Hooray!
Yesterday was the last night ever of smoking in public places, thanks to the ban which came into effect this morning at 6am. Not that I was awake then to celebrate the moment. I was in Edinburgh last night meeting some joinees and going to see a gig of the excellent and off-beat Porridgy play in a pub on the Royal Mile. I got the last train back to Glasgow and then walked the 45 minutes home (through the rain), getting back after 1am. Or 2am, as it was when I realised the clocks had gone forward.
It was a great night, and more so knowing that it was the last time that smoking will ever be allowed in pubs. At last fresh air, common sense and health can come to thousands of people like me who love going to pubs but hate cigarettes. It will be very interesting to see how well-enforced the ban is, but I am sure it will be a great success, will encourage more people to go out who wouldn’t normally, and will do wonders for the nation’s health. I’m in Inverness this Friday and intend to enjoy the novelty of upstairs in the Market Bar without the thick smoke.
With the late night and hour’s less sleep, I was a bit shattered in church this morning. More on that later, though, after I’ve been somewhere this evening too.
But for now, let me be one of the first to wheel out the thoroughly un-PC joke that the only place you can now get a pint and a fag is in a gay bar…
