Currently driving to Dundee.

While I'm on the road I'll leave you with this, courtesy of Tobacco Reporter magazine:

The UK’s pro-smoker group Forest (Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Tobacco) describes in a round-up of the year how it, its supporters and others were successful in defeating a proposal that would have seen smoking banned on the beaches and parks of Brighton, a town on the south coast.

Of course, this was a victory amongst a number of losses, notably including the passing of legislation that will require that tobacco products are sold in the UK only in standardized packs.

But what the round-up shows is that, importantly, there is a well-organised (though probably under-funded) group with good connections to the general media trying to get the message of the ordinary smoker across to those in authority and anybody else who is willing to listen. And, occasionally it makes a difference.

Happy New Year!