BLOGGING ABSENCE

A lack of blogging over the last couple of weeks has been down to being too busy at work and completely frazzled and knackered by the time I get home. Added to that has been an irritating pain in my right elbow which I've put down to repetitive strain injury from using the laptop too much.

Using the computer mouse doesn't appear to result in the same burning, aching pain - although it doesn't appear to ease the problem either. Perhaps they should ban laptops for our own good. But then maybe I shouldn't be giving them ideas for more prohibition.

Life in the real, as opposed to the virtual, world has been different. I've been trying to reach smokers who are not online by giving out Resistance stickers. Most have taken them with interest. A couple have refused. I found that odd. Those stickers I placed on smoker bins in Skegness have stayed. Those I've posted in Lincoln have disappeared. I have none left now that I'm working in Louth so I just talk with the smokers who share the same bench in the Market Place at lunchtime.

One my jobs was to work on a story from the British Beer and Pub Association about the beer tax hike which the organisation says will lead to the loss of 10,000 jobs in the industry and many more pub closures. I spoke to a local on site brewer landlord, who has opened his own independent pub, and a fourth generation local brewer for their views. Both agreed the tax would be disastrous. I couldn't avoid asking them how they felt about the smoking ban.

The pub landlord - who is a supporter of choice - says that his choice, even without the ban, would be non-smoking for practical business reasons. : "75% of people don't smoke so it makes sense to have a non-smoking pub for the majority of customers," he said. I never asked whether he would think it worth it if he could offer separate facilities to attract 100% of customers. This man was not, incidentally, an anti-smoker by any means.

The fourth generation brewer's view was that there were too many pubs before 2007 and so some had to go and the nature of pub going had changed. She said "families don't want to be smoked out anymore." She had business in London, lived in London, and so I guessed it was a Metropolitan view and not one familiar to the majority of small local communities that this brewer's pubs serve.

Another pub landlord - a never smoker - in a historic small town was just as angry as smokers about the ban. He said if there were three pubs in a village, then two of them should be smoking and one non-smoking. I pointed out that the majority customer was non-smoking but he believed that the majority of non-smokers don't visit pubs. The majority of smokers do. He said that was evidenced by the rapid rate of pub closures after the ban when the imaginary non-smokers failed to pack pubs in smokers' places as was promised by the anti-smoking industry.

In my blogging absence, I've also watched a fair bit of TV. I like Waking the Dead on Sunday and Monday - which could be an apt description of what UKIP is trying to do in NuBritain - but then I am a sucker for a good crime drama. I love and hate Thursday nights which is my sweary night. I don't know if my other half is more interested in the political programmes I watch - like 10 O'clock Live, Question Time or This Week - or amused by the amount of times I shout "fuck off, get to fuck, fucking knob," at some sanctimonious or misleading politician.

I did enjoy "watching Nigel Farage on 10 O'clock Live the other week. He makes me smile not swear. The link begins with irritating adverts you can't move on but when the programme starts, go about 17 minutes in to watch Farage's performance.

It looks like I'll be swamped with work for the next couple of weeks at least which means I won't get time to see my GP about my elbow which isn't getting any better. I guess that means light blogging may continue for a while longer.

PUBS NEED SMOKERS!

It seems smoking is a dirty word these days so playing the antis at their own game by changing language seems a fair method of getting some balance back into society and a bit of freedom for those currently oppressed by Nanny Britain.

Yes, I'm all for Freedom Rooms. It sounds a great idea.

They should have a big sign outside saying "it is against the law to invade this space with the stench of anti-smoker righteousness" but that may not happen as it appears anti-smokers are too dumb and mentally incapable of avoiding places where smokers go.

I'd like it all in my Freedom Room, please. A cup of tea and a smoke, a Lincolnshire sausage bap if one's going, live music and a juke box, food because it tastes so much better when a meal is finished off with a fag, and ventilation so that we can have it all. A safe, fun place to socialise with our own kind.

The antis can stick their dark and gloomy BO, perfume, gum, beer, and dusty stinky hell holes where the sun won't shine. They can then be happy once again, moaning that they haven't got the whole world to themselves.

Meanwhile, download this poster and take it to your local landlord.

He or she will already know that Pubs Need Smokers because research tells us that smokers use pubs more than anti-smokers. After all, the puritans are terrified of anything that isn't organic, fair trade, or certified "safe" by Nanny so they really wouldn't miss out.

And while I'm on the subject of intolerance, it's great to see the Medway Hitler Youth have backed away from their obnoxious (sorry Obo)campaign aimed at inciting hatred and violence against smokers.

TERRIFYING

I have been interested in the debate taking place over at David Milibland's site for leader and the comment below terrified me.

Asif Khan says:
August 2, 2010 at 11:02 pm
As a British Muslim, I feel offended that pubs still exist. The fact that many are closing is a message that Allah has spoken. Islam is rising in the UK and alcohol will soon be history.

I've rather got my fingers in my ears and singing la la la rather than accept such hatred of British culture. Some people may not agree that smoking is cultural but few can deny that the British pub has been a cultural plank of British life since Geoffrey Chaucer told his Pilgrim's tales on his journey around the ale houses of olde Englande.

I am saddened by the comment and cannot understand why people must force their culture and their views on others. I believe in live and let live.

As Oscar Wilde said : "Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live. It is asking other people to live as one wishes to live."

PUDDLECOTE NAILS IT

Fellow blogger Dick Puddlecote has hit the nail in the head - err coffin - when he analyses pub closures since July 1, 2007

Well said, Dick. It's time to face the inconvenient truth.

UKIP'S FIGHT TO SAVE OUR PUBS

Nigel Farage speaks about pub closures and the UKIP policy to help beleagured pub landlords.

I can already hear the supporters of the blanket smoking ban crying out that the slaughter in the hospitality industry has nothing to do with it. Yes it does, although there are obviously other factors like high tax and supermarket cheap beer and spirits. But let us not forget we had both before the smoking ban and we did not have the same rate of rapid closures.
The figures for closure are below from 2005 up to 2007. They have risen rapidly ever since and now stand at 52 per wek.
2005: 102, 2006: 216, 2007: 1,409
Even the most pub closure sceptic can't deny that it does seem like something of a strong co-incidence that the closure rate shot up so high with the divisive and discriminatory Health Act's arrival in mid-2007.

CUDDLING DOGS

Along with the other main candidates in the election for the Louth and Horncastle seat, I recieved an email from a concerned couple who own a small local brewery about what my party would do to help the beleagured pub industry.

I responded immediately and offered to go and see them in Louth where the Fulstow Brewery is based. I also sent them a copy of UKIP's beer mats above which were produced before Labour began it's incredible assault on other lifestyles including "binge drinking" and the incredibly offensive term of "obesity". Pubs closure rates were at 39 a week then. They stand at 52 a week a now. They also wanted to be able to trade fairly alongside the big supermarkets which the NuLab Govt seems to be giving carte blanche permission to undercut pubs on the price of beer and spirits.

I was really interested to know the views of these non-smoking professionals and it was that the smoking ban is definately killing their industry and the assault aimed at the minority that is irresponsible enough to drink to excess won't help.

They were very pleased to take delivery of a pack of the beer mats which they said they would distribute to their clients while delivering their very fine real ales.

The couple had three gorgeous Jack Russell dogs and one took rather a shine to me and jumped up on my knee. I sat and stroked and cuddled him while we talked. I do love dogs after all. It rather compensated for the fact that no-one has yet asked me to kiss babies, which I understand is one of the requirements of campaigning.

I will be in the L&H consituency on Saturday where I hope to be able to speak to lots of people and spread the word that the time for the political revolution has come. It is only UKIP that can deliver it and free society from the grip of the same old three party alliance which supports MPs, the system, and does not listen to the views of the people who really matter - the electorate - if their concerns don't match the three's identical ideological aims.

Incidentally, the brewery told me that despite asking all candidates for their views on this issue, it was UKIP that responded.

NICK HOGAN - TARGET REACHED !!!

I am really busy this weekend finalising my short story, Great Granny's House, for my MA monthly assignment. and so I won't spend much time here boring Baz, in particular, with my thoughts on what we smokers and freedom loving non-smokers have acheived. Read Anna Racoon, Old Holborn and Simon Clark's blogs for the full update on how we reached the target to free pub landlord Nick Hogan within four days.

No one can say that this was not a great effort. I believe, and so do many others, that this has proved there is more public support for choice than oppression. ASH, which couldn't function without Pharmaceutical industry and Govt support, only raised £4000 in a year from public donations. Nick Hogan's fund trawled that in from willing donators within a few hours. The grand total in a week was more than £9,000 and money is still pouring in.

Bloody well done, everyone! Read all about it, and the rest, from the links below.

http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/update-on-nick-hogan/

http://takingliberties.squarespace.com/taking-liberties/2010/3/5/nick-hogan-target-reached.html

http://bastardoldholborn.blogspot.com/2010/03/target-reached.html

MP MISSES "COZY" PUBS

I had a very nice chat yesterday with a Lincolnshire MP, Edward Leigh, who's constituency is in rural West Lindsey, and I asked him about why his colleagues had exempted themselves from the blanket smoking ban in the House of Commons.

Mr Leigh said MPs didn't because they have no say over what happens in a Royal Palace - they could neither ban smoking in the HoC pub nor vote to allow it. Mr Leigh said MPs are not even allowed to die in the building. Apparently, due to some old law, if an MP does drop dead in a Royal Palace, they have to be carried outside before their death can be legally declared. Weird - but eccentrically very British.

"I haven't smoked since I was 16 but I voted against the ban because I believe people should be able to choose how they live their lives," he said.

"I am a Conservative with a small c which is all about freedom and less interference from the state."

I told Mr Leigh that if David Cameron was to come out on the side of freedom of choice, the Tories would win with a landslide because people hated this health freakery and lifestyle control and Mr Leigh agreed. He said voters like polticians to have opinions even if they don't agree with them and Mr Cameron seems to want to keep all of the people happy all of the time which is just not possible.

"It is very sad that pubs are closing at the rate they are. Personally, I miss smoking in pubs. They are not the cozy places they used to be with smokers sitting and chatting in the corner. They now just smell of alcohol and other horrible things which isn't very nice," he said.

I just wish that Cameron would listen to this very experienced MP who does actually know what he's talking about. If he is afraid of coming out on side of smokers, perhaps he should also consider a chat I had yesterday with a rabid anti-smoking friend of mine.

Firstly, she said she hated smoking but she had no idea that the ban would make people so miserbale and she accepted that both sides of this issue could be catered for. Secondly, despite her strong anti-smoking views, she will NEVER vote for NuLab again even though this party made her dreams of a smoke free existence come true.

It apears thast there is so much wrong with this foul govt that the issue of smoking is not one that many anti-smokers will take into account when the general election comes around - except for those people who have either seen their business fail, or have been isolated, denormalised and excluded because of the smoke free law. Those people, like myself, will vote UKIP in the main.

Can Cameron's Tories really afford to take the risk of losing their small c traditional support, instead of being courageous enough to take a stance on this issue and collect lots of new suport from all that NuLab has lost? I think we smokers know the answer to that one!

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN FACED WITH A PRICK

I was rather interested to hear the following story when I caught up with an old friend who I hadn't spoken to since last summer.

The friend tells me how on a beautiful sunny day, he was with a mate and they were both sitting outside of their local pub smoking.

Apparently, a man came outside with a meal, sat on the table next to their's - despite others being available - and then politely asked the smokers to put out their cigarettes so he could enjoy his meal.

Personally, I would have pointed out that there were other tables both inside and outside; and that as a non-smoker he has more choice about where to sit and where to go; and I would have said that I would indeed put out my cigarette once I had finished it.

This, however, is not what happened.

The smoker in this case replied :"Yes, certainly," before then stubbing out his cigarette in the man's meal.

As much as I can sympathise with this action, this kind of behaviour will not help our cause for choice but rather give the antis a loaded gun with which to continue to shoot us in the head.

Image is everything and it's hard enough to escape the "filthy smoker" view that society has of us without, frankly, bad mannered behaviour like this.

As much as this issue has become a friction point more than it ever was before the divisive blanket smoking ban, I would urge angry and offended smokers to ensure they get the upper hand in these instances by remaining dignified and polite even in the worst of circumstances and let the antis be seen for what they are - selfish and intolerant anti-humanists who care only for themselves.