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Hello one and all and many thanks to those who directed me to this thread - of course, it's important to introduce myself so I will have a go.
It was my grandfather who introduced me to the joys of smoking - I was 12. He bought me my first pipe, ounce of Walnut Flake, box of Swan Vestas and a packet of pipe cleaners. On returning home, my mother beat him around the house and he hid for some time in the garden shed ! That didn't thwart my intention to follow grandfather into the world of pipe smoking. I immediately started a pipe smokers' club at school (a local grammar school) with the support of the headmaster and most of the male staff, all of whom joined us in our allocated clubroom from time to time - entry charge one fill. And so, a dedicated pipe smoker was born and still thrives on Walnut Flake - always ignited by a Swan Vesta.
I have never once in my life smoked a cigarette.
Cigars, on the other hand, were late arrivals for me, mainly due to finances. Grandfather and my uncle would occasionally give me a Dutch Willem or a Henri Wintermans but I stuck with my pipe loyally until I was given my first Cuban - a Montecristo No. 3 - which I smoked in a trance of sheer enjoyment. Cubans were few and far between in my earlier years what with cars to buy and keep on the road, a mortgage to pay and (most expensive of all) a wife to keep in the manner to which she intended to become accustomed.
I was in my early 50s when I visited a local auction room to see a lot of 'deceased effects' opened cigar boxes - most containing 20 or more of each brand. I left a speculative commission bid and got the lot - in total about 150 Cuban cigars - for around ?75.00 plus charges. I had won the cigar lottery ! One drawback which I'm sure I don't have to tell all of you - when you smoke good cigars, anything else is small potatoes and those 150 or so Cubans eventually ran out ! Back to my pipe.
I was lucky enough to meet a gentleman who travelled regularly to Cuba on business and he very kindly brought (and still brings) me small consignments of Havanas which I have built into a modest collection. My favourite is the Cohiba Robusto with the Siglio IV close behind. I don't smoke a cigar every day as my collection would quickly evaporate but I do enjoy 4 a week - sometimes I over-indulge at 5.
Now 65, still an avid pipe smoker and fairly regular cigar smoker I can enjoy my twilight years. I should explain that to enjoy my pipe or a cigar my wife sends me to the garden shed - even in winter ! It's well worth it as you will all appreciate, even in a Barbour jacket, Russian fur hat and fingerless gloves ! My name is David Douglas, I am of relatively sound mind and I look forward very much to being a member of your Forum.
It was my grandfather who introduced me to the joys of smoking - I was 12. He bought me my first pipe, ounce of Walnut Flake, box of Swan Vestas and a packet of pipe cleaners. On returning home, my mother beat him around the house and he hid for some time in the garden shed ! That didn't thwart my intention to follow grandfather into the world of pipe smoking. I immediately started a pipe smokers' club at school (a local grammar school) with the support of the headmaster and most of the male staff, all of whom joined us in our allocated clubroom from time to time - entry charge one fill. And so, a dedicated pipe smoker was born and still thrives on Walnut Flake - always ignited by a Swan Vesta.
I have never once in my life smoked a cigarette.
Cigars, on the other hand, were late arrivals for me, mainly due to finances. Grandfather and my uncle would occasionally give me a Dutch Willem or a Henri Wintermans but I stuck with my pipe loyally until I was given my first Cuban - a Montecristo No. 3 - which I smoked in a trance of sheer enjoyment. Cubans were few and far between in my earlier years what with cars to buy and keep on the road, a mortgage to pay and (most expensive of all) a wife to keep in the manner to which she intended to become accustomed.
I was in my early 50s when I visited a local auction room to see a lot of 'deceased effects' opened cigar boxes - most containing 20 or more of each brand. I left a speculative commission bid and got the lot - in total about 150 Cuban cigars - for around ?75.00 plus charges. I had won the cigar lottery ! One drawback which I'm sure I don't have to tell all of you - when you smoke good cigars, anything else is small potatoes and those 150 or so Cubans eventually ran out ! Back to my pipe.
I was lucky enough to meet a gentleman who travelled regularly to Cuba on business and he very kindly brought (and still brings) me small consignments of Havanas which I have built into a modest collection. My favourite is the Cohiba Robusto with the Siglio IV close behind. I don't smoke a cigar every day as my collection would quickly evaporate but I do enjoy 4 a week - sometimes I over-indulge at 5.
Now 65, still an avid pipe smoker and fairly regular cigar smoker I can enjoy my twilight years. I should explain that to enjoy my pipe or a cigar my wife sends me to the garden shed - even in winter ! It's well worth it as you will all appreciate, even in a Barbour jacket, Russian fur hat and fingerless gloves ! My name is David Douglas, I am of relatively sound mind and I look forward very much to being a member of your Forum.
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