SeanMacGabhann

Deep South of Ireland - where the smoking ban has been in place for a couple of years. (making it pertinent to this thread) Much doom and gloom before it's introduction but by-and-large the country has survived. And Ireland is a country already oversaturated by pubs - the town of 6000 people I come from has 30+ pubs and I am only aware of 2 or 3 which have actually closed in the last 5 years (less than the average wastage cosidering the property boom) I keep hearing about how takings are down by x % and the business is dying, but if approx 30 pubs are still open and doing business in a town of that size, when many of them could sell the premises to a property devloper then I would suggest the business is in ruder health than we are lead to believe This is not to say that I would want to become a publican - it sounds like long hours, hard work in a very competitive field - but just to point out that the smoking ban remains a Good Thing in my book

Re: the L word.... good point MP. This co-option business tho... fight or flee? hmmmm And I used the phrase "I can assure you.." - I've been hanging out with Louisa too much ( just kidding Louisa ;-) )

AGreed Michael -I spotted a bit more ED - upstairs at the EDT for the wine tasting for example but the programme was a bit too MoR And while the food looked tasty, if I was waiting for indian food before a game I would expect and WANT a curry unless otherwise told

As someone fom "beyond the pale" (and how that phrase irritates non-Dubliners) I can assure you that even in the rural part I am from the smoking ban is observed and in many places gratefully so. My cantankerous younger sister, a 30-40 a day woman, has finally given up and is a self-confessed new woman) But apart from what I see when I go back to Ireland (a MUCH more interesting place than when I was growing - because of, not in spite of, all the reasons that some begrudgers still living there constantly mention - smoking bans, immigration, Euro etc) I pay little attention to family anecdotal evidence - which tends to have an opinion and then adapt the anecdote to suit

Without a smoking ban, I'd have to confess to being outside anyway if there was a DJ in Liqourice (with all due apologies to your friend) - but I take the point It's very early days and many pubs will struggle to adjust (or may not) but this is not really a short-term thing. The full benefit won't be seen for years IMO As a libertarian, I am more of a Consequentialist than a Rights libertarian - basically, I see intervention as sometimes necessary tool if voluntary action doesn't produce anything - as I've said many a time before not many people would voluntarily return to a smoking office, bus or plane. And if any legislation was proposed to ban smoking entirely I would oppose it.

I had the same thought about the estate agents and The Bishop - we'll see. There are times of the week when one could ask the question "how would anybody be able to tell?" but mostly I like th Bishop just fine And Trees Lounge is a top shout too

I have never come across someone elses stash ;-)

There was also a wine tasting session upstairs at the EDT, and a good shot of Black Cherry

If Huguenot's post was the last one it would have been beautiful... but as it recently looks like this: Before I have spent the last 24 hours in shorts and a vest, some hammer and nails and a swimming-pool's worth of paint, attempting a revamp... Come on in

FearnBoozin - now I'm at home I can see the pics in your post - big grin!

although to be fair, a good number of people will be able to answer yes to charl1ie' questions as well And of course ED is nowhere near the vanguard on this issue - several European countries (incl Ireland) have taken the initiative years ago There is definitely a case to be answered viz: "is this not just a drop in the ocean?" but every long journey starts with a couple of small steps (to mix my metaphors). It's certainly no real hardship is it to give up the bags is it?

Think about just what exactly is IN that sausage "item" before you eat it tho surely?

Cheers Jah What's been most interesting about the answers so far is that there is a near-consensus on the good v bad. Anyone want to stick up for the Vale/Uplands?

Like many bars I don't go to 72 on a Fri Sat night - but if I pop in of a weekend afternoon it's usuallyquiet enough to have a natter/read a paper/listen to best music selection in ED

holy moly - that's fantastic... Cheers Louisa Even more upsetting to think of it in it's current state now

ratty - big green bit Dwulich Woods

I'm with you on the sunday "vibe" thing Susyp but (and apologies here but I know someone is going to say it...) are you SURE it was The Green ;-)

number of posts before people suggested getting together and including a visit to a pub = less than I thought ;-) Good idea though - it must be pretty mucky up there at the moment mind

That made me chuckle JL - but are you referring to the program or my comment of recording it on Sky+ or just taking the opportunity for a good gag?

Absolutely clean and sober G ;-)

plussed!

After Siduhe's comments on a property-related thread about the woods I thought I'd start a thread specifically about them (To answer Siduhe's original question, depending which path you take you can come across an old railway tunnel - very spooky) One of my favourite spots in the area for a bit of r'n'r - The view from the top of the woods across to North London is very fine indeed - you can see Wembley On another D&S woods related story - with apologies if I've told it before: The most scared I have ever been was on a weekday - I was off from work and decided to have a ramble in the woods. As I was heading up the path away from the grove/Harvester I started to near the junction of the little bridge abd gate, and could see a tall figure standing very still by the corner As I got closer it appear to look like, well, like a ninja. A bit odd As I got closer still I could see it was a ninja, and was facing straight ahead.Being on my own I couldn't figure out why a ninja would be stood on it's own in the middle of the woods. With a huge big f-off sword at that. And if I was attacked who would be aby the wiser. i definitely considered bottling it and turning around but pressed on. Closer still. I could see the whites of his eyes and became genuinely scared but momentum had the better of me - and just as I passed he went "aw-roi?" That took be my surprise and then as I reached the corner I could see a film crew dressing a scene - which explained everything. But man was I scared..

Yep there was an old railway line - depending which path you take you can come out near.. .you know what I'm going to start a thread about the woods as I have a story to tell as well

I've seen it busy on occassion - but as often as not it seems to be pretty empty. Was sorely tempted to go in yesterday just toget out of that storm... but I held on for 72

St John's Wood - >:D< me likee I guess many of us could go as Barking