A Problem With Disabled Toilets
I went to the toilet at Gatwick and despite it being a long walk from the Departures Lounge, I had no problems.
But it wasn’t so easy for a guy on two crutches I met, who looked distinctly unhappy. He told me the problem was that as the disabled toilet is the only place where smokers can’t be spotted, they use it as a smoking room. He said that it was particularly disgusting and smelt very strongly of smoke.
I bet those smokers don’t smoke in their own toilets at home!
Smoking In Kings Cross Square
As an experienced police officer said, when I visited earlier in the day, you have to give people somewhere to smoke, until the habit dies out.
One of the East Coast crew, I talked to, said that there should be an area for non-smokers.
But perhaps the most amazing comment I heard, was from a man, who actually asked one of the cleaners in the square, would she mind if he smoked.
I don’t know whether he did, but he had asked the question in a very sheepish manner.
So does an efficient cleaning team, waiting to pounce on a dog end, make smokers feel guilty?
I think it will be very difficult to predict if smoking is allowed in the square in say five years time.
French Think About Beach Smoking Ban
The French Minister for health has said, that she might like to ban smoking on beaches. It’s reported here on the BBC. This is the first paragraph.
A call by France’s health minister for local authorities to ban smoking in parks and on beaches has sparked debate as a heat wave grips the country.
Marisol Touraine told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper she wanted to see more tobacco-free zones, to protect children’s health.
The Socialist minister said she hoped smoking would also be banned outside schools and on university campuses.
According to the article, there is actually a ban at La Ciotat near Marseilles, where they say it has been well-received.
In my view, anything that cuts smoking is a good idea.
Barts Take A Strong Line Against Smoking
This story in the Standard has the headline.
Hospitals warn smokers: no treatment and £75 fine if you light up
I can’t why this isn’t in force all over the country.
Birmingham Is Getting A World Class Station
I’ve been going to the old Birmingham New Street station since the 1960s. Until recently, you always got the impression, you were in the depths of a dark place underneath the centre of the city. The platforms are still a bit dark, but I suspect that’s because they haven’t been finished yet, but get upstairs and some of the station has been transformed.
A Transformed Station
Or at least half of it has, as the reconstruction has some time to run.
Escalators are everywhere, as they should be.
Escalators Are Everywhere
At present only one bridge over the platforms is complete and the second, is just a building site.
Outside an impressive frontage is being finished.
An Impressive Frontage
Although, another entrance is littered with dummies.
New Street Station With Dummies
How do you stop smoking dummies cluttering up entrances? But at least it’s not as bad in the UK, as in some European countries.
After lunch, my friend dropped me back to the station in his car. And what a surprise we got!
Passenger Drop Off At New Street Station
How many stations or airports have such a good well-designed drop off area? I walked straight into the booking hall, and after buying my ticket from a new and improved machine, two minutes later I was on the train back to Euston.
After Birmingham, you realise what a dump Euston station is. And of course it gets worse, as you descend into the Underground. We really knew how to design and build things badly then. Although, there are some notable exceptions! But Euston station is not one of them!
No Maps At Hamburg Station
There were no maps at Hamburg station. But there were cigarette adverts.
No Maps At Hamburg Station
In fact, there were cigarette adverts all over the city.
A Restaurant I Won’t Visit
As they seem to encourage smoking dollies to parade outside, I don’t think I’ll visit this restaurant.
A Restaurant I Won’t Visit
She put me off so much, I didn’t even look at the menu, but just walked by out of the smoke.
A Conversation With A Smoker
This lunchtime, when I left to go to the Allergy Show, I was approached by a well-dressed guy at the bus-stop, who asked if I had a light for his cigarette. I obviously didn’t have one and neither did any of the other six or seven people waiting for the bus.
I suggested it was a sign that he should give up his habit, but he said he’d never found anything that worked. So we all suggested a few ideas and he walked up the road.
He didn’t seem bothered by the ;lecture, but I doubt it will make him think much about his habit.
How To Stop Smoking
This story from California, is an interesting way to stop smoking. Here’s the first paragraph.
Think you’ve heard of every way possible to quit smoking? Etta Mae Lopez came up with a new one: slap a cop and go to jail, where smoking isn’t allowed.
Perhaps, we should take a leaf out of California’s book and ban smoking in prison.
The Anonymous Widower 