Highlights of the year 2013

Here are some of my favourite moments in 2013. Plus, in italics, one or two lowlights.

In no particular order:

1. Attending the Havana Cigar Festival in Cuba. I was persuaded to join the annual Boisdale Jazz and Cigar Club Jaunt which runs alongside and occasionally gatecrashes the official event. Would I go again? Probably not, but I'm glad I went. Some things will never be forgotten!

2. Mini break at the 2012 Scottish Hotel Restaurant of the Year. Greywalls in Gullane overlooks the Muirfield Open Championship golf course and is described as an "elegant Edwardian Scottish country house". Warmly recommended, but don't tell anyone.

3. Joining thousands of mourners on Ludgate Hill close to St Paul's for the funeral of Margaret Thatcher.

4. Compiling 'What did Margaret Thatcher ever do for us?' for The Free Society.

5. Government deciding NOT to include plain packaging of tobacco in its legislative programme. Cue predictable howls of rage from the tobacco control lobby.

6. Government announcing a new review of the 'evidence' for plain packaging. 'Independent' report to be written by a leading paediatrician. No prizes for predicting the outcome of that!

7. Hosting Forest's second Freedom Dinner at Boisdale of Canary Wharf. Main speaker was advertising guru Lord Bell, former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and F W de Clerk.

8. Launching the No Thank EU campaign to highlight opposition to proposed revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive. Within five weeks the campaign had generated over 44,000 letters to MPs and MEPs.

9. European Parliament voting to ban menthol cigarettes, increase the size of health warnings and restrict the size and shape of cigarette packs and pouches of tobacco. 'Democracy' in action (sic).

10. Presenting the Best Smoking Area award at the Great British Pub Awards at The Hilton Park Lane, London.

11. Visiting Cape Town for the fourth Global Tobacco Network Forum.

12. Presenting the Best Cigar Terrace award at the Cigar Smoker of the Year dinner at Boisdale of Canary Wharf.

13. Watching Dundee United beat Rangers 3-0 in the Scottish Cup.

14. Dundee United scoring at least four goals in five consecutive matches (21 in total), equalling a club record set in 1936.

15. Being contacted by an old friend who heard me on the Jeremy Vine Show. The last time I saw her she was living with her family in Kent. Since then they've moved to Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Now back in London and listening to Radio 2!

16. Short break with friends at the historic Swan Hotel in Lavenham, Suffolk. Bliss.

17. Aussie comedian Steve Hughes performing at Forest's 'Stand Up For Liberty' event at the Comedy Store in Manchester during the Conservative party conference. Hughes followed UKIP leader Nigel Farage in conversation with IEA DG Mark Littlewood. Great bill!

18. Helping to defeat the motion 'This House would ban all tobacco products' at a Durham Union Society debate at Durham University.

19. Driving from San Francisco to San Diego via Yosemite National Park, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Santa Monica. If I had to choose one highlight this would be it.

20. Following James Blunt (@JamesBlunt) on Twitter.

Feel free to post your own favourite moments.