Update 20/11/06: Ireland is now No. 3 in the IRB world ranking!

One of these consultations is at infoscotland.com/experience, where the hook is to use ageing software to give people an idea of how they might look at age 65. I ran my picture through the software. In case you’re confused, the one on the left is me at 44 (on a beach in Cornwall), the one on the right is how they think I might look at age 65.

I think there might be a few more grey hairs though! And I’ll need to stay off the buns.

But the reality is the mass spread of the bungalow. These used to be small, modest structures that nestled into the landscape. However recently they’ve been growing to Texan proportions:

I walked past another one today that had a large conservatory, two patios with patio heaters, an outdoor pond or pool (it was bubbling!), and a separate building that seemed to hold a sauna or jaccuzi.

I think this is why the government recently tightened up the regulations on single dwellings in rural areas.

Today was the first day of the smoking ban in Scotland. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed public spaces, including bars, restaurants, cafes, offices and even lorry cabs and white vans.

Why is this a good thing?

• In Scotland (population approx 5 million), 13 000 people die each year from smoking-related illnesses. 1000 of these are due to passive smoking.
• The average smoker’s lifespan is ten years shorter than the average non-smoker. My father died at the age of 64 from a smoking-related illness. He would probably still be alive if he had never smoked.
• 30 minutes exposure to second hand smoke is sufficient to reduce coronary blood flow in otherwise healthy adults.
• Non-smokers exposed to passive smoking in the home have a 25% increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

More stats are available on both the Clearing the Air Scotland and ASH Scotland websites.

Of course, the anti-ban lobby FOREST have a completely different view of the scientific evidence. But then they are funded by Big Tobacco. And they have the most unappealing set of smoking-related photographs!

The hope
The hope is that the 80% of smokers who wish to give up will use the ban as an incentive. Already the smoking cessation service provided by NHS Scotland has received double the number of enquiries as usual. The pull of “social smoking” may become less. And the general health of the population may improve.

Personally, it will be great to be able to go out for an evening and not come back smelling of smoke.

I welcome a smoke-free Scotland.

Update 26/03/06: We went for a walk through Shawlands this afternoon. Interesting to see small groups of smokers outside most of the pubs and restaurants.

Image from BBC News

Update 14:00. A nice 2 hour walk round to Pollok Park, crunching our way through fresh snow. Saw two small deer, one chasing the other through the Park, but they moved too fast to get pictures. Very pretty with the snow on all the trees and buildings, and the White Cart Water flowing through the middle of the Park.

On the way back, we passed by several of Pollok’s herd of Highland cattle, all in their element in the snow.

More pictures on Flickr.

We have wanted to learn proper ballroom (and maybe latin) dancing, particularly spurred on by Strictly Come Dancing. So Jacqueline arranged for us to have our first lesson in ballroom dancing this evening, from dance teacher John at Castlemilk Community Centre.

We’re starting with the waltz, and learnt the box step, change step and natural turn, and tried to put them all together. Needless to say, Jacqueline suffered a few bruised toes. It was very tiring but we were really pleased with our progress.

We have some practice to do before our next lesson!

Travels 2005

April
Lake District
May
London
June
Barcelona [John only]
Ludlow
July
Amsterdam [John only]
August
Balquidder
Nice [John only]
September
Exeter & Cornwall
October
Thornhill
November
Turnberry

We made a plan in early 2005 that we would go away for more weekends and holidays. The best food and lodging places of 2005 were:

Best Restaurants

1. Hibiscus, Ludlow. This is the best restaurant I have ever been to, and this year was our fourth meal there. Even reading the menu again on the website makes me come over all emotional. Fantastically accomplished from aperitif to petit fours, Claude Bosi works magic with good quality ingredients, lifting the flavours and making imaginative combinations. Claire Bosi leads her front of house team in providing intimate, knowledgeable and attentive service. Can I go here on my birthday every year?
2. Driftwood, Cornwall. We thought this was good last year, but it is even better in 2005. I expect to see Rory Duncan recieve a Michelin star before too long.
3. Koo, Ludlow. It is surprising to find a top quality Japenese restaurant in somewhere rural like Ludlow, but this is a real find. Freshly prepared sushi and gzoya for starter, teriyaki main course and a fantastic sticky rice dumpling for pudding.

Best Cheaper Eats

(OK, cheaper is relative to the restaurants listed above!)

1. Gourmet Burger Kitchen. An import from New Zealand, this London-based chain serves real meat burgers with a choice of sauces and chunky chips. Jacqueline loved the falafel.
2. Fifi and Ally. A new cafe at the top of Princes Square, serving great lunches, particularly the Tuscan platter.
3. Wagamama. I like going to the cinema for a 5.30pm film, then drifting down the street to Wagamama for duck gyoza and noodles, followed by white chocolate and ginger cheesecake. Predictable but quality.
4. Beanscene. A local Glasgow chain, this is probably what the original Seattle Starbucks was like before it became a global giant. Leather sofas, interesting soundtrack and excellent coffee. Their Wicked Winter Warmers include a fiery chilli mocha.

Best Hotels

1. Driftwood, Portscatho, Cornwall. Situated on the clifftops overlooking the sea, this is a relaxed haven with a New England beach house feel. The service is informal but with great attention to detail. The tradition of afternoon tea and cake while sitting in the garden is designed to de-stress.
2. The Samling, Ambleside. Intense luxury, big bathrooms. Maybe a little too bling but if you like being pampered, this is the place. Great views over Windermere, and it is possible to start walking directly from the hotel.
3. Trigony House Hotel, Thornhill. This is a small Edwardian country house in the Dumfriesshire countryside, with comfortable rooms and good food. A great place in the autumn with views over the garden to the misty hills.

• most disappointing: Monachyle Mhor. We stayed here in 2004 and it was excellent. Unfortunately there have been some staff changes and while the location and rooms are still luxurious, the service in the restaurant was poor and eroded our enjoyment.

Best Breakfasts

1. The Samling. Breakfast was served in our room by Polish waiters on the day of the Pope’s funeral. Fruit smoothies, fresh baking and cooked breakfasts, all eaten in while still wearing our dressing gowns.
2. Carluccios. A Sunday morning breakfast in South Kensington, on our way back to the airport.
3. Trigony House Hotel, Thornhill. Superb cooked breakfast. We were particularly impressed by the haggis, which we later found out comes from Cockburns of Dingwall.

Best Food Shopping

1. Partick Farmers’ Market. This is the larger of the two Glasgow farmers’ markets, the other one is our local in Queen’s Park. The Partick market has stalls with meat, game, poultry, veg, bread, tomatoes, seafood and lots more. Our favourite stalls are Fencebay Fisheries (cracking hot smoked salmon and fresh fish), Heritage Meat and Game (venison, duck, rabbit, woodpigeon), Puddledub (sausages and bacon) and Hilton Wild Boar (wild boar sausages).
2. 1901 Deli, Shawlands. This new deli was started by the ex-head chef of Delizique in Glasgow’s West End. The deli has been growing steadily over the past year or so, and we’re in a couple of times a week.
3. Dart’s Farm, Topsham. Roger & Ruth took us here when we visited them in September. The large shed-like building sells everything from fish suppers to Aga cookers, but the food hall is amazing. Most of the veg comes from the field across the road, and the butchers smells like butchers used to.

Shall I diarise that?

I can’t even find a definition in Google. And only one entry in Dictionary.com.

Any other top sales guy buzzwords?

For the past few years, this site has been a beacon of hope , poking fun at the ridiculousness of politics and religion in Northern Ireland.

I will miss the reporting staff, including the unionist correspondent Will March, the republican correspondent Anne Phoblacht, the loyalist correspondent Billy Shootspatrick and the religion correspondent Helen Brimstone. Also the regular reviews of Radio Bluster.

I am sad to see it go. But at least there is a book. I look forward to seeing more of Newt’s work.

Update 29/08/2005: The decommissioning has now made the BBC.

Update 13/09/2005: But at least Newton is now writing for The Guardian.