The Smell Of Success

A smell of success is Aramis body splash.

Let me explain.

Back in the summer of 2001, I placed a £100 bet on Triple H to win the 2002 Royal Rumble in what - at that time in my life - was the largest sum I had wagered.

Out of the many I had told, there were only a few that thought it was a sane bet to make.

One of the few was my uncle.

That Christmas, him and my aunt bought me a bottle of Aramis and every time I smell the aftershave it reminds me of the Monday following the pay-per-view.

I went to work after Triple H won the match and thus secured my own victory at William Hill. I had a sense of retribution that day especially when all those who were doubting me in 2001 came up to me and congratulated me.

It was a great day. It was enhanced with the amount of tips I earned. I can't recollect how much (even though I did keep track in a little book) all that I can remember is I was feeling on top of the world.

On my next day off, I went to the shop my uncle owned and was bragging about how I won the bet and told him about the following day's success at drawing a lot of tips.

I joked that it was probably the Aramis.

He laughed and we spoke about other things for an hour or so before I had to catch the bus home. He shook my hand as he often did when I was leaving.

I went into that shop many times in 2002 but this visit was one of the ones I remember the most.

He died a little over a year later.

The aftershave is still in a bottle on my desk and I didn't wear it for years after his death. In the spring of 2005, I decided I would wear it on special occasions as a tribute to him.

I only wear it on Mondays following a weekend where I have done great at betting. I refuse to wear it any other time.

And I am strict in only using it when there has been a win worth celebrating.

I can't shake his hand, sit in that shop or tell him about my wins anymore so the only thing I can do is remind myself of that time period by splashing on the aftershave and doing a proverbial tip of the hat to him in that way.

It's the only way I can let him celebrate with me.