ESPANA

So I have been abroad for what was essentially the first proper family holiday that we have had.

We stayed at the port of Estepona on the South Coast opposite North Africa. For all the fears about the European economies, the Spanish seem to just shrug it off as part of life. Of course there re a lot of apartments for sale and it appears that there are quite a few developments that appear to be on hold but the bars and restaurants were full as were the beaches and pools.

What was lovely was the attitude towards children. We quickly adapted to the times of the area so it wasn't rare for my seven-year-old to still be up and about at 11pm and on occasion, when coming back from a meal with our Spanish relatives in the town, to pop into a bar for a quick beer before bed and it was perfectly normal.

In addition, although the curse of the smoking ban has also arrived it didn't matter as you ate and drank outdoors anyway. And there were hardly any phantom coughers aside from English. Indeed, I saw one woman wave her hand in front of her face in disgust and her friend commented: "Good luck, we're in Spain."

One thing that was also apparent in its quality was the train. We went from Madrid to Malaga on the fast train and it was quite frankly astonishing. Leg room, cleanliness, punctuality and free headphones so you could watch a film they put on with both English and Spanish dubbing.

Now I don't know how much we had to pay for it through European funding or whether this was through it's own national funding but as I await going back to work on Monday with the delays and such like, I have to ask myself where the will is to get our ageing system up to the 21st century.

SMOKING

Is it just me or are the powers that be using Judge Dredd as a how to guide?

We've had mass surveillance, riot foam is being developed, there are many more pseudo officals acting as judge and jury (if not executioner) with on-the-spot fines and now they want to ban smoking from public places!!!

It's only a matter of time before the smokatorium arrives



Pic tip: cover browser

LABOUR PAINS WHEN SMOKING

Sometime's fate is just too giving.

I am amused to read that Labour constituencies were the most hit by the ridiculous smoking ban in pubs. In research, seven (not nine Guido) of the top ten constituencies with the most closures since the ban have been Labour-held.

I wonder if the voters actually realise?

SMOKIN

Apparently there is a facebook group that encourages people to cough when they walk past smokers.

Just pathetic really.

I'll leve it to the (Not-so) forgotten prophet.

Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Hicks:

Tell you, the worst kind of non-smokers' the kind where you're smokin' and they just walk up to you ... [starts coughing affectedly] I always say, 'Shit, you're lucky you don't smoke. That's some cough you got there, dude. I'm smoking, you're coughing. Wow.' That's kind of cruel, man. Going up to a smoker and coughing. Shit! Do you go up to crippled people dancing too, you fucks? 'Hey, Mr. Wheelchair. What's your problem? Come on ironside, race ya!

Obnoxious , self-righteous, whining little fucks. My biggest fear is that if I quit smoking, I'll become on of you...Don't take that wrong. I have something to tell you non-smokers that I know for a fact that you don't know, and I feel it's my duty to pass on information at all times. Ready?.......Non-smokers die every day...Enjoy your evening. See, I know that you entertain this eternal life fantasy because you've chosen not to smoke, but let me be the 1st to POP that bubble and bring you hurtling back to reality....You're dead too.

Bill Hicks: December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994

THE SMOKING GUN

Now this is interesting



Dizzy found the pic and has rightly pointed out that it doesn't look real.

Besides the point that the smoke is obviously behind the child's head and not in its face the smoke itself doesn't look real.

If you look at Piper's mouth and cheeks it is clear that she is inhaling, which means there shouldn't be that much smoke!

Well done the Mail

Such honesty and being the moral watchdog of our society becomes you

SHAM DEMOCRACY

Deputy PM Nick Clegg has disclosed that it doesn't matter how many people want the repeal of the smoking ban it is not going to happen.

A twee little video shows him saying how wonderful all this consultation is but as far as the smoking ban is concerned it is a done deal.



So what exactly is the point of the consultation. With pubs closing at a ridiculous rate, vilification of smokers that have been forced onto the street, along comes a consultation that...isn't.

Like free speech, consultations on laws and freedoms should not be a pick n mix. Except that all a lot of people want is a room in a pub where they don't have to drown in rain or freeze in the cold, to be allowed to smoke on an open platform when, yet again, their train is delayed and to enjoy a product that is not only legal but also brings in a healthy net income to the government.

Otherwise don't bother with this sham.

AND WE'RE OFF...

Remember me talking about a survey on smoking in cars?

Wellll......

Leading doctors call for ban on smoking in cars

Twenty of Britain’s most senior doctors call today for a ban on smoking in cars as part of a sweeping expansion of laws to protect children against the effects of inhaling smoke.

And a link to their letter

And so it begins...

SURVEYS

Surveys are fascinating things, no really they are.

I took part in one recently which was so far in ASH's court it may as well have been labelled with the anti-smokers' logo.

It was the push questions that amused me such as-

Do you agree that:

Smoking should be banned in all cars

Smoking should be banned where an under-18 is present

Smoking should be banned when there are passengers

(I am not quoting verbatim btw.)

Basically are you nasty enough to smoke when anyone is present in a car you fiend.

Weeeelllll, it's a bit of a "When did you last beat your wife" type question really.

If there had been a question that asked: Do you think there has been enough pointless, intrusive laws in the last few years and that a free society should be open to choice and have the freedom to choose? Then I would have been happier ;)

Still, nice to know what line of attack Ash is planning next!

SMOKIN

So Nick Hogan has been released from jail after £9k had been raised by bloggers around the world and the sterling efforts of Anna Raccoon and Holborn.

Well done all of you but there is one thing that tickled me in the Daily Mail report:

Lighting up a cigarette, he added: 'Ironically, on my first day in prison I was issued with a packet of tobacco and some cigarette papers - and we could smoke in our cells.'

pic ht: GOT

SMOKING

A pub landlord has been sent to jail for failure to pay a fine relating to smoking on his premises.

Old Holborn has the details and how to help Nick Hogan get out of jail.