AUGURI

© mb.it

Hoping for a win this week-end!

THIS SEASON'S CLOTHES

© drew

VI NATIONS II

Already this year's VI Nations is proving to be so much better than last year's with some fairly intense games this week-end. Although I was initially all for Wales, I couldn't help but feel some sense of undeserved victory for them. Or could that simply be due to an English tendency to love the underdog? As for France, still having a little part of my heart attached there, I am probably going to be more for them than any other team (except England, of course ;p). And have you ever seen a more elegant placing down of a ball for a try than Yannick Jauzion's (example below)? Besides, it was worth it to see their win wipe the cutesy leprechaun grin off BOD's face. But I am enjoying this year's VI Nations especially more for a very important reason: the increased participation of - and therefore increased camera attention on - a certain chouchou. During the anthems, I even noticed a little tear .. The emotion is getting to all of us it seems! ;p

© bbc

SUCCESS

© wellcome

BIG sigh of relief - I have passed the most recent set of exams and made it almost half-way across those murky waters to Qualified Medical Herbalist. Now I am wading through drugs and disease .. although maybe not literally. Thankfully.

SWYWTH

© radio4

Anyone who knows me knows that I almost permanently glued to Radio 4, to the point of intravenous sometimes, and could probably recite their schedule like a continuity announcer. On Thursday, there is going to be an interesting afternoon play in which you might even get to take part, vicariously. It's called: Say What You Want to Hear. Let's hope they do.

VI NATIONS' OPENING WEEK-END

© telegraph

It has been a VERY good start to the tournament, with England winning against Wales 30-17. They even wore some very fetching shirts for the occasion although unfortunately these were only a one-off because it is the centenary year of Twickenham. Call me old-fashioned but .. Anyway, it was a good match in more ways than one since I was lucky enough to be watching the first live broadcast of the match in 3-D. Let me just say that as much as I am attached to my sunglasses (and I am: I carry them with me all year round), watching a rugby match in special shades is a strange experience and although you didn't quite feel as if you were actually there, the perspective was great, especially from ground level. One odd thing I did notice was that these special cameras made the players look extremely buff; even Steve Thompson looked 7 feet tall and 13 stone (he is actually 6'2" and 18st 2lb). The other matches were only noteworthy because - blink - MIRCO WAS THE KICKER - blink - in Italy's match against Ireland (Italy lost 29-11 but not because of Mirco) and I managed to fall asleep during the second half of the Scotland-France match (9-18) and not miss a thing. I am really looking forward to next week-end!

YOGA II

© yj

February's pose stretches the thighs, abdomen, chest and shoulders, stimulates the abdominal organs. I have problems with simple one-legged pigeon pose, never mind this one :(