This year I was driven out of the Middle bar three times by people smoking right in the bar, and several other times I held my breath to pass by people on the stairs smoking - on the last occasion, on the Tuesday or Wednesday it was not normal cigarettes but a cigar type, and I think two people were smoking them - standing right behind me as I was choking.

In 2003 there really was no smoking and I was able to sing there every day. I remarked on how wonderful it had been before singing the last time that week.

I was really disappointed this year. People knew they shouldn't really be smoking so they held the cigarettes out of sight in cupped hands and puffed surreptitiously - as though that made a difference.

Only my inability to breathe the Middle bar atmosphere drove me away, and I will try again next year, but there are other places to sing. I am usually too buzy to go to hear concerts, I have to rush from place to place to get to all that I should attend, and when I have a spare minute I sit down and play and usually end up late for something.

Anne