Wednesday 25th August 21

[monkey66]

A 2007 Por Larranaga Robusto de Larranaga at La Casa.

Been meaning to try one of these for ages as i love the PLPC. I was a little disappointed as although the profile was similar the expected gain in body didn't materialise for me. A very nice smoke but wont be seeking out any more.

No more smokes as our herf got washed out Shame as i don't get day passes too often.

AJ kindly gifted me the first of two of Hamlet's hand rolled specials, a stunning looking robusto. Then in an unconnected occurrence I got gifted an amazing looking smoke from HabanoSy - a salomones had rolled by Hamlet using his custom blend and 4 year old tobacco, looks and smells stunning

[HabanoSy]

Smoked a lovely little Davidoff Primeros Maduro. Delightful with a mug of Earl Grey tea.

Sounds interesting...

Any chance of a little review of said stick nic...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Big J]

Not your normal Cohiba flavours of Beans, creamy smooth texture

More strength in it, Bitter Chocolate, Esspresso Coffee and Cloves
A fine Cigar, a 2003 EL ,still maybe a couple more years,on them to mellow out more.
Ss

Sounds like a great tasting cigar.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Sounds interesting...

Any chance of a little review of said stick nic...!?!

Cheers, HabanoSy

I'd be interested too if you get the chance Nic, looks like a classy cigar. I like the Davidoffs, but generally find them a little underwhelming. Maybe this one is the best of both?

[gt3911]

DO bore us

Ha - You asked for it...

It's quite out of character for me to talk about this type of 'stuff' so if I fail to make myself clear, oh well .

I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Type II. As a 24 year old (Soon to be 25 uh oh!) simple tasks are getting a good bit more.... challenging. Basically I have very week muscles now, I realise that's a relative term - To put a little perspective into it, I can't raise my arm to itch my head, nor can I hold them out in front of me (in a zombie like pose), A car journey feels like I'm in an F1 car pulling 5g's into the local supermarket car park! Anyway, this isn't just a pointless description, without it you'd be quite confused as to how the rest of this 'story' makes any sense at all.

After reading many southerners complaining about the rain, I realised I must make the best of these rare circumstances, the sun was shining brightly inviting me out to enjoy a nice cigar. Taking my time, I browsed through my humidor, and even decided to take my time and do a little re-orgnaising. The Davidoff 2000 tubo was the stick shouting out most for my attention. As I punched the 2000, I glanced over to my Xikar lighter and felt my day taking a sudden bad turn "F*%k, I'm sure the last time I used that it ran empty and I was supposed to ask for it to be refilled - Where are the Matches?!" after glancing round, I see the side of the box... On a shelf that I have no hope in reaching.

I can't just put my punched 2000 back in the humidor now, I've tried before - but let?s get the fluid and fill this thing! After 10 minutes of squeezing, pushing and sliding this clearly isn't going well. Time to use everything available - I balance the lighter upside down on the corner of my desk, holding it steady with both hands I carefully line up the fluid - If I drop either of these items its defiantly game over! I put my chin to the bottom of the gas, and push down with my neck / back as much as possible - Somewhat hindered by my fused spine. It's not working, we're getting no where, I need more height! I wedge some papers and booklets under the lighter to give me an extra few mm - I've got it?! I've got a faint hiss, we're on!! The lighter isn't feeling to cold, but I'm all out of effort, time to check my progress - Empty. O - M - G!!!! Take a break, breath, relax, look at the 2000, reposition - D o n o t d r o p either item! Much more time passes, pushing pulling, squeezing, sweating. No gain.

I tell myself, I'm getting the pressure on the gas, it?s coming out - so the Xikar must have quite a tight valve. Let's try to fill the Zippo / Blazer. I realise now I'm writing far too much for anyone to care to read this, so I?ll cut the crap. It took me 25 minutes to get the Blazer out of the Zippo case - Using, my teeth, and a pen for leverage against a tiny gap where the hinge is. NOW! It's show time?!

Due to the shape of the blazer I had no look holding it stable - At this point; I took the decision to change rooms. The dinning room table is higher than my desk! I fold. It's still not working. I try the Xikar on the dinning room table, I'm getting a louder hiss, the lighter is cold giving me false hope - The gas is just cooling the metal lighter from the outside, but damn it I?ll keep trying!

Eventually - I used the chin hammer. Precariously balancing the Lighter, and half engaged can on the edge of the table with both hands, trying to keep it at a set perfect angle I "head butt" the base of the can... but with my chin. About, 300 chin butts in, I have really cold fingers, a lighter that looks like its been dug out of snow (The chin butting isn?t to precise, lots of spillage) I've got a lighter that has fuel!

I take my breath with relief, finally. I feel like I've just done a marathon, but it's over!!! I take a look at the clock, just short of one hour forty five minutes have passed.....

Within 3minutes of sunshine and cigar intake, it didn't matter any more. The frustrations of the empty lighters felt like a year ago.

Sorry, for the big post. Congrats if you actually read it. Next time you put some gas in your lighter in 30seconds flat, or even if you have to 'rush out to the shops to buy some' - Appreciate for 1 second how easy it was!