It was a slightly busy wet weekend.  It took a while to get going on Saturday after the extraordinary previous week but in the end I got back to Monkey World.  The park was offering free entry to the public as part of the commemoration of Jim Cronin's work, and Alison Cronin had asked me to come and thank people for coming.

Then off to Reading to talk at a Labour Party dinner and then on to Haverhill to see friends.  It was nice to relax with them on Sunday and reflect on the terrorist threats, the smoking ban and the new Government.

These attacks are horrific in intent even of we were lucky this time to avoid the carnage planned.  The intelligence services averted a major attack last summer but they are not going to be able to detect everything.  We then rely on the bravery and effectiveness of the emergency services and armed forces, and on the vigilence of the public.  I remain optimistic that we will not allow these extremists to undermine our way of life.  The new Home Secretary's tone seemed well judged - determined but calm.

I am also delighted at the smoking ban.  I am yet to go to a pub under the new law but look forward to being able to go out for a drink and not come home with stinking clothes.  I am also confident that the inconvenience of having to go out to smoke will reduce the social pressures for people to start.  Perhaps it helps having the new law come in over a horridly wet weekend.