The reward was hot and so was the air: Singapore a few weeks ago. Dr. Mike Loh - the alltime inspiring impressario of theSingapore Pipe & Cigar Club-pointed the way for the set up of a Ken Dederichs pipe as probably the first Germany made freehand pipe to find its final home in Singapore.
I was delighted when I had some pretty good luck to get this pipe from the young japanese carver last year - just a narrow escape before all those voracious collectors came into position to pick up the trail.
A perfect symbiosis between japanese art and culture and the spirit of german craftsmansship -made to perfection by Ken Dederichs who lives as an architect in Germany - the KEN7034 Bamboo was still waiting for the initial rite of first time smoking. I had the impression that this pipe was not only demanding a special mental environment but a certain location,too.
Destined by fate the Ken7034 finally made its home in Singapore. How come ?
Mike and me -while enjoying the always gorgeous Dunhill Early Morning Pipe at the club`s hide spot on Orchard Road - spoke about the pipe and the still unfulfilled existence - and he developped a brilliant idea: the pipe has to change hands, a riddle should act as the mediator to find out a new home and the right pipe lover. No sooner said than done. Once again the British Empire had to take the rap:
1.During his mother's reign, smoking was forbidden in public but King Edward's ascension to the throne in 1901 as heralded by his first four words as king: "Gentlemen, you may smoke!"
The questions are (1) Who was his mother? (2) What is King James' Curse?
The correct answers:
1. King Edward's mother is Queen Victoria.
2. In the pipe-smoking world, King James' curse refers to the phenomenon where a pipe smoker is unable to smell the aroma of the tobacco he himself is smoking.
from left to right: Mauro Cattana, Robert Balcer, Robert Ee
The right answers were given byRobert (Balcer). Fair enough - as a native Canadian and thus a "burgher" of the Commonwealth who lives in Singapore and Thailand since a life time - he definite will grant the attentiveness a Ken Dederichs pipe deserves.
@Robert: this pipe will love Flakes and Plugs
Bodo Falkenried aka Hamish Fontleroy
