Six weeks ago I was on board a cruise ship that docked, briefly, in Barcelona.
Was I tempted to step ashore, like the rest of my family, and explore the city or visit the famous Nou Camp (or Camp Nou), home of FC Barcelona?
No. I've never really warmed to Barcelona and the reason, quite simply, is the football club.
In fact my antipathy has risen in direct relation to the quality of their football. So what if the current generation plays the "beautiful game" and is the best team in history (allegedly)?
Personally I find all that tiki-taka stuff rather boring. And what is even more hideous is the suggestion, advanced by some, that this is the only way to play the game.
No, it jolly well isn't.
So when Chelsea beat Barcelona in last season's Champions League semi-final I was thrilled. I even became a fan of "anti-football", as Chelsea's ultra-defensive tactics were dubbed.
If it's good enough to beat Barca (sic) it's good enough for me.
Anyway, there's a new reason to dislike an institution whose motto is "Més que un club" (More than a club):
Quit Smoking with Barca is a joint commitment between FC Barcelona and the European Commission to take a stand against smoking [my italics] and the nearly 700,000 preventable deaths caused by tobacco in Europe each year.
Harnessing the power of the European Commission's "Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable" campaign and Barcelona's 'Sense Fum' [Smoke free] initiative, the campaign will encourage and support the 28 million smokers across Europe in the 25-34 year old age group to kick the habit and become unstoppable ex smokers for life (quitsmokingwithbarca.eu).
Full story: FC Barcelona and the European Commission join forces to help millions of Europeans quit smoking.
According to Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, it's the club's "duty" to help millions of adults "win their battle against cigarettes".
All I know is, when Barcelona play Spartak Moscow in the Champions League tonight, I shall be supporting the Russian team.
C'mon you Spartaks!!
PS. I wonder if Barcelona's munificence will extend to inviting the World Health Organisation to be their next shirt sponsor, as they did Unicef in 2006.
Alternatively they could adopt the initials FCTC - with a No Smoking sign on each sleeve.