Rozalin will always save me

Vienna has again been rated by Mercer as the world’s most livable city.

One can only assume that the people conducting the survey were smokers – or did it by long distance.

I agree that it is a wonderful place to live but – and I know I bang on about this – smoking is a real problem.

Many restaurants still allow smoking or have entirely half-hearted ‘non-smoking’ sections – separated from the smoking section by open doorway.

But – it is a lot better than it was when we first arrived four years ago when it was almost impossible to find a non-smoking restaurant.

Now there are many fine ones from which to chose and the fact change that is in the air is evidenced by the fact that our pizza place next door has recently gone non-smoking – and I could never imagined that happening.

And I in particular should not complain. I live in a penthouse apartment with a lovely wife and two cats and have only to worry about my housekeeping – my cooking – and when the Apple products I just bought will become obsolete.

(I do worry a bit about the ducks in winter but deep down I know they are fine).

And whenever I get into trouble – Rozalin rides to my rescue and saves me from the cold winds of Austrian bureaucracy.