Reflections of the year past and hopes for the new one.

Reflections of the year past and hopes for the new one.

Being an old sucker for nostalgia, I find that this time of the year, is the prime time for both contemplation and reflection. So please excuse me while I light up a pipe for the contemplation and reflection process to work. Ah! that is better ,some University Flake in a Pete Tankard.

OK, let me see now,this blog took life around six months ago. Since its inception, it has gone from strength to strength. We are according to the daily hit counter fast approaching 8000 visitor hits,with an ever increasing average. I find this quite remarkable, that so many returning visitors obviously enjoy reading my idiosyncratic ramblings and musings on Peterson pipes. I take it as a great compliment and hope to continue doing so for a few years to come,God and good health willing.

As some of you may know, I am disabled through Arthritis and find that I am pretty much limited to my house environs. My obsession for all things Peterson allows me to meet other Pete Nuts and make friends with similar interests from all over the globe,using my trusty computer.

If I were to look back over the short period of the last six months, a heck of a lot has taken place that I find most fulfilling and satisfying. The highlights would include not only the launch of this blog,but also the Invitation for me to take up the mantle of telling the Peterson story on Pipedia and the publication of my work on 'The Peterson Chronicles', that is a real labour of love of which I am extremely proud and which still requires constant updating.

I also would mention the launch of the International Peterson Pipe Club in partnership with my great friend Chuck Wright. Again this is proving a worthwhile venture and is much appreciated and very popular with true Pete Nuts.

In looking now to the future I hope that the various Peterson forums and initiatives continue to provide enlightenment and satisfaction to those who seek to increase their knowledge of the Peterson Pipe and its history.

As an observer with an outsiders interest in the production of the modern Peterson range of pipes,I would hope that Mr Tom Palmer,Peterson's CEO, would take on board the views of the many thousands of supporters of the brand from all over the world.It would be good to have some sort of vehicle/platform for sharing views and opinions with him.Any business that ignores the views of its customers does so at its peril.

It would be a very foolish person that would say that pipe smoking is unpopular and is in decline. Given the erratic International monetary situation and its impact on business,particularly in the European Union. I would go as far as saying that Peterson's future is likely to survive the current choppy waters and will in time enjoy a much calmer sea of prosperity.

To the Peterson brand and all the Pete Nuts that continue to support it , I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year.

Jim Lilley - proud collector of the Peterson range of pipes.

For those of you that have never had the opportunity to visit Dublin and enter the shop( Alladins Cave!!),just to whet your appetite, here are some photos.