Cheers for the link. According to their website, you need advance permission for a tripod. pir was using the monopod to help brace the G9 for some photos, to save having to crank the ISO.

I've mostly used my tripod to a) support flashes triggered by photocells for portraits, b) take long exposures of fiery idiocy on the beach at Whitby and c) take a night-time shot of Whitby Abbey from the far cliff - although I've yet to have a good look at that one.