Whale meet again

Looking forward to the Forest Christmas dinner in Cork tonight.

But first I've got to get there.

I'm currently in Dublin where I enjoyed a few pints last night with some agreeably smoker-friendly faces.

As I've mentioned before, a great many Dublin pubs go out of their way to make smokers as comfortable as possible.

The Ginger Man in Fenian Street, directly opposite my hotel, is effectively my local when I'm here:

The pub, all dark wood and polished picture-frames housing faded images, convulses with conversation and laughter around us. The harsh light from the toilet corridor meets the dimness of the rest of the pub exactly where we are, talking loudly and moving from side to side to facilitate the various movements of others.

The two more pleasant snug seating areas have long since been occupied, and a large table to our right is occupied by two men in their mid-twenties deep in discussion, one with a necktie around his forehead. To the front of the pub, a small, heated smoking area bustles with activity, patrons spilling out onto the footpath beyond.

Full review here.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny lives a few doors away and often drops in, late at night. Or so I'm told.

Anyway, further to my previous post, my evening went ahead as planned after I was stood down by Five Live and the BBC News Channel gave up looking for a studio where they could interview me about smoking in cars with children.

I was also edited out of the BBC Six O'Clock News report although, having seen it online, I can understand why.

Anyway, having been quoted by the Telegraph, Mail, Sun and other newspapers, I was pleasantly surprised to be interviewed this morning by the great James Whale who now presents the breakfast show on BBC Radio Essex.

James is feisty and fiercely anti-smoking but I like speaking to him because he lets you have your say, which is all you can ask.

Funnily enough he once told me on air that I am charming but I talk a load of rubbish. My response? Pot. Kettle. Black.

On another occasion he told me, "I do wish you'd find a better outlet for your talents."

Today I detected a softer tone. Either he's mellowed or the breakfast slot is less conducive to the more abrasive style for which he is known.

Either way I'm delighted he's still on air. I was disappointed when he left LBC. We can't afford to lose broadcasters of his experience and quality - a subject I will come back to when I have a moment.

See also: Whale of a time (Taking Liberties, December 2009)