For many years I used to have to attend various functions at directorial level, and rubbed shoulders with a number of businessmen, some of whom smoked.
On one occasion in particular, two whom I regularly encountered revealed that they smoked pipes. And they both kept the pipes in the right hand pocket of their suit jackets. Now this was before I’d taken up the briar, so I was intrigued whenever a comfort break was called, to see these two wander out onto the patio to partake of a quick puff.
What amazed me was what they pulled from their jackets – the filthiest, green-stemmed, crusty pieces of wood I’ve ever seen. Think bad ebay. When they’d had enough or been called back to the meeting the pipes would slip back into the jacket, where I suspected they stayed until the next event, uncleaned, unloved.
I cannot believe that they put them in their mouths. My own doctor (and the man who introduced me to pipe smoking) also smoked a horrible green thing stoked with Borkum Riff.
Many of you will have encountered similar pipe smokers, and probably in days of old, this was the norm.
However, things have changed. I liaise regularly with pipe smokers both at home and overseas. We all keep our pipes in immaculate order, with shiny bowls, stems and bits. We are, after all, OCD sufferers when it comes to our hobby.
So please don’t judge us all by those who don’t make the effort. They’re probably the same people you want want to stand next to in a supermarket queue on a hot day. Know what I mean?
