plod

Cité de l'Espace at Toulouse isn't bad. No rides, mind, unless you count the 3D cinema.

I hope it's a good game - do you think Cardiff are in with a chance? Not on paper I would have thought. We are still top but can we stay there? Very big game against Irish tomorrow. Isn't Cipriani a silly boy?

It's hard being a Glaawwwsss supporter at the moment. However, I am going to be able to watch the highlights in an hour or so from now. I'll be able to make my own mind up then.

First Balshaw - I thought he had some undeserved stick to start with but against France he did look wobbly and Ashton should move him aside. Is Lewsey the answer? I'm not sure. He can't kick and he isn't an incisive runner; he can tackle and catch the high ball. Lievremont has made another host of changes; I don't think this can be helpful, but they've got Jauzion back now. All the top sides in the Premiership are wobbling now, Sarries have lost it worse than us. It should be an interesting run-in to the last weeks. Ireland to beat Wales?

I don't think so; I suspect that Ireland will beat Wales despite their relatively poor form. I also think England have a chance against France which, considering I think Ashton should be picking a side for the future, might be a bad thing and we would slip into the complacency of the last five years when we have done poorly in all but a few games.

We have quite a lot of paving which gets very grubby and I don't want to get the Karcher out every week. Has anybody tried sealing thier paving and if so, is it effective at making for easier cleaning?

By all accounts they were a bit unlucky against Leicester whereas at Bristol they were poor. They are still top but do seem wobbly at the moment. I am mystified by Ashton's selections. You pick a prop (Payne) one week and the next match he isn't even in the squad. Mind you the French coach is mixing his team up also.

It blows like billio here in Albi too. It does drive us mad somedays.

Nice to be missed - I've been away. Pity about the Tigers' game,especially as both teams had many players missing. England are very disappointing; I thought Wilkinson should be dropped but reckon he is now the David Beckham of rugby - undroppable. But he was OK against Italy. Something is wrong and it may well be, as Lynagh says, the coaching staff. Getting to the final of the RWC was probably a bad thing in some ways as it has covered up the weaknesses in the England set-up. I still think France are vulnerable but don't know if they are that vulnerable. C'mon Glaaawwwsss!

Has anybody grown Ratte?

Walking through the streets of old Albi I noticed several bottles of water outside people's front doors - now I know why!

It may work but it sounds very messy; I get a room full of ash just lifting the cold embers out of the stove.

I tried the Rouen Evreux route once and found it very slow.

I've just watched France beat Scotland very easily. If England had only played like the French - solid, steady, no errors then we would have won. I'm still sobbing as well!

I would say: Yes it is possible but .... it depends on what sort of standard of living you are used to. You should be able to live a reasonably comfortable life on that but I wouldn't have thought that you would have much spare. So if you need to return to the UK often or you like extended breaks abroad etc then it might not be enough for you. As others have said there are plenty of French living off less. 

Oh dear what can I say. I didn't think Balshaw was that bad; in attack he was like he used to be. He missed one up and under and had a kick charged down but he didn't, like Sheridan, Gomarsall and Wilkinson, pass the ball to nobody in particular. We lost, I venture to suggest, because we couldn't kill Wales off in the first half. When Strettle broke, the pass to Sackey on his right would have been a try. Why on earth did he kick it? Then Flood opened up the defence and also Balshaw. We should have had at least two tries in the first half. I can't work out what happened in the second, although we were badly hit by injuries. Wilkinson has to go, we need a playmaker at 10 not somebody who kicks goals (and misses them) and crabs sideways. I do think Lewsey should come in at full-back and so should a better broken field runner than Sackey (Simpson-Daniel?). I was looking forward to the 6N now I'm worried about how we will cope!! 

Henceforth to be known as Société Génereuse.

Teaching my English class the other day I discovered the following: verb to see is same pronunciation as the French word scie which is the French for saw which is the past tense of see.  I'll get me coat. 

It also says under 12 hours for my trip. Having driven this route many times the itinerary must be a non-stop one.

He seemed remarkably calm!

Sorry can't help with the accommodation except to say that I'v ealways found Kyriad, Campaniles etc good value, but how do you manage that journey in 16 hours? It takes me that long to do Albi to London.

I always get excited about the 6N but worry that the games will be all about "field position" (there was no such thing when I played!) pressure and penalties. Warren Gatland is trying to put pressure on refs and players - typical NZ ploy but it didn't do them any good in the RWC. I think England should beat Wales, and Ireland Italy but I'm not so sure about France. They've got two uncapped props and an uncapped fly-half so the pressure will be on.

Judging by the majority of Shed Web posters - no he isn't. He can be really good, quick and incisive but I think those days are largely behind him. There aren't really any decent full-backs in English rugby at the moment. Best of a mediocre bunch perhaps. Tait, by all accounts, had a 'mare at Leicester.

I think it's the one to be used to replace the money lost due to the forthcoming ban on advertising on public French TV.

They deserve it - that Dallaglio is always moaning.