Weather watch

I'm pleased to report that Smoke On The Water, the Forest boat party on October 22, is fully booked.

To be honest, I was sceptical we would get anywhere near capacity (200).

One, it's seven years since we last organised a boat party (Smoke On The Water ran annually from 2011 to 2017) and most of our guests during that period have moved on and are no longer working in parliament, or Westminster generally.

Two, Smoke On The Water was a summer boat party, held in June or July, and even then we couldn't guarantee good weather so it was always a bit nerve-wracking.

We had some lovely evenings, with the sun setting behind the London skyline and guests enjoying the open rear deck, but there was one year when it was pretty miserable, weather-wise, although people still seemed to enjoy themselves.

Nevertheless, I put any doubts to one side because, with the Tobacco and Vapes Bill about to be reintroduced to parliament by the new Labour government, it was now or never for a Westminster-based event where we could air our grievances.

As it happens, and despite the recent poor weather, the forecast for Tuesday (in London at least) is pretty good, although I'll believe it when I see it.

(I've been keeping tabs on it for the past week and every day the forecast has changed, which is why I generally ignore them.)

Anyway, I'll keep you posted. Fingers crossed it doesn't rain on the night and we get a full house.