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03/26/2006: "Three things"
Smoking Ban starts in Scotland...
British Summer Time begins...
Mother's Day...
I think today may go down in years to come as one of the most momentus days in Scottish History. Remember it, 26th March 2006. For a nation renowned for it's bad health record, we are trying to make amends and now officially it is illegal to smoke in any enclosed public area in Scotland. At 6am this morning (British Summer Time - which means that really it was 5am for those who forgot to put their clocks forward!) all smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and places of work has been banned.
I have to admit to being in the pro ban camp and think this is a positive thing. I do sympathise with those who smoke but for years, well all my life really, I've detested going into smoky places and being subjected to passive smoking. And every time I think about it, I think about Sarah, a non-smoker who socialised a lot, often in smokey environements and who died of lung cancer in January. I know people get cancer for many different reasons but I can't help making the link between passive smoking there. So I think Sarah would have been very pleased to see this new ban. I'm only sorry it's come so late.
Hopefully, we will all see the health benefits in years to come. Although judging from our swimming medals record at the Commonwealth Games, we're getting fitter already! I think the research figures will be fascinating. There are of course the inevitable arguments about human rights and 'nanny state' politics and while I do agree with some of the arguments I'm afraid the health one wins every time and I hope those who can't understand or can't agree with the ban do appreciate it eventually. To witness SO having his last cigarette in a bar (he stopped smoking a while ago but was still tempted when out), we went out for a few drinks last night. The bar was horribly smokey. Even by the time we'd walked home the stench of smoke was still clinging to my hair and clothes and I am so pleased that it was the last time that will happen in this country. 
The clocks went forward today, as BST begins. I got up at 6:30am and as I wandered round the house changing the time on all appliances, central heating, clocks, phone, watches it was great to think that now we will be able to go for walks after work and start hillwalking at the weekends again without having to cut walks short to get home in daylight.
It was also Mother's day here and SYD and SED bought me the Corinne Bailey Rae CD and beautiful flowers which was so nice of them and totally spoiling me as usual. We then went to visit my Mother in Fife, gave her some gifts, had a lovely day then drove home along the coast, stopping to take a photo of Crail harbour. It was a pretty grey day so not looking its best.
I think I'm getting dinner cooked for me too. What more could a Mother ask for.....*SYD walks in on cue with glass of wine* Cheers. 
