, I do not now frown on smokers. When I pass someone lurking outside a restaurant smoking, I smile, remembering the pleasure it was for me during my 40-odd years of puffing. I was slim and trim then. Now, because my appetite has been opened, I eat cheesecakes and ice cream in abundance.

My belly is now banged and running daily through Hope Gardens as I did up to some recent years ago has not reduced it.