On a whim, went to see the Falcons playing at Wasps yesterday. I have only the scantest understanding of the rules of rugby union, butit was bloody great. Nip and tuck for the first half, then two Newcastle tries put us in the driving seat, but instead of killing it off (is this sounding familiar?) we let Wasps back in with a series of penalties and a drop goal two minutes from time that put them four points ahead. Newcastle (well supported, I must say) then scored a try in the last seconds to win it. Top value.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Answers

Oh yeah, and it's my birthday. :@)

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy birthday and many o' them Dan.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Birthday Dan. Seems like a pretty good Falcons performance considering 6 players were away on international duty. Funny all the papers could talk about were poor Wasps, missing a player through injury!

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy birthday Dan!

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Many happy returns Dan.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

And the award for the most roundabout birthday announcement goes to... ;-)

Happy doofers mate :-)

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Birthday Dan !

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Birthday funny man :))

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy B-day my man!

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

don't get over excited man, you're going to have to go some to catch up with Screach :-)

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Birthday Dan.

Best wishes from Fontainebleau where I am on a course and they've only got qwerty keyboards which makes it hqrd to srite as i use azerty usually

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Blahglahday, Dan! :-)

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Well done that man - Dan the blah blah man - enjoy your day mate.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Ta all. Birthday Dinner at The Ivy, all very pleasant. Celeb watch: Jim Davidson, Alexei Sayle, Sophie Dahl. oh come on, it's a Monday night.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Happy Birthday Dan. I hop you didn't deink too much and blah blah all the way home

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Never mind the celebs....was the food any good? ;)

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2001

Not bad at all, Gav. I opted for a roast Romano pepper and feta salad. The feta was nicely piquante and crumbly, the peppers roasted perfection. I followed this with calves' liver and bacon on mash. The potato was creamy, the bacon perhaps a little too crisp, the liver more than adequate. My companions opted for the shepherd's pie which was good but with a rather heavy gravy. For dessert, I tried the clotted cream and hazelnut ice cream with hot fudge sauce. The ice cream was excellent although the cream perhaps unnecessary. We shared a Pinot Noir and a drinkable though unremarkable Chablis. Service was attentive though not obsequious, the bill gave us change out of £50 a head. Four stars.

Next week: Texa Fried Chicken, Holloway Road.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2001