Saturday 26 February 2011

“Jim's notes from the Pete Bog” Spring 2011.

Jim's notes from the Pete Bog” Spring 2011.



Welcome to the latest edition of new 'Notes from the Pete Bog'. I hope you enjoy the experience.
These frequent brief notes are my personal ramblings, musings, anecdotes, news items and stuff. Primarily intended as a light-hearted look at all things Celtic. Mixed in with pipe/tobacco and general interesting related topics, which may be of interest to you Peterson Nuts.

Health warning, not to be taken too seriously!

Here we are , March already and the eve of Saint Patrick's day celebrations. When the whole world suddenly has Irish links and an urge to join in the celebrations. Now let me see if there is enough medicinal compounds in the store!



I am coming out of my Winter shell!
My wife warned me that this might happen ,with my obsession for Peterson pipes. I would eventually turn into a real Pete Nut!!

Scotland – In early Spring.
Despite the remaining chill in the air, the sun is shining, here and there is every reason to believe that spring has finally arrived. The buds are beginning to swell on the trees,following the white mass of snowdrops, the daffodils are now blooming bright yellow on the roadsides. Around us here in Scotland, lambs and calves are being born and are gambolling in the fields. Hares are knocking the stuffing out of each other!!There is a feeling of fresh optimism and expectation. The cycle of life never ceases to amaze me.



Film favourite – “The Quiet Man”


One of my all-time favourite films was the John Ford, early nineteen fifties film ,”The Quiet Man”. As a film it had a profound lasting impression on my young mind, when I first went to the Cinema and saw it along with my maternal grandparents, who were both of Irish origin. All of us were totally captivated by the films magic, humour and nostalgia of an Ireland from the 1920's. The marvellous storyline was complimented by a galaxy of old established Hollywood stars of the time. During the film nearly all of them smoked a pipe!!

Cast Included in the photo above John Ford(Director) standing with pipe. Can you name the others?


Bog factoid (a note or article of general interest ).-

The Round Tower of Kilmacduagh:-

Kilmacduagh, north of Limerick in county Galway, is the tallest of the Irish towers at 34 meters and, while quite stable, appears to be tilting precariously. Little is known of the adjoining monastery, probably founded in the early 7th century, and it is assumed that the round tower was erected sometime in the 10th or 11th centuries.





Dubinthedam a pipe smoking man. A very interesting Irishman, now living in Holland who has a popular topical video channel on You-tube.




Poem :-

Written in Spring

'Tis past: the iron North has spent his rage;
Stern Winter now resigns the lengthening day,
The stormy howlings of the winds assuage,
And warm o'er ether western breezes play.
Of genial heat and cheerful light the source,
From summer climes, beneath another sky,
The sun, returning, wheels his golden course:
Before his beams all noxious vapors fly.
Far to the north grim Winter draws his train,
To his own clime, to Zembla's frozen shore;
Where, throned on ice, he holds eternal reign;
Where whirlwinds madden, and where tempests roar.
Loosed from the bands of frost, the verdant ground
Again puts on her robe of cheerful green,
Again puts forth her flowers; and all around
Smiling, the cheerful face of Spring is seen.
Behold! the trees new deck their withered boughs;
Their ample leaves, the hospitable plane,
The taper elm, and lofty ash disclose;
The blooming hawthorn variegates the scene.
The lily of the vale, of flowers the queen,
Puts on the robe she neither sewed nor spun;
The birds on ground, or on the branches green,
Hop to and fro, and glitter in the sun.
Soon as o'er eastern hills the morning peers,
From her low nest the tufted lark upsprings;
And, cheerful singing, up the air she steers;
Still high she mounts, still loud and sweet she sings.
Now is the time for those who wisdom love,
Who love to walk in virtue's flowery road,
Along the lovely paths of Spring to rove,
And follow Nature up to Nature's God.

* Zembla = Nova Zembla an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean in the north of Russia




Some good foot-tapping Irish Music :- The Dubliners,”The Black Velvet Band” (my favourite!)



Useful Things Peterson Two Pipe Ashtray with Cork insert. Neat and compact.


Well I hope you enjoyed this issue of my musings. Please look out for the next edition of 'notes from the Pete Bog' and to all of you loyal blog followers, Lang may yer Lum reek”, an old Scot's farewell greeting, which in essence, hoped that the person receiving the greeting, always had smoke coming from their house chimney fire and enjoyed a long life.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Peterson St. Patrick's Day Pipes.

Peterson St. Patrick's Day Pipes.

Each year Peterson launches a range of pipes to celebrate Ireland’s national holiday when everyone in the world wishes to be Irish. Some years they have gone with a very Irish colour – a shade of green.
Saint Patrick’s Day (Irish Lá le Pádraig) colloquially St. Paddy’s day of Paddy’s day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385-461), the patron Saint of Ireland. It takes place on 17 March, the date on which Patrick is held to have died.
The day is the national holiday of the Irish people. It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland, and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the rest of Canada and the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and New Zealand, it is widely celebrated but is not an official holiday.
I would like to ask Peterson management a question:- why the annual St Patrick's Day pipes are never available until a couple of weeks before the event each year, without fail?

Surely their world wide production could be managed to coincide with the correct time and date each year for sufficient numbers to be available to Pete Nuts for the great day.
Here is a photo of a nice example from my own collection, a St Patricks Day 408.



Monday 21 February 2011

Where to start?

Where to start?.

In relation to the many Classic entry level Peterson pipes,one of the most common questions asked of me by newcomers being introduced to the brand is, "which one should I buy"?
Now that is not an easy one to answer,bearing in mind that we are all different in our smoking tastes,preferences and coupled to how much we are willing to spend.

The series I often suggest to the novice smoker/collector is the Kenmare. It is excellent value for money and so far has never disappointed me in smoking qualities. It has a rich red finish complimented by the gold coloured P on the mouthpiece. This series is available in all classic shapes with Peterson Lip or Fishtail mouthpiece.

The one I have in my rotation is the 01 shape,I love it.The colour is an attractive warm rich red.I have found it to be a grand flake pipe,excellent smoker and very tactile.They have decent thick bowl walls that do not overheat. I prefer the fishtail stem for this series.The price is around a very reasonable $90.
Here is a photo of one currently available from Cup'O Joes.

Sunday 13 February 2011

My Contemplation,because.


"My Contemplation, because"


I sit and smoke my pipe in the garden because I love to; because I love that environment , which is invariably beautiful, particularly on a warm sunny day and hate the environment where crowds of people are found, which are invariably always ugly;
Because of all the sport, television competitions, parties, and assorted social posturing, I thus escape; because, in a world where most men seem to spend their lives doing things they hate. My contemplation is at once an endless source of delight and an act of small rebellion; because Chickens, Flowers,Bugs and animals do not lie or cheat and cannot be bought or bribed or impressed by power, but respond only to the quiet,kindness, humility and endless patience; because I suspect that I am going along this way for the last time, and I do not want to waste the trip.
Because mercifully there are no bloody telephones ; because only in the garden can I find solitude without loneliness; because Wine out of a glass always tastes better out there; because maybe one day I will see something wonderful, like my smiling wife and sons; and, finally, not because I regard contemplation and smoking my pipe as being so terribly important, but because I suspect that so many of the other concerns of men are equally unimportant - and not nearly so much fun.

Ye're a long time deid (Old Scots)– Enjoy life while it lasts.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

20th February,2011- International Pipe Smoking Day.



20th February,2011- International Pipe Smoking Day.

What is it all about? apart from the flyers and other publicity material floating about the great ether.It is a focusing of like minded individuals on our great hobby, on a particular dedicated day each year .
It also allows us to publicly celebrate our pleasurable pastime openly and extol the  benefits to others.Flying in the face of the erroneous perception of being included with cigarette smoking and its particular unhealthy addictive image.

So how can we the Pete Nuts get involved in this great International event,if we are so inclined?
Well I will ask you, the regular blog followers, to mark the day by logging in here,on the day(20th) and leaving a brief note/comment below on this post, to show your support and your affirmation for the event and what it means to us.
Simples! Thank you.

Thursday 3 February 2011

Peterson at its best.

As most of the Blog followers know,I have a very large number of Peterson pipes in my collection. As it continues to grow in tandem with my ongoing Odyssey of experiencing the fruits of the never ending Peterson production.It never fails to surprise me when I come across a real stunning and outstanding pipe that pushes all of my buttons.
My local Peterson supplier (Brucciani) contacted me a few weeks ago as he knows I am always on the lookout for 'special' Petes.He said that this particular pipe was another of these one - off, trade show specials.I was intrigued and knowing that such pipes when presented previously did not fail to please,I bought it immediately without seeing it!!
Well the pipe arrived this morning, it is a silver spigot XL23 with a very tasteful chestnut colour stain.I have a thing for this particular shape,it is one of my favourites,made famous as the Sherlock Holmes series Lestrade.
This particular example is absolutely stunning,the briar is excellent quality with no obvious fills to detract from the wonderful grain.Hereare some photos I am sure you will agree that it exemplifies 'Peterson at its very best'.




 

Tuesday 1 February 2011

The Peterson Grafton Series.


The Grafton Series:- Peterson state that “Only about 5% of our bowls are good enough to make this selection of pipes. These special pipes, all of which are silver mounted, are rare and only a limited number are available each year. Shapes can vary depending on availability of suitable raw materials”.
I have rarely seen this series of pipes for sale previously, it has been a complete mystery as to the quality of briar, finish and smoking qualities. Rarely is it mentioned on pipe forums.
So as is my want, I set out to acquire a couple.

The Grafton is rated by Peterson as one of their Higher Grades along with the Royal Irish and the Rosslare Royal Irish. I would also place it along with that other higher grade rarity the Celtic series.

My first impression of them is that the briar quality is superb,with gorgeous graining. The pipes are not what I would call stand out stunner's, they ooze quality and are reservedly handsome,enhanced by the acrylic Cumberland stem. The bowl finish is tending toward a matt finish and not shiny like the recent trend. The natural Walnut finish harkens back to the comparable pre-Republic bowls. The bottom pipe an 03 shape ,looks darker in real life!The Dublin bent is more typical of the darker stain.