plod

You will clearly need some advice on investing the 2,375000 you are going to make on this deal, and I could be the person to help you say for 10 per cent of your cut!

The call was "99" and it was "Get your retaliation in first!" At least MJ feels that Goode is not the answer to England's fly-half; but I don't think Floode is either; the only player that would worry the opposition is Cipriani (Ryan Lamb might as well, but he isn't in the frame.) I can't see an England win in any fashion at all even 5 pens to 2 converted tries. I'm sure you will have a good time in Dublin; rugby matches are special. I was at Kingsholm the weekend before last and there is nothing quite like a rugby ground for atmosphere without menace.

Icelandic Proverb: "Every man likes the smell of his own farts."

That means a litre of petrol is £1. I don't know how petrol companies work out the price; they must have some calculator that tells them that their profit forecast may fall below 20 billion and so they up the price.

pm received; will look into it.

Painful though it is to admit, I can't see past Wales. I fear for England; their confidence will be low, they've kept Borthwick as captain, Stevens is "indisposed". I think they could well finish fourth. Late score Gloucester 23 L. Irish 21 C'mon Glaaawwwsss!

I've never come across a French person who drinks it, hence the only option is delivery, or go to Spain. We're about two and a half hours away. Unfortunately, even here - Bossost, Les or Viella (Val d'Aran) they only seem to sell sweet or dry, no amontillado.

Is that Pinotage back then? They had some SA and Chilean wines as well a while ago. Very good value.

I really felt for the players when there was a lengthy injury stoppage. It brought back memories of shivering in the sleet/rain at Victory Park, Cainscross. Still, happy times!

Well, we are out of it, never even looked like beating BO let alone scoring four tries. My tips for the semis are Cardiff, Leicester, Quins and Munster. One of the nationals' rugby correspondents was saying that the GP was inferior to the Magner's - well there are three clubs from one country - England!

We are definitely making our own next year - they are frighteningly expensive - 10 to 13 euros for a 6 portion. It's not as if there is much to them either.

I can't remember the last time petrol was more expensive in France than the UK. At 87 - 89 pence per litre in the UK, that makes it about 12 pence per litre more expensive in France.

That'll be about £33,000 per game then!

We only need him to cover for the occasional game as we have Nieto and Wood as first choice!!!!

I don't think Carter is playing this weekend. England look very callow at the moment, the only crumb of comfort is that none of the 6N teams are up to much with the possible exception of the Welsh. This should give us the opportunity to gain some confidence. I think MJ needs to dispense with Borthwick who is not an international lock forward; I would like to see him looking forward, Phil Vickery is not going to be around for the 2011 RWC. Toby Flood is not an international fly-half whereas "wonderboy" is and he should play. He'll be fitter then; I would also ditch Noon who gives us very little. My team would be: Armitage, Simpson-Daniel, Hipkiss, Flutey (?), Strettle, Cipriani, Ellis. Stephens (Wood?) Hartley, Sheridan, Shaw, Kennedy, Rees, Haskell, Narraway. I'm not sure if they are all fit. I hope you notice that a certain West Country team are going well at the moment. C'mon Glaaawwwsss!

I know this is France that we are talking about but the old Labour party was unelectable until Blair arrived and moved it into the middle. How will Martine Aubry make the PS electable?

I watched Paris v Castres and could only hear three commands.

Looks like it will be Martine Aubry unless there is a recount in Segolene Royal's favour. It seems to be getting more and more acrimonious. With Mme Aubry at the head I suppose there will be a lurch leftward. Non sequitur follows - am I the only one who can't get into Sport, Pastimes etc?

I was in Grimsby recently and had a really awful cassoulet.

I seem to recall that children used to work ten hours a day, and the East End of London was full of people out of their skulls on gin. The UK is no better or worse than other countries. My wife and I came to France for the adventure of living in another country, certainly not to escape from the UK.

Porridge and Nutella is pretty good.

End of 2008?

You are certainly fortunate, tj, not to be affected by the exchange rate. Do I detect a note of schadenfreude in your posting?

Am I the only one reading this who didn't experience a few thoughts along the lines of....you haven't got work, you don't really speak French, are you just hoping for the best? We are on a pension and I would not have dreamed of moving to another country without employment in place. If your husband doesn't speak French he may be limited to working for Brits. Sorry to put a dampener on your dream but think very hard about how you would manage here.

I don't think a win over Bristol counts for very much- they haven't won a match yet this season!