Can anybody remember the name of the American journalist (also known in The UK) who said, many years ago; "I don't smoke but I always sit in the smoking section of a plane because you meet much nicer people."

That said, smoking is dumb. Steamin' WIllie's Dad died of lung cancer and I have been keen to get the act seen as anti social ever since.

Tell you what, this NuLabour government may go down as incompetent war mongers, but in banning smoking in public places, they will go down as THE public health government of all time.

If only smoking in any room, including your own home, where children are present, was made illegal, we might start getting somewhere. (Not that it would stop inconsiderate low lifes, as they shouldn't be doing it anyway, but I like the idea of criminalising them so we can all point and tut...)

In most matters, Steamin' WIllie is "live and let live." However, perhaps James Bond got it right? "Live and let die"