Apologies for the lack of posts last week.

I spent two days in Switzerland – Zurich, to be precise – but what with the travelling and other work I haven't had time to write.

The principal purpose of my visit was to meet a mysterious Russian, Mr A, who has an ambitious embryonic plan I can't divulge. Not yet, anyway.

We arranged to meet in a cigar shop – La Casa del Habano – a 15-minute walk from my hotel.

I arrived a few minutes early to find another man waiting. Mr B had flown in from Vienna for the same meeting.

Two minutes later Mr A arrived with a rather attractive East European translator.

I was beginning to feel like a character in a John le Carré novel.

Mr A spoke neither English or German, although he understood German.

Being English and of a certain age I speak neither Russian, German or any other language.

Fortunately Mr B spoke very good English so with the help of the translator we muddled through.

Following the initial introductions we crossed the street to a restaurant called Aura where I discovered the most magnificent bar and smokers' lounge.

Within seconds my colleagues produced two enormous cigars which they proceeded to light. The unobtrusive ventilation was so good I could barely see or smell any smoke.

Sadly I must draw a veil on the conversation that followed.

All I'll add is that the Swiss attitude to smoking, in Zurich at least, seems pretty tolerant.

At the railway station, for example, I spent a spare hour reading English newspapers and drinking coffee at an Italian caffe that had chairs and tables on the main (covered) concourse.

Every table had an ashtray and seated at the tables were smokers of every age group bar children.

Meanwhile people drifted around or walked purposely across the concourse, some lighting up as they did so. No-one paid them any attention. Why should they?

Somehow, with our ridiculously extreme anti-smoking legislation, Britain has created problems that don't exist in countries like Switzerland and Austria.

Below: Bar and smokers' lounge at Aura, Bleicherweg 5, Zürich