Something Approaching Joy

[Simon-JG-hr]

One of theses to be exact (but in dark green):

[Deano]

Possibly this years top post. I don't know how you do it bry but I love it, and the chomping cigar cowboy behind the writing.

Brilliant.

[Robusto]

It's these brown sticks. They certainly bring something out of this human being. Here's some of the stuff I think I get from cigars:

Rest
Calm
"Fuck off all obligations and requirements for an hour or so"
Reflection
Sometimes an aid to write prose at length - or write tunes
Heightened taste
Heightened smell
Increased self-confidence (this one is for sure!)
A total belief that I look cooler smoking a cigar
Exhibitionist tendencies
A growing expertise on the subject of cigars that I can share
A 'teacher' about cigars
An initiator of friends to cigars
A man who goes out for a drink with mates who likes cigars - so increases his social life somewhat
A person who tries to turn people away from cigarettes

Those things are all plusses to a man who is fairly shy in real life.

The only negative?
The empty wallet.

I'm afraid I shall poke out hymns of glory periodically in my own way to the joy of a fine cigar for a very long time, and will dollop them expressly on these boards from time to time. Sorry, Deano, but I'm a cigar softie, really.

[snooky]

Great read, one man and his cigar at peace with the world mmm.

[EugeneSax]

I Made A Plan

… and a glorious, unspoilt vista of the white cliffs arcing northwards towards Dover, and the open sea glinting blue to the south-west beyond Folkestone..... The light makes the distances come and go, and the cross-channel ferries loom large enough in front of you to pick out of the water.

Lovelly. Takes me back to May last year, eating crab outside The Coastguard Inn @ St Margarets at Cliffe, watching the ships entering & leaving Dover* with these words in my minds ear:

"Whoopers and herring gulls over chalky cliffs
It's all that's left you know, carbonate and myth
Whitebait and cockleshell, washed up like a gift
Secret histories arrive by longshore drift"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQS2Mc1MmPk

* We were seated close to the coastal path & with binoculars held to my eyes providing telescopic, but tunneled vision I said ,at one point, a bit too loudly: "Oooh look, there's a particularly ugly large one." as a rather portly woman waddled round the corner into earshot.

[monkey66]

Sorry to raise this, Monk, but is it an allusion to wanking, then?

no ...something to do with filling up a room (or vehicle) with smoke to increase said smoke ingestion.

[Robusto]

@ Euge

The Coastguard at St Margaret's is one of my local drinking spots.
I know that large woman.

[EugeneSax]

@ Euge
I know that large woman.

I thought you might

[ikiestik]

Love this post hats off to you Robusto, Im looking forward to a music festival in guilford called Guilfest my band are playing and ive got my sticks ready and waiting partagas SP2, SD4, Punch petit coronation and H.Upmann coronas junior. I love sitting outside smoking a fine cigar or even walking around with one in my mouth having people look at me thinking WTF lol.

I agree on the confidence booster and yes a cigar does make you look cooler, cooler than all men without one.

[Robusto]

Decent, ikiestik.
That post is nearly a year old!

[Pleevy]

Well played ikiestik. Great little read before bedtime. This makes me want a wife and kids just so i can enjoy being away from them a little. Did you ever learn about "hot boxing"? Bit of a naughty boy in the past ay monkey?

[Agricola]

Great story and it's nice to know that those white cliffs of Dover are getting plenty of Cuban ash and as for those whingers complaining about the smoke send them the same message the last Cuban smoker that stood there did,

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." - Churchill

[Deano]

Amazing read(s) once again. You even make me fancy a camping trip (almost).

[shooting-glasses]

good read but i am a bit confused
were you rubbing baby oil on your own breasts
or hopefully a buxom female campers????

[JOAO LA PEZ]

A fantastic lightener for me your post has been, as i have been grinding my way through the road to wigan pier and the people of the abyss the last few days.