One of the souvenirs of this event (which recently came to light in our fitfully-conducted clear-and-pack-to-move process) was a clay LOTR pipe and a leather pouch of – now rather dry – pipe-weed: possibly Old Toby but, more likely, Longbottom Leaf...
That was ten years ago; later I made three trips to Wellington, New Zealand, to write about the making of that film and its sequels – along with a life of the Ring-Master, Peter Jackson.
Tomorrow, I will be heading off there again, this time to research the first of two books on the making of the double-film prequel, The Hobbit.
Can't wait to visit Bag End again! Just hope Bilbo's got a couple of bottles of Old Winyards laid down...
