Beautiful sunny day in London. Total contrast to yesterday.
The hotel where I stayed overnight has thoughtfully provided an iMac in every room and the broadband is lightning fast - well, lightning fast compared to the service at home.
In approximately eight hours we will be welcoming guests to the Save Our Pubs & Clubs reception at the House of Commons.
I don't want to tempt fate (people can be remarkably fickle) but the news is that the event is significantly over-subscribed. Almost 300 people have registered to attend. If they all turn up it's going to be a bit of a scrum, but rather that than no interest at all.
Anyway, it's going to be a pretty hectic day so excuse me if I don't blog. Full report to follow tomorrow.
In the meantime I will leave you with two messages that I have received from absent friends.
From Joe Jackson:
"Sorry I can't be with you today. I am in Berlin, where there is a choice of smoking and nonsmoking spaces, business is good, and everyone is happy. It really is time for the UK government to stop promoting fear and intolerance, stop blurring the line between public and private places, and let publicans set their own policies in their own pubs."
From Antony Worrall Thompson:
"I am sorry I can't be with you today as I'm on my way to catch a flight to Holland because they have seen sense and done a u-turn and amended their ban so they now allow single room bars to choose. At last, a sign of common sense! Let's hope more countries take this lead. It's all about choice - we don't need nannying - we're grown ups. Have great, productive event."
The BBC is reporting the event here: MPs campaign to relax smoking ban in pubs
See also: MPs join campaign to change smoking ban (Morning Advertiser)
Campaign fighting for rethink over smoking ban (Bristol Evening Post)
PS. Weather forecast isn't so good from mid afternoon. Fingers crossed!