HAPPY HALLOWE'EN

REGULATE OR NOT REGULATE?

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These are murky times to be a student herbalist for there are at the moment, dark and serious mutterings in the form of a consultation about regulation as well as a strange thing known loftily as the 'Codex Alimentarius'. These documents are utterly tedious to read and I suppose this is what the government is relying on to deter even the most determined from deciphering the civil-servantese in order to make a decision on the right way forward. Personally, I haven't made my mind up about what it all means for me and my future but if you're feeling militant, there is a mass lobby on the 2nd November, otherwise here's some bedtime reading:

Pitillo report
Joint consultation information
Consultation questions
EHPA
NIMH press release

YOGA - X

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And so back to the yoga, which of course we’ve continued diligently with all summer! This particular pose stretches the thighs and psoas muscle, stimulates the abdominal organs and opens the shoulders and chest. It's challenging to say the least.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Not sure if the strike affected delivery of birthday cards but Very Happy Birthday anyway!

H-CUP II

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This week-end, I felt very excited at the prospect of seeing 'Quins against Toulouse live and even more excited when 'Quins were leading 14-0 at half-time. However, as so often happens, at the beginning of the second half, 'Quins nodded off, took their eye off the ball, conceded two easy tries (and all the other clichés) with the result that Toulouse won the match 19-23, Nick failing to score the match-winning try in the dying moments. On reviewing my photos (all 372 of them) afterwards, I have come up with my own 'sock' theory as to why this may have happened ..

Meanwhile, in the other match that has any meaning for me, I came in just as the second half was beginning to find Stade trailing 21-12 and a game full of physicality, Mirco seemingly suffering whiplash with a yellow-carded shoulder barge from Matt Banahan. It has to be noted, at this point, that Banahan is quite a lot taller than any other player, let alone Mirco. Luckily, Stade pulled their socks up and won 29-27! Now we have to wait patiently until December for Round 3 ..

SO, IS IT ART?

Yesterday, a big Antony Gormley art experiment came to an end. For the first couple of days after 6 July, I was quite mesmerised by the Fourth Plinth outside the National Gallery, stopping by to take photos or logging-on whenever I could to see how each 'plinther' would occupy their time during their hour of fame. After a while though, I realised that there is only so much you can take of people talking on their mobile 'phones, reading their books, dressed in furry costumes, eating their lunch or simply sitting doing nothing. In fact, I can see that on my train journey any time, minus the furry costumes mostly. I did happen to see some quite interesting spectacles (including - shock! - a naked man) but I just could not muster enthusiasm for the full 100 days of navel-gazing. Next occupant of the plinth: a statue of a war hero.

H-CUP I

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Nothing much gets done during the week-ends when the Heineken Cup is on (or for that matter during any week-end when The Rugby is on) and there are sooo many matches to follow! Out of the two that hold any significance for me, I'm pleased to report that Stade started their campaign this year with a decisive win against Edinburgh: 31-7 (Mirco deigning to make an appearance for the last 18 minutes or so) while 'Quins lost to Cardiff: 20-6. I was able to watch the latter match, which was maybe not such a good thing as I felt increasingly frustrated at their clumsiness as the game wore on. Nick would surely have scored a try! Still, an interesting opening week-end where an Italian team had the audacity to beat a champion French team and Leicester showed their famed tenacity which has cost Stade dear in the past. Luckily they are not in the same pool this year. But it looks like another good week-end in prospect!

RETURN

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While I was napping, it seems there were some very strange occurrences within the rugby world. Either that or I had some very strange dreams, bordering on nightmares, involving blood and winks and bans and resignations. However, in a week when 'Start The Week' returns to Radio 4 (always a sign that the summer holidays are decidedly over) and the H-Cup has its opening week-end, I thought it appropriate to make my own re-appearance. Time to get down to serious blog business again.