I experienced my first 'post-BII annual lunch informal drinks gathering' thing the other day outside the renowned Audley pub in London's well-heeled Mayfair district.
It was a great opportunity to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones.
But a question did occur to me as I stood on the public highway, shoulder to shoulder with the great and the good of the UK pub trade, cradling a pint of beer and fending off the attentions of an especially annoying winged insect.
When the smoke ban hits England in less than two months time how will local authorities react to hordes of people standing about outside pubs having a cigarette and drinking beer, wine, etc?
The crowds standing about chatting and drinking outside the Audley might not have been a typical post-ban scenario, but it was an insight into what might happen when streets outside pubs are thronged with smoking customers.
The BII crowd had clearly enjoyed themselves at their lunch - now there's a euphemism and a half - but their age, if they will pardon the observation, meant they were unlikely to cause trouble with the security staff who were fully occupied trying to clear space on the pavements for passers-by to, er, pass by.
When July 1 rolls around and pubs turf out their smoking drinkers onto the streets, quite literally, can we expect fluorescent-jacketed security personnel doing the same thing outside pubs the length and breadth of the land?
Only time will tell, but my guess is it's going to be a minefield for licensees and pub operators all over the shop.
Who do we think we are?
The other day I mentioned I went to see Deep Purple. A number of readers wrote to concur with my taste in rock music, which I have to say makes a pleasant change from getting it in the neck from the 'youngsters' here in the Publican office who prefer something a bit more…moderne. Undeterred, I have decided to continue my musical theme and list below my 10 all-time classic rock bands in order of greatness.
Feel free to agree/disagree/ignore completely, but remember, it's just for fun…
1. Deep Purple
2. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Rammstein (mad German rockers)
5. Pink Floyd
6. The Who
7. Motörhead
8. Status Quo (pre-1978)
9. Rage Against The Machine
10. Black Sabbath
Next week, the world's 10 greatest punk bands. Oh yes...