a costly addiction...

but then, aren't they all!!!!

i do wonder why the government chose cigarettes over alcohol to recoup some of their losses from 'failed schemes' such as the insulation debacle - of course alcohol would have been my preference knowing its impact on my life (and on the lives of countless others who have dealt with an alcoholic) - these days it's a very rare purchase for me!!!

but unfortunately it was ciggies that went up yesterday – a 25% price hike - i paid $16.15 for a pack of 25s… that was in 7/11 (not my usual 'haunt') – 'only' $14.75 in iga today… smoking a pack of 25s a day has finally become way too expensive … now’s the time to go back to the cheaper option of rollies… so it'll be the occasional pack of 20s (i do prefer tailor-mades in a mull!), with drum menthol my preferred tobacco (yep, strange preference when i don't smoke menthol cigs!!)... i actually preferred rollies for a number of years - champion ruby originally, then drum - but neither came with such a wonderful graphic on the pouch like this 'vintage' chewing and smoking tobacco...

and no, i'm not ready to give up at the moment - that would just add more stress to dealing with me old 'girls' and their needs, life in general with its ups and downs, work and it's physical and mental stresses and strains (it's been another frenetic working week after a public holiday) and dealing with some of the idiosyncratic public isn't always easy!! nope, it's not the right time yet - and i don't want to, so therefore i don't have the right mind-set...

nah, my best solution is to just carry my tobacco in future and save me ready-rolleds for home - now that should save me some money (sorry to those street people that used to 'benefit' - i would give away 2 per day (but that was my limit) - that won't be happening now - blame the government please, don't abuse me)!!!! i'll share my tobacco with anybody, but the reaction used to be "oh, tobacco - you smoke menthol?! um, nah, ahh, no thanks, it's ok..." guess the drop-off in people 'botting' was one of the influencing factors years back to smoking menthol tobacco... i mainly drifted back to tailor-mades because when working and 'on-the-move' they're just easier!!

talking of 'mull' (i 'fleetingly' mentioned it in the second paragraph) - this is a strain of dope that'd make a stunning colour display in the backyard - it's called purple haze - ohhh for the decriminalisation of dope - i could even contemplate growing this beautiful plant in my courtyard then - and i'd save so much money!







but of course, it's more likely to end up being legalised and then monopolised and patented by the big tobacco companies and possibly look something like this...

there's been a lot of activity in the stairwell here today... someone movin' out... so i thought i'd check online and see which flat was being vacated - and couldn't believe how much they're asking for it... $330 per week!!! that's $80 a week more than my place... granted, it does look a tad more modern inside so it's been renovated at some stage - but it's only a 1 bedroom flat with a balcony... at least i've got a courtyard... and with me old girl still ploddin' on i was offered another lease here with no rent rise (or property inspection apparently) so i've decided to stay here a bit longer... the land's been put into the hands of agents now but even if it sells quickly it'll take a few months to get the paperwork in order and my 'retreat' built... so hopefully summer/autumn of 2011 will see me in malmsbury... sad isn't it that $20,000 would do what i need, but due to life's 'hurdles' (don't think i need to expand on those!) it's way out of my financial league...

changing topics altogether, i've been wanting to try agave syrup (used in numerous sweet vegan recipes i've come across) so when i 'happened upon' some while shopping i just had to buy a bottle (and immediately make some vegan pancakes!!)... it's been compared to maple syrup and honey - it's a similar consistency with a flavour (i think) somewhere between maple, golden syrup and treacle... it's definitely yummy and can be used in baking or just poured over pancakes and waffles... it's cheaper than maple syrup - but then it is somewhat quicker to produce - the plants are harvested at around 8-10 years compared to the maple tree, which isn't mature enough to 'tap' until 40-70 years of age!!!!

ohhh, did i mention it comes from the same plant as tequila??? "... agave nectar is juice from the Mexican agave plant grown in the volcanic soil around Guadalajara —the same juice that, when fermented, becomes tequila. The nectar is extracted by heating up the plant’s pineapple-shaped core, then pressing it. When the juice drips out, it can be either filtered—to make agave syrup—or fermented to make tequila..." from an article "nectar of the tequila gods"

actually the nectar can be extracted from most varieties of agave - but tequila only comes from "agave tequilana", commonly called blue agave, tequila agave, mezcal or maguey... it's also being used in cocktails these days - apparently it goes well in - surprise, surprise - tequila based cocktails!!

and yes, the pancakes and syrup were deeeelicious!!!!!!!

incidentally, it's may day today...  i've written about it before so if you're interested you can read my previous post may day...pagan and political...

i hope to start mapping steph and pete's travels in my next post - they've been to malta and have 'hit' rome now so i might make a start on that tomorrow... but you know how it goes - the best laid plans and all of that... we'll see...