Can't Have Too Many Brits! Hello from Merrie Olde England...

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

LongIslandPiper

Starting to Get Obsessed
Nov 8, 2022
260
1,205
Hello to all from sunny Oldham, UK. Thought I'd help to swell the numbers from this side of the pond...

First, a huge thanks to everyone for this incredible resource. Long may it continue. I've spent many pleasurable hours reading and getting back up to speed after too long away from pipe smoking.

Had a brain f*rt a couple of months ago and bought my first pipe in over 20 years, the same as one I had back in the '90s - a Peterson System 313, swiftly followed by a Peterson Kildare Straight Bulldog. (Yes, I'm a big Peterson fan). Both are works of art IMO, and shapes I've always loved. Just holding them gives me a glow. Have since gone a bit mad and acquired four more (various) including a Falcon with a black stem (another blast from the past). I think that's plenty to going on with - for now.

Now retired, I started in my early twenties at a time when you could find at least one decent tobacconist in every small town (sob!) and when we had pipe tobacco and cigar advertising on TV (all now regarded as classic adverts). No Internet of course, so tobacco was limited to what was on the tobacconist's shelves and whether I was brave enough to take a chance. The lengthy breaks in pipe smoking have usually been because it was too much of a faff for a quick nicotine fix (at the time). Young family, life etc. I rolled my own cigarettes for over ten years, and occasional interludes with the pipe (usually a Falcon). Never could do both, always one or the other. Twelve years ago I ditched the fags for vaping, which is a helluva lot cheaper, apart from anything else, and now almost exclusively naturally extracted tobacco eliquid (which doesn't taste of much TBH). Now I have more time, I'm keen to get back into exploring the world of pipes and especially tobaccos.

I could quite happily stick a pipe in my mouth from morning to bedtime, but currently just have a couple of bowls late afternoon. Tobacco is roughly £20 for 2 oz over here (about $30) so not cheap (and yes, my heart goes out to our Australian friends).

I'm slowly recovering my sense of taste. My very first pipeful tasted like licking an ashtray, but I stuck with it in typical British fashion. Now thankfully that's gone, I'm finding that straight Virginias and Va/Bur blends are quite flat and bland. Frustrating, but maybe that will also change for the better in the fullness of time. I certainly remember those moments of lusciousness from way back. Got some Early Morning Pipe and My Mixture 965 on the way.

Onward and upward. Looking forward to contributing...

Barry
Welcome back to the fold.
 

Barry H

Lurker
Aug 28, 2024
24
55
Oldham, England
Spurs fan here. I guess "supporter" is a better word discussing football in the UK.

Since you're close to Manchester, too many good clubs to guess at. Footie fan? Club?
Sorry! Location now added.

Like you, I'm not particularly a football fan as such, though I'm a Yorkshireman by birth, originally from Bradford, West Yorkshire so keep a regular eye on Bradford City and watch the weekly TV show 'Match Of The Day' for Premier League shenanigans. Usually some excellent skills on show which I do appreciate.
 
  • Like
Reactions: /Adam\ and jpmcwjr

jpmcwjr

Lifer
May 12, 2015
26,263
30,339
Carmel Valley, CA
Sorry! Location now added.

Like you, I'm not particularly a football fan as such,
I think I'd be classified as "rabid" when it comes to Prem footie!
though I'm a Yorkshireman by birth, originally from Bradford, West Yorkshire so keep a regular eye on Bradford City and watch the weekly TV show 'Match Of The Day' for Premier League shenanigans. Usually some excellent skills on show which I do appreciate.
Sounds like a good watch. I will see if I can find it here.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: /Adam\ and JOHN72

simong

Lifer
Oct 13, 2015
2,747
16,591
UK
Spurs fan here. I guess "supporter" is a better word discussing football in the UK.

Since you're close to Manchester, too many good clubs to guess at. Footie fan? Club?
Despite the white shirt, spurs fans are labelled by many more ‘colourful’ words but you’re correct, in the UK ‘supporter’ is the most traditional.

Welcome from Hereford!
Last time I was in Oldham, i visited a good little tobacconist.
Somewhere by the market if it’s still there.