Recent content by jameswbarber109

I used to enjoy UK sea fishing from the shore but that has become tedious now owing to over-fishing. Fly fishing is my absolute favourite, l like seeking out the bits of a river that are little more than streams. There’s no better camping breakfast than a plate of small trout & a big mug of...

Good to see these posts, nice to know I’m not the only big kid for Pratchett books. Very sad he’s passed on.

Welcome to the best briar & baccy site on the ‘net

Put my first bowl of English Balkan mix through the Paul Viou briar. Difficult to say anything about the taste as it’ll need several more to get rid of the previous baccy juice in the meerschaum & wood but it drew nicely & is a cool smoker. It’ll do nicely. Saw the earlier thread on Meerschaum...

Morning Timbo, light powdering of snow & temp just on freezing here in Hertfordshire, England. I don’t know how the new pipe smokes yet, had it less than 24hrs. Just finished reading one of our posts re the ‘myth’ surrounding some brands. The other pipe in my pic demonstrates the author’s case...

My latest purchase via eBay, a vintage half bent Paul Viou briar. Haven’t researched this one yet but it was probably made 1930 - 1950. The briar is leather clad with a meerschaum inner bowl, it’s not been smoked much, no visible imperfections & 6.5 inches long. Manufactured in St. Claude...

Brilliant, l love seeing old threads too. I only get morose about them when l see the great old baccy mixes that are no longer available.

Thanks Dave, everyone on here being incredibly helpful & i’m grateful.

Aaah, the wonders of the modern world, getting messages from across the pond & the UK helping me to find a good smoke and turning the CRT SS 9900 radio on managed a quick chat from UK to Kentucky re baccy too!

Thanks to all for comments & tips. It’s out there & l will find a good ‘un sooner or later but currently being plagued by “sorry, out of stock” & at 75yrs being asked for drivers licence or passport to prove I’m old enough to smoke! Lol :)

Many thanks for the info. I was going to order some straight away but see they have an 1100g minimum order which is a bit much for something you’ve never tried! I’m going to see if they’ll sell either a 50g tin or a sample. I very much appreciate the info as I’d been looking for what l...

Hi All, just getting back into pipe smoking & disappointed at finding Balkan Sobranie has bit the dust…. Such a shame. Got a suggestion to go for Arango but sadly Peter Stockbye of Denmark has stopped supplying the U.K. with it! So, we’re doing the rounds now, trying to find something in the...

Don’t know if it’s available here Ranger but will check tomorrow. Thanks for the info though, right now @ 15 after ten pm it’s shower & bed!

Thanks for the welcome Padraig. That’s a grand old Ozzie first name…… got relatives in the Emerald Isle have we? Lol

Thanks for the welcome Mosin. Was just thinking that if l can’t find a good Balkan mix I’ll just have to start buying leaf in and blending my own! There’s got to be a good ‘un out there somewhere.