Just returned form another cycling trip - this time in Poland around the Tatra mountain range and border with Slovakia.

We flew into Krakow and stayed in the city for one night at the beginning and at the end of our 1 week stay. It's a pretty city; not too dissimilar from other Eastern European cities in so much as the city-centre squares that, over the years have witnessed such political, economic, social and religious turmoil, now fall victim to Britain's latest export - "The Stag-do." And whilst the purpose of this blog was not to rant, can I just say that it's bad enough that "booze-britain" is a recognised anti-social phenomenon in this country; so let's not take a perverse pride in turning that into a global reputation. "Stag dos should stay in Britain!", subject for a future blog no doubt.

Krakow, was interesting, but the remote Tatra Mountains and their surrounding countryside were worlds apart.The countryside at this time of year is simply breath-taking - and the strip farming regime using horse drawn ploughs and carts, transports you to a time a century or so ago when cars, electricity, and cycling helmets weren't even dreamed-of. It was strange to think that although I felt I was looking at scenes from a past era, this sustainable, environmentally friendly, self-sufficient approach to life could also, quite easily, be a glimpse of our future.

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What do jalapeños, fajitas, Majorca and Juventus have in common?

I was in Subway getting a sandwich the other day, and someone in front of me in the queue was asked if he wanted any jalapenos on his sandwich.  Oh "ja-lapenos" (he said stressing the J at the start of the word so that it was pronounced the same way as in 'jam'). 

The girl behind the counter said "yes, jalapenos" (pronouncing the word correctly), whilst rolling her eyes.

I heard someone order fajitas as well not so long ago, again insisting that the 'j' should be pronounced as in jam.

They must hear people pronounce these words correctly, and then choose to ignore the correct pronunciation.  Surely no one says Majorca with a hard 'j' anymore, although it wouldn't surprise me?

Andy Gray often refers to Juventus with a hard 'j', and he's not the only one.  Kevin Keegan does exactly the same.  Again they must hear people pronounce Juve or Juventus correctly and choose to ignore that they are the ones who are wrong?

The same people who insist on the hard 'j' incorrectly, also seem to be the same ones who insist on calling José Mourinho - 'Hosé' as it would be pronounced in Spansh, but not in Portuguese.  Do they take delight in getting it wrong and making themselves sound less intelligent?  Is it something they work hard at?

Talking of 'pronunciation' I am hearing more and more people mispronounce it so that it sounds like pronounce-iation. It isn't even spelt like that, so why do they insist on mangling the English language so?

It's a sad irony that in this time of web 2.0 and social networking, the fastest developing and most successful communities are online - yet the individuals tapping away on keyboards until the early hours are doing so behind locked doors and security gates within the real communities that are no longer safe to walk around at night. Is this just co-incidence?

On the day we moved in to our new place I was completely overwhelmed by introductions from our new neighbours from up and down the street - one of which included an offer for me to become the Community Warden for the next 12 months or so. Well - what could I say? I said "I'll think about it." That was five weeks ago - and now every time there's a knock at the door I tense-up and ignore it. Whoever they are have usually gone 10 minutes later.

The thing is - I like the idea of getting more involved with the community - but I lack the skills. How to speak with people you have nothing in common with - apart from living in the same street? What to talk about with people much older and wiser? What's the appropriate level of personal information to impart - without becoming the laughing-stock of the local pub? 

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This weekend, while Daniel was pokering from dusk till dawn, I went to Windsor and met the Queen. I have not been invited to meet the queen at Windsor before and so this weekend was no exception; except that I passed within one foot of her Majesty, and smiled politely as she, stamp-like, smiled back.

It was one of those events that you can't prepare for as Mum, Dad, Anna and I went for a stroll around Windsor; to build our appetites for Sunday lunch.

As we walked up the 3-mile-long tree-lined driveway that leads to her castle, a spangly Range Rover weaved its way through the crowds of sightseers towards us. My Dad said - "Look's like someone important".

As we stood to one side of the drive to let it pass I instantly recognised the person in the passenger seat - not everyday you get to see the face that accompanies most of your purchases.

I smiled. Her Majesty smiled back. I don't think she recognised me from Yappari - she probably just smiles at everyone, but it was a special moment.

So special, I almost forgot about the rant I'd been having 30 seconds earlier to my Dad, about how ridiculous it was charging £14.80 to go and have a look around the Castle. A Castle that is financed by the taxes I pay!

And so - have I come away a different person as a result of my encounter with the Queen? Yes - I have decided to take the lead from Her Majesty and follow-suit (Dan can explain what that means) with the entry policy to my house and garden at the following rates:

Friends & Family:    Free entry
Royalty:                 £14.80 (plus VAT)
Celebrities:            By prior appointment only.

Open to the general public, Sundays and back-holidays only. Entry fee… (if you have to ask, you can't afford it…) Please note - availability of parking is limited - and the neighbours will get upset if you park in front of their houses - even if you are Royalty!

Disgraced sprinter Dwain Chambers claims he has been made to "feel like a leper" on his return to the sport having served a ban for failing a drugs test.

The 29-year-old yesterday won his battle to be part of the British team at next month's World Indoor Championships in Valencia even though the UK Athletics selection committee were "unanimous in their desire not to select him".

He's a cheat.  A two-year ban wasn't enough. Would we have been happy seeing Ben Johnson representing Canada after his cheating was made public, or Justin Gatlin or Marion Jones representing the US again?  What about the other athletes who are competing for the UK, do they want to be tarnished with the same brush as Chambers?  What about the athletes who aren't competing, because Chambers has their place in the team?  

Do we know that the drug cheating he did didn't have any long-term residual effects that are benefiting him now? Do we really know that he's 'clean'?  Lot of questions, and sadly they'll continue whilst cheats like Chambers are allowed to compete in Athletics.  It's a sport that does its best to prove it's clean - but then rules like this make a mockery of that.

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There you go.  I've written it in black and white (or even a burnt orange colour if we're being pedantic).  The MMR vaccine does not cause autism.  Studies have proven this.  

One study, of only 12 children, supported the link between MMR and the increased risk of the development of autism.  This has been discredited by the scientific and medical experts.  However, none of the studies that prove the absence of a link have caused the media hysteria that accompanied this 'rogue' study.

I don't see front-page headlines in the press supporting and highlighting the proper scientific studies proclaiming "MMR does NOT cause autism", and  "Get your child vaccinated with the MMR jab and help prevent an outbreak of measles".

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Well I don’t know exactly what it’s like where you live, but in central London you can’t move without some poor sod thrusting some form of printed matter at you as though their lives depended on it. (I wonder if their loved ones are held captive ….and finger’s are at risk if they don’t manage to shift 5,000 copies a night?) These free newspaper touters are not only annoying but they’re also environmentally unfriendly.

On my way to and from work last week I set out to collect whatever free literature was offered to me. In just 5 days, I collected the following (see picture). I made it a rule not to accept copies of the same publications in the same evening. This is because my route home takes me past five London Nite vendors and 4 London Paper vendors – so in practice I would have ended up with more than 45 copies of the same publication!!

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