Charles Kennedy was recently caught lighting up on the 11.05 from Paddington. Despite being a smoker he voted for the ban - yet he clearly didn't understand the detail of the bill. He allegedly claimed he thought it was alright, so long as he blew the smoke out the window! Good on him, I say - let's not let them ban everything just yet!
Comments
Charles Kennedy
I remember when trains used to smoke. I didn't know they still had carriages where the windows opened, I haven't been lucky enough to be on one for ages. I would have used the same excuse. Those wishing to be a naughty schoolboy or girl, might I suggest that you use the toilet? Don't forget to cover the smoke sensor with clingfilm first...
"Lucky" isn't the word
"Lucky" isn't the word that's usually used to describe people who have to use the trains nowadays. I actually quite like them still, but that's because I usually treat myself to the luxury of travelling first-class (not too bad off-peak) to make it tolerable.
Are you still banged up? I got the impression from your blog (which is excellent, by the way - even-handed contempt for daftness of all political persuasions, and none) that you were out now. Or am I misunderstanding you? Do you mean you haven't been on a train for ages, or in a carriage with a window? You get the latter mostly on what used to be called the InterCity routes, built into the doors into the carriages. You used to be warned not to lean out of these in case a passing train took your head off, which would have been a more dramatic lesson in the perils of hypocrisy.
Lucky
That would be lucky to be afforded the windows that opened in a train, to stick one's head out and have a smoke like in the old days. Since I have been out I tend to travel on Hull Trains or GNER or Virgin Trains and they are the modern type. Until July or August last year it was still permitted to smoke on the train in a smoking carriage.
I am not in custody now but in the open prison that some people call free society.
I tend to walk almost everywhere, now that I have to resit my test for losing my driving licence over two speeding violations. Otherwise it is the train. Very rarely the bus.
Alan Johnston was right, you have to be a prisoner first to be able to appreciate freedom.