You have to wonder what the words “smoke-free zone” mean.
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Perhaps that the smoke in this zone is free, or uncontrolled?
Down The Mall visited our bright shiny new hospital a couple of times this week (nothing serious, you’ll be sad to hear) and while it was scorching hot, there was a surprising amount of fuming going on.
On the Flood Street side of the hospital, the carefully-designed dry climate garden was thick with folk sneaking a sly dart in the bushes.
It was worse at the other main entrance from Barnard Street where people going in and out held their breath while rushing through the pungent pong from smokers ... gasping away next to large and colourful No Smoking signs.
But it’s no use lecturing people about smoking.
For decades smokers have been bombarded with facts and figures, studies and reports; it’s the main cause of this and that nasty illness and disease.
That scientific approach does not seem to be working. Or working fast enough. It led US writer, the magnificently named Fletcher Knebel, to note “Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics.”
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Sadly, we might not be out much for the rest of February and all of March.
AusNet Services which connects gas to households in Bendigo, has been sending out letters to folk in California Gully and probably elsewhere.
“INTERRUPTION TO YOUR GAS SUPPLY.” (Capital letters, so you know it’s serious.)
It went on – in lower case – to advise that a gas meter was due for replacement and someone would turn up to do it and the contractor would need access to the property to turn on the new supply and check gas appliances.
When? “BETWEEN MONDAY 19 FEB 2018 AND FRIDAY 30 MAR 2018.”
This could be subject to weather conditions.
But it’s okay because the letter says if you’re not comfortable turning the gas on and relighting pilot lights yourself, just give AusNet a call and arrange for a chap to call – at a convenient time.