Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 17:23 Thanks to the MP (a non-smoker) who yesterday gave me a copy of a new book and wrote, on the title page:
Here's to safe smoking in Pubs and Clubs
Title of the book? The Future of Conservatism.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 11:19 
The 'stars' of this year's I'm A Celebrity have been revealed.
Alongside former jockey Willie Carson, Coronation Street's Antony Cotton and comedian Freddie Starr is former model and actress Lorraine Chase, a non-smoker who I last saw at Forest's 30th anniversary party in 2009.
In fact, she features at the end of our little promo video (above) after she told us:
"We have a choice. I'm not an idiot. I can think for myself, and the more you take my thinking away from me, that's dangerous, that's dangerous."
Go Lorraine!!
As it happens Forest has a longstanding interest in the reality TV programme. Our patron Antony Worrall Thompson appeared in the second series in 2003 and we kept a daily diary ('I'm a smoker, get me out here!') on our old website.
Sadly it's no longer available because it was very funny. At one point Antony's craving for nicotine (and sausages) got the better of him and he tried to break out of camp in search of fags. He eventually came a creditable fourth.
Since then smokers such as Shaun Ryder have proved very popular with the viewing public which tells you that the habit is not an issue for most people.
If, on the other hand, you're an anti-smoker and obsessive about health (remember Gillian McKeith?) ...
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 16:42 Currently at Millbank Studios in Westminster.
I have just recorded an interview for East Midlands Today (BBC1). In a few minutes I shall also be on BBC Radio Nottingham.
Subject? Smoking in or around playgrounds and the school gates. (See Nottingham City Council to make playgrounds 'smoke free'.)
"What has this got to do with the local council?" I asked before querying the effects of smoking outside and the cost of all those 'Please do not smoke' signs.
"Parents," I concluded, "should be allowed to use their common sense and make their own decisions."
"Let's hope they make the right decision and don't smoke around children," said Anne, the presenter, firmly.
(The BBC doesn't do neutrality on smoking, does it?)
"No offence, Anne," I said off-air, "but that [comment] was a bit one-sided."
She didn't reply but I heard her record a new, less partisan, comment to finish the interview.
I'd be interested to know which version they broadcast.
Simon Clark
Click on the image above to see yesterday's report on East Midlands Today.
It's at the top of the programme. Interestingly, they did delete the excessively partisan comment with which presenter Anne Davies concluded the interview.
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 9:13 The most popular early day motion in the current parliament is EDM 210 which is dedicated to 'Community public houses'.
To date 275 MPs have signed the EDM which "recognises the social, economic and cultural importance of well-run community pubs" and "urges the Government to implement a package of policies which will help secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs".
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) was quick to claim credit. Commenting in December 2010, the group's public affairs team said:
"This is a great achievement, considering that there are almost 1200 EDMs in total! The jump in signatures came as a direct result of the actions of CAMRA members in specific constituencies, who used the CAMRA campaign site to contact their MPs and ask them to sign up.
"We are delighted that EDM 210 has achieved the highest number of signatures. We would like to thank all members who have contacted their MP and asked them to sign, and urge members who haven't yet asked to do so as soon as possible! We hope the overwhelming parliamentary support will lead to vital reforms which will benefit well-run community pubs."
Needless to say these "vital reforms" don't include an amendment to the smoking ban, despite the clear evidence linking the closure of thousands of pubs to the introduction of the ban.
Truth is, CAMRA has never shown the slightest interest in fighting or amending the ban or even engaging with those who support separate smoking rooms. We invited both the director and the chairman to the Save Our Pubs & Clubs reception at the House of Commons in June and neither bothered even to reply, which says it all really.
But what really struck me about EDM 210 was the fact that two of the five sponsors include Sir Peter Bottomley (Conservative) and Bob Russell (Lib Dem) who are also members of the ASH-run All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Smoking and Health.
Also noticeable is the number of MPs who support both the smoking ban and "community public houses".
Don't these numpties understand that the fate of the latter may be connected to the former and that the only way to "secure the future of viable and well-run community pubs" may be to give landlords the option of a separate smoking room like this?
Doh!
Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 12:12 While I was in Edinburgh this week I had a drink with Tom Miers, editor of The Free Society.
We met at Deacon Brodies Tavern in the Royal Mile. It's not my favourite pub in the city but I have one happy memory in which Deacon Brodies plays a small part.
(If you have no interest in football, or Scottish football, look away now.)
On May 14, 1983, Dundee United – the club I have supported since I was ten when my family moved to Scotland – won the Scottish League Championship for the first and only time in its history. It will never happen again (well, not in my lifetime) so I am proud to say I was there to see the final dénouement.
As a schoolboy I was a regular at Tannadice, United's home ground. Then I went to university in Aberdeen and by the Eighties I was living in London. Give or take a few cup finals, I watched from afar and spent Saturday afternoons at Stamford Bridge (watching Chelsea) instead.
The 82/83 season was no flash in the pan. United had been getting better and better, year after year. On Wednesday April 6, 1983, however, they lost to rivals Celtic and with six games to go, including another match against Celtic in Glasgow, most people – including United fans – assumed that the title challenge was over for another year.
Mathematically, though, it wasn't. If United won all six games, a tall order, they could still win the league. Over the next few weeks the results went as follows:
St Mirren 1-2 Dundee United
Celtic 2-3 Dundee United
Dundee United 4-0 Kilmarnock
Morton 0-4 Dundee United
Dundee United 4-0 Motherwell
On the eve of the final and deciding game of the season I left my office in St Andrews Hill, close to St Paul's Cathedral and caught a train to Edinburgh where I stayed overnight with a friend, before continuing my journey to Dundee the following morning.
The situation was simple: if United beat our near neighbours and fiercest rivals Dundee we would win the league. If the game was a draw or, worse, United lost, one of two teams - Celtic or Aberdeen - could snatch the title if they won their matches against Rangers and Hibernian respectively.
From the station I walked the mile and a half to the ground, following the same route that I took as a teenager. As in those days, I went to the match alone. None of my friends supported Dundee United. If they didn't support Celtic or Rangers they supported the "bigger" of the two Dundee clubs.
In the early Seventies United seemed to lose as many matches as they won. One year we lost three home games in succession, conceding five goals each time – and I witnessed every single one. On another occasion we were beaten 6-4 by Dundee. That doesn't sound too bad, but it was 6-1 at one stage and the three goals we scored towards the end were no consolation, believe me.
Yet there I was, a decade later, walking from the city centre, past the same old tenements and the spit and sawdust pubs, to the top of Dens Road where the two grounds – Dens Park and Tannadice – stand side by side. And this time we were 90 minutes away from being champions of Scotland and qualifying for the European Cup.
As luck would have it, the venue for the decisive match of the 82/83 season was not Tannadice but Dens Park where I had watched United lose those six goals. There was no question of it being an unlucky ground, though, because United had gone on to win the Scottish League Cup in 1979 and 1980 and each time they won it at Dens Park. (It's a long story. If you've followed me this far, well done. I won't stretch your patience further.)
Anyway, I arrived early which was a good decision because the ground was full long before kick-off and I don't remember it being all-ticket. This was pre-Hillsborough and all-seater stadiums were almost unheard of so I stood shoulder to shoulder with other United fans in a cramped enclosure at one end of the main stand. The atmosphere was incredible.
The teams came out and the match kicked off. I could hardly bear to look. Amazingly, after just eight minutes United were two goals up. Everything was going our way. We even missed a penalty but scored from the rebound. What could possibly go wrong? Then Dundee scored: 2-1.
Half-time arrived. Many of us had small transistor radios in our pockets. Word spread that Celtic were losing 2-0 but Aberdeen (managed by Alex Ferguson) were ahead. United had to win.
That second half was the longest 45 minutes I have ever known. Celtic came back from two goals down to beat Rangers 4-2 while Aberdeen went on to score five against Hibs.
Thankfully United held on to win and at the final whistle fans invaded the pitch to celebrate. Eventually, responding to the thunderous cheers, the players re-emerged for a lap of honour. The manager, Jim McLean, appeared and was hoisted on to the shoulders of his players where he was photographed ... smiling. (McLean managed the club for 22 years. He was a famous curmudgeon who allegedly fined the team after one match because they failed to press home their superiority and "only" won 6-0.)
It must have been an hour before everyone left the ground. I joined supporters walking back to the city centre. Everyone had a pub or a bar to go to but I had to travel back to Edinburgh – specifically, Deacon Brodies – where I had arranged to meet a friend.
I remember walking into the pub wearing my United scarf. One or two strangers came up and offered their congratulations; a barman gave me a pint, "on the house". But no-one else seemed interested. Only 40 miles separated the two cities but that night they could have been on different planets.
I didn't care. Deacon Brodies is the pub where I celebrated Dundee United's first and only Scottish League Championship. Now that's an evening I shall never forget.
PS. Results from the old English First Division that day were:
Aston Villa 2-1 Arsenal
Coventry City 2-4 West Ham United
Everton 1-1 Ipswich Town
Manchester City 0-1 Luton Town
Norwich City 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
Notts County 3-2 Manchester United
Southampton 0-1 Birmingham City
Sunderland 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Swansea City 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Stoke City
Watford 2-1 Liverpool
In 1984 United reached the semi-final of the European Cup where they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Roma. Had they beaten Roma they would have played Liverpool in the final.
In 1987 United reached the final of the UEFA Cup, losing to Gothenburg. In the quarter-final they beat Barcelona home and away, winning 3-1 on aggregate.
Happy days.
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 13:04 
This video was posted on Forest's Facebook page last night.
It was produced by Maya Saab who graduated recently from the University of Leeds with an MA in advertising and design.
"For my final art direction project," says Maya, "I decided to create a campaign against the smoking ban in England bars and pubs.
"The research I conducted led me to [Forest's] website where I mostly benefited from the links and the 'Amend the smoking ban' campaign.
"The website along with the whole design have been a great inspiration."
Writing on Facebook she adds:
"Although this movement was created for a university project, this cause and e-petition are real. Sign the petition, FIGHT FOR CHOICE."
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 11:05 
Forest's man in Ireland, John Mallon, made his national television debut yesterday.
Click on the image above to see how he got on when he appeared on The Morning Show on TV3. It's the main item at the top of the programme.
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 7:37 According to a press release issued by the Department of Health this week:
Children are so concerned about the impact on their parent's health that they'd go to considerable lengths to get them to give up, including going without Christmas presents; giving up their pocket money; and even committing to complete their homework every night, according to new research ...
The research, which was conducted on behalf of Department of Health, reveals the anti smoking stance of a new smokefree generation of kids [sic] who are so opposed to cigarettes they've labelled smoking stupid, say they will never try a cigarette and that they wish that nobody in the world smoked.
It wouldn't be a DoH press release without the gruesome twosome popping up to comment, and sure enough:
Anne Milton, Public Health Minister, said: "What's clear from the research is that children really want their parents to give up smoking ..."
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive, Action on Smoking & Health (ASH), said: "Evidence shows that smokers need to be motivated to quit and need advice on how to quit ..."
Frankly, I don't know why ASH bothers to have its own office. The DoH must have a spare room. Or Anne and Debs could share. Think of the savings ...