Hundreds or more likely thousands of people have shaken Simon Howard's hand.
For around 25 years Simon was front-of-house at three of Cardiff's most popular restaurants at the turn of the century.
But now those who shake Simon's hand might find their fortunes change. He has switched professions and is a chimney sweep, and legend has it, if you shake a chimney sweep's hand you are in for a dose of good luck.
Although, obviously, Simon has been unable to shake anyone's hand since he made the career shift.
Simon came to Cardiff in the early 80s as part of his hospitality training. He loved it so much he never left.
After a few years, he took a job with the Martinez family.
They were, and still are, a big name in the Cardiff dining scene. But back then they were building up a small empire on St Marys Street with Le Monde, La Brasseries, and Champers.
Simon worked his way up and was managing Le Monde during its heyday, with the restaurant serving 1,000 meals a day during the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
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Le Monde was one of the most popular restaurants in the city, attracting numerous celebrities, Simon recalls one night the footballer Alan Shearer dining with TV chef Ainsley Harriot. Another unusual pairing of celebrities that dined together was football commentator John Motson and the Royle Family's Sue Johnson.
"We had some really fun times. I remember she [Sue Johnson] was having sambuca and she spilled it all over her hand, so when she lit it she was waving the flames off her hands! It was good, good fun, it was a great environment.
"We were always very discreet. So nobody ever got mad. This is 20 years later, so I can say a bit more, but at the time I wouldn't."
By his own admission, Simon would often not recognise some famous people, particularly the well-known rugby players that would dine there. This, Simon believes, worked to an advantage as it meant all people got treated the same and they liked that.
Going back the restaurant had a strict no jeans policy. The story has been told before but it had incorrectly identified Neil Jenkins as the rugby player in question. Simon won't say who it was but says Mr Jenkins is in the clear.
"What happened was a journalist turned up from London and he was wearing jeans," Simon explains.
"It was a Friday lunchtime and we were very busy. I said, unfortunately, we don't allow jeans, but we had a little chat and a bit of a laugh about it and I said don't worry about it and sat him a quiet table and told him not to get up. So, anyway, lo and behold, about 20 minutes later the rugby players shows up and he was wearing a pair of jeans."
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At the turn of the century, Simon was part of a group that bought out the restaurant and with the ambition of making Le Monde a national chain. But a few years ago Simon felt it was the time to step back from the business and he sold his share of the company. He then looked to use his experience in the industry to help others and set up a consulting business.
His company was going well and in February 2020 one job was coming to an end just as another was about to begin. Then the pandemic struck and the job disappeared. The future for the restaurant looked bleak and has only gotten bleaker as lockdown has followed lockdown.
"Anything new that was in the pipeline fizzled away," says Simon.
"I thought to myself, right, I need to reevaluate what I'm doing here. And it was only a chance meeting with some friends in west Wales, who happened to mention a friend of theirs who was chimney sweeping.
"He's a retired police officer in Pembrokeshire. And, so I contacted this chap, and we had a conversation. I asked him what it was like what was involved, and then he very kindly agreed for me to spend some time with him when he was going out and about on his jobs to see what it was like."
Straight away Simon felt like this was something he could not only do but something he would be good at. He didn't want to be sat behind a computer.
"It fitted well for me as a restaurant frontman, it worked with my social skills and particular skill set," he said.
"I'm neat, tidy, and clean. I pride myself on being able to have a conversation with pretty much anybody. I like animals, like people, and I like getting about, and I've always been very hands-on with my work."
Simon enrolled on a course with the Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps, during a period when the first lockdown had eased and the second one had not started. He followed that up with a rotary power sweeping course, a power sweeping method that is more modern than others.
Simon then went back out with the chimney sweep in Pembrokeshire to ensure he felt he had made the right decision. Then he decided to go for it.
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"I used some savings that I had and invested in a small van and the all the relevant equipment, which is your rods, your brushes, your vacuum, you know, dust sheets and all sorts of things," he says.
"It's quite expensive kit. I invested around £8,000 in equipment and the training courses but figured I'm investing in myself.
"It's a long-term role. I live in Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan and there's a lot of the appropriate houses with log burners. They're very popular now. And I think that this could be something to keep me employed as opposed to scratching about for work in the hospitality industry."
It has also seen Simon embrace social media to promote the business, something he had not used much of before.
The business started last October and has been building each week. He is aware that is quite seasonal work, but in the summer there are pre-installation sweeps and working with installers, so he has plans. Plus, if the opportunity arises, he could take on consultation jobs for local restaurants.
"I've got many years of experience behind me that can be invaluable for somebody, particularly people starting up a small business," he says.
However, the shift to his own chimney sweep company is a move he has been really glad to make.
"There's something rather quaint and traditional about it," Simon says.
"You get the owners, particularly if they have kids, to make a wish when the brush emerges through the top. And it's very lucky to shake a chimney sweep's hand apparently.
"Chimney sweeps were seen as a lucky charm. They would get invited to weddings and New Year's Eve parties to shake hands with the guests. I might get a top hat and tails and go to weddings in the summer!"