Tobacco 'n' Things

I smoke tobacco...I roll my own cigarettes...I have been doing this for years...my favourite cigarette is in the morning...the very first of the day...kick starts the lungs you see ?

Silly people who smoke tailor made cigarettes are often horrified at this...they think that roll-ups are too strong because they have no filter...but tailor made ciggies are full of nasty chemicals and bits of wood and stuff that doesn't belong in tobacco...and it's this that gives you cancer...not tobacco...as the government would like people to believe.

The government of my country are banning cigarette smoking in all bars and restaurants...and pretty soon they'll extend that ban to smoking in all public places methinks.

Apparently the second-hand smoke...or fumes...give people who don't smoke cancer...the government call this passive smoking...luckily for us all...the fumes and toxins emitted from cars and lorries are not a problem...or else they'd ban driving...wouldn't they ?

I was angry at this smoking ban...but the politicians are only thinking of what's best for us...and our prime minister Tony is a nice guy...because the government show lots of adverts on TV telling you about the dangers of smoking...along with handy phone numbers for you to call if you want to quit...I think that perhaps Tony loves us all.

The government also run ads on TV about the dangers of drinking to excess...and eating too much junk food and stuff...so they must care...that's also why Tony invaded Iraq...because that nasty man over there had weapons of mass destruction...and he was a liar and dictator.

No weapons were found...but I am sure that Tony knows what he's doing as he cares deeply for us all...doesn't he ?

I also think that it's only fair that although a smoking ban will apply to us all...in Westminster...where the politicians that passed the anti smoking bill work...they will still be allowed to smoke in the bars and things...after all...they are under a lot of stress trying to keep us all healthy and on the right track.

It's reassuring in this age of cynicism and double standards to know that my government loves it's people.

The Country

Getting bored of the city...I ran down the road until I came to the country...grass and trees and cows and wee birds in abundance...no park was this...but rather...cultivated land...farming land...the countryside.

I frolic'd in the fields...the wind blowing in my hair...whilst cows looked on in idle curiosity...chewing the cud.

" Moo! " said I...and laughed quietly to myself.

Occasionally...I'd huddle the dry stone dyke that ran the length of this field...to better escape the worst of the effects of the fresh air...still allowing myself time to take in the scenery by snatching furtive glances over the wall...

" Isn't nature beautiful " I thought.

When night fell...I ran skipping down country lanes and clambouring over hedges...eager now to be home...where finally I'd assume my position by the fireside...safe against the worst of the effects of the fresh air.

For it's here I sit of an evening...safe within my walls...with my loved ones...each of us in our positions...where we regale each other with tales of the world outside...and descriptions of scenarios we've faced during the day.

Sometimes...prior to drawing the curtains of an evening...above the streetlights haze...a solitary star winks...

My Community

My community is where I live...my house is part of a community...if I look out of the window...I see other houses in my community.

I have an upstairs in my house...as well as a downstairs...though some people don't have an upstairs...they only have a downstairs...except they don't call it that...no stairs you see?...they call it the ground.

So some people in my community live on the ground...whilst others live downstairs and upstairs...though not in both places at once.

I have a garden that I can plant things in...and it has nice flowers and things...even a pear tree and an apple tree...and some grass too...which I've cut and cultivated...I call it a lawn.

Some people in my community have a garden too but choose not to cultivate it...and it is often littered with things that've spilled out of their house...that they either don't want in the house or have no room for.

The people in my community who reside on either side of me are called neighbours...these are people that I see more often...and sometimes we share a word or two...usually about the weather and other neutral subjects.

Because I live in a community in the city...neighbours often come and go...so people tend to keep themselves to themselves.

At night if you go out...sometimes the neighbours have left their curtains open...and you can see them through the window sitting inside in their positions...either downstairs or on the ground...watching TV or talking or both...and you can marvel at their taste in wallpaper and furnishing...but this is a rare thing in my community at night...as curtains are usually drawn.

Nobody causes any bother in my community...and nobody bothers too much with anybody...and if there ever is any bother...and you hear a commotion...it's usually behind not only drawn curtains but closed doors...never on the street.

I think this is called community spirit...all communties have one but some of them are bad.

My house is part of a community spirit...if I look out of my window...I see other houses in my community...and on occasion...a curtain twitched by an unseen hand.