Bans on public smoking are spreading throughout the world.
That suits Eric who is a lifelong non-smoker, nay, ANTI-smoker.
For 30 days he will change the world and the habits of current smokers.
Day 7: I need to move on now.
My plans are not being as effective as I would like and I need to be firmer and more resolute in my attentions.
I enjoy a trip to the local public bar / inn / tavern.
It's a nice place - homely in the winter with the roaring log fire and light and airy in the summer.
A few beers, a sprinkling of newspapers and some fine food add to the ambience and sensation of well being.
If it were not for the smokers.
Smoking and drinking seem to go together like strawberries and cream or black and white.
Except, I don't believe I will ever die from a strawberry, even if it was thrown at me (although I concede that it make an awful mess and my wife would have difficulty removing the stain).
So, I'm sitting there drinking best bitter.
It is cool to the throat and goes down well apart from the 20 cubic litres of stale (and fresh) cigarette smoke that I am consuming every minute.
The smokers are there at the bar and at the tables.
They are oblivious to the fact that they are ruining my enjoyment of the time at the establishment.
They fill the air with putrid fumes that make me want to gag and, of course, that can significantly add to my demise.
Today I got my own back.
A particularly vile person next to me was loud and boisterous.
Getting out cigarette after cigarette made my blood boil.
Why should they interfere with my enjoyment? I do nothing to them.
Except today.
I took a pint of best bitter (that I know and love so much) and tipped it over their head.
It drenched them and, luckily, some of it extinguished the cigarette.
It was an empiric victory but backfired a little.
That is why I am typing this from the hospital internet café.