It started at the suburban salon, where my Mum had sent me for a haircut. But oh man, I ended up with so much more that a trim. When I arrived, there were a trio of glamorous women all sitting their under the hood, indulgently inhaling. Well, it was love at first sight for me, especially because as an even younger kid, my heavy smoking aunty would wash my hair and then get me to sit under her retro dryer. So, at the mere age of 12, I took the bull by the horns and asked Judy the hairdresser, who I later got to know quite well, if it would be ok for me to join the gals for a dryer session. I guess she was a little taken back, but soon came to appreciaterthe kinky request.

So there I was, a curious wee boy, sharing the seductive smoking salon. Fantastical as it might seem, it got even better. One of the trio of dryer ladies saw me watching her smoke her second Winfield Menthol, and invitingly offered me the packet, with a smpke ready to take.