Today is an historic day for all Brits. Today is the anniversary of our naval victory at the battle of Trafalgar 200 years ago. Well actually it was October 21st, but we're celebrating today. Or rather we're not. Apparently it is not politically correct to 'celebrate' walloping the combined fleets ...   more »

The Nanny State in the UK has been the subject of a rant or two of mine before. On current form looks as if there are many more to come as the raw material is voluminous.

The latest from Mr. Blah's Nanny Farm is a plan to introduce a law - and I quote - "effectively criminalising smoking in public". This was announced by the Government yesterday, with the minister in charge promising an "intelligence-led approach to enforcing the law".

Apparently informers will be encouraged to report breaches of sweeping bans on the habit, in which company smoking rooms will be outlawed and places such as bus shelters and the outsides of office blocks made no-smoking areas. The ban may also cover sports stadiums that are not fully enclosed.

There will be £200 fines for breaches and penalties for companies that fail to display "No Smoking" signs in areas newly outlawed. Individuals who offend face fines of £50. It is thought that establishments which attract repeated complaints could be subject to "sting" operations by council enforcers.

Caroline Flint, the public health minister, confirmed that the policy would be vigorously enforced with the assistance of informers from the public.

"I don't think we are talking about brigades of people out on the streets," she said. "What we are talking about is an intelligence-led approach to enforcing the law." Ah, grasses. Hah! Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun.

We're back to 1984 again aren't we? Now I'm fairly anti-smoking in so much as I don't want to breathe in that sh#t and I am also seriously intolerant and wish my friends did not smoke. But. And this is a pretty big one. Freedom of choice is more important. If folks want to stick burning leaves in their mouths, a practice that if followed for long enough will likely contribute to their early demise, then it is their choice. Not Nanny’s.

Nanny intends that places where people reside, including care homes, adult hospices, psychiatric units and prisons may also choose to be exempt. Really, now let me get this straight. If you are caught smoking a cigarette, legally purchased from a shop with money you earned – and paid tax on – with excise duty having been paid on said cancer sticks, you can be fined. If we take this one step further and assume you don’t pay up you could be sent to prison. Where you are allowed to smoke.

Expect prison overcrowding to increase as smokers feign insanity, rob banks, or simply flout the law and don’t pay the fines in order to be sent down and hence allowed a legitimate smoke.

Madness.

American readers (OK their grandparents) will remember prohibition and what a winner that turned out to be.

Have to admit I've long since stopped being an avid follower of the Ecclestone circus and many more will share my view following this weekends disaster at Indianapolis. F1 really did need to conquer America to be a truly global event (and of course to tap into all those sponsorship ...   more »

This morning as I write this post , with a slightly fuzzy head, I realise how fortunate we were yesterday. It had been raining all day and cleared late afernoon, holding off almost entirely until about 4.00 am when everyone had gone and it was just Natty, Bennet and me ...   more »

What a journey. Chicago to Hong Kong via LA in just over 24 hours.

Now as most of you know I'm fairly immune to travelling and have taken more than odd flight over the last few years - over a million miles on Cathay Pacfic, but that's another story - ...   more »

True to form I've begun to embrance English Country life apace. Not content with searching for a Land Rover I've taken a share in a shoot with old friend VJ, ex of HK. It's a new shoot and we've begun building the pen with a perimeter fence enclosing shelters, feeders ...   more »

One month and counting. I can hardly believe it. Had to fill in my US Visa waiver form on the plane and declare where I live. Had to say Hong Kong. Probably for the last time. Had to. Heavy sigh.

Worked from home this morning, as I'm off to Chicago ...   more »

I do need to get this off my chest and have a bit of a rant.

Now I'm becoming more familiar with the nanny state the UK has become in the years I've been away, but the letter I recieved from the TV Licensing people takes this to another and ...   more »

Quiet LIttle Drinks - QLD's to some - are always the most dangerous. Last evening, full of good intentions, I headed to Chuzzlewits for a glass of wine with a couple of colleagues, ideally to tee me up to face going into Safeway's before heading home for a nice nicoise ...   more »

This is a great article from the Guardian - a lefty rag which I never read.. but for one moment, sod the politics and enjoy a bit of simple prejudice...

A drinking woman's guide to wine
Polly Vernon

I was so very glad to hear that women are fuelling the ...   more »

I have been a little fussy about shipping my cars to the UK. OK, not a great surprise, but at least the shipping agent is taking me seriously as they were very pleased I had made a photographic record as well as a written record of the condition, which they sent to the insurers for me.. and they've now even sent me a picture of the car loaded onto the ship. Nice.

Only 7 weeks to go.

Things are finally coming together and yesterday we moved into our new home. It does look a little spartan with only the furniture from Willow House, but it's a start.

I drove down from London and surprised the girls and we had an exhausting day unpacking and exploring, but by evening we were mostly sorted sitting in the lounge with a glass of Pinot and some nibblies watching Bill Oddies birdwatching show on the telly. How english! And I don't even like birdwatching.

After dinner Ash and I had an explore and met our new neighbours - see pic. Rather different from swatting mossies in Hong Kong or looking for wild boar on Ma On Shan, but a new experience all the same - and best of all both kids are very excited about the farmhouse.

Much to do this weekend when I head back... but looking forward to it now.