Project 366 / 326 - Childrens bedtimes, pubs and smoking

What is it with children and going to bed? It's almost like evenings hold some magical mystery. They think that it's a time of great wonder, hidden treasure and incredible treat when the reality is that it's a time of washing up, tidying up after them and trying to get prepared for the next days onslaught.

Of course I only have to look back to my own childhood to remember the unfairness of bedtime. During the school holidays when my sister and I were actually at home I remember our parents being pretty strict on bedtime. They obviously cherished their evenings greatly and us children didn't factor into that enjoyment.

If we got to stay up to watch The Dukes of Hazard we were lucky. In fact the only times I remember staying up late was when we were down the bar of the rugby or cricket club on a Saturday night. Those were strange times - parents drinking and smoking all evening, us playing outside or just sitting outside waiting, perhaps being thrown a 10p to have one, yes one turn each on the fruit machine. And then the eventful drive home watching the glow of the street lights pour orange coloured shapes through the window.

Isn't it strange how the idea of smoking has changed so much, and in such a short space of time. When we were young everyone smoked - parents, parents friends, everyone on tv, doctors, nurses, firemen. Everyone. The Marlboro Man and Hamlet were two iconic adverts up until the turn of the century. You'd come home from the pub stinking of cigarettes no matter whether you smoked or not. In hindsight it was not only disgusting but incredibly unhealthy.

The smoking ban became effective on 1st July 2007. There was a national uproar but the noise didn't last that long. Smokers were driven outside and for the first time you could go for a night out without your clothes being contaminated. It was amazing.

In fact it wasn't until my wife and I went to Prague for a weekend city great that I really noticed it. We'd checked in to the hotel and gone out for a spot of shopping. As soon as we returned I smelt something different, something disgusting. Someone was actually smoking inside the hotel! It was vile and obtrusive - how dare they pollute me with their stinky smoke? It was only then that I realised how nice and how much I appreciated the UK smoking ban.

And for the record, I'm an ex-smoker.