After an early morning breakfast, I sat cradling My Mastro de Paja, plugged with Capstan Navy Flake and started musing about the relationship we have with the pipes we smoke. While they are inanimate objects, they do have very individual designs that project a personality. A personality that many times can reflect the mood we find ourselves in when we smoke them. If I am in a very laid-back mood, with plenty of time on my hands or spending a long evening with friends, then I will usually opt for the giant Ashton or large Ferndown. Their size alone speaks of serious purpose-nothing trivial for them. For a short tour of the orchard and live stock, I will smoke the Dunhill. Its short, squat, rugged, masculine appearance and sand blasted, rustic finish is in keeping with the business at hand. Some pipes are smoked in rotation. However, if there is a special occasion then I will usually opt for a showier sterling silver pipe like the one I am now smoking.
Pipe smokers are a different breed than cigar and cigarette smokers who discard their butts along with cardboard coffee cups. The pipe smoker will cherish and care for his fine briar pipe, because there is a fond sentiment attached to something he spends many of his thoughtful interludes with. Furthermore, he knows that it will provide a lifetime of relaxing enjoyment.
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