Avoid FAS - Don't Drink and Have Sex?

Don't drink and drive is a cliché that has been around for a while. Well how about this? 'When you are pregnant and you know it, don't drink.' And since the latest Department of Health (DoH) advice also recommends that women trying to conceive should avoid drinking, we could have another which says: 'Don't drink and have sex'
There are no real surprises in the DoH's decision to move the goal post. Government previously advised that pregnant and lactating women should limit alcohol intake to one to two units once or twice a week.
However, statistics show that up to 86% of UK women over 16 have been averaging around 7.5 units a week. There is no certainty that there is anybody who can put a figure on the number who drink while trying to conceive but the latest advice comes as figures reveal that 6,000 children a year are born with FAS - Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. And that could be caused by an intake of anything more than a pint of regular strength lager or a glass of red or white wine twice a week. A pint of lager or a glass of wine contains two units of alcohol.
Now according to the deputy chief medical officer the new position is intended to provide stronger and more consistent advice for the UK. The stronger advice says 'pregnant women and those trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol at all.' Could this be strong enough for women from managerial and professional households who statistics show are more likely to drink more than the unskilled? Maybe it is time to try - Don't drink and have sex; Don't have sex and drink or When you’re pregnant and you know it don’t drink.’

Who Is Next In Line

Gordon Brown waited ten years for the keys to Number 10. Now that he is confirmed as heir apparent there are those who are tempted to look back at what might have been. But the question that needles some minds is who will get the new prime minister's promise to quit. Or were the Blair - Brown vows a one off. Could that be the question? But let's say it isn't. Then the big question could be; who is next in line? Let’s see; Reed and Prescott have already opted to quit rather than wait, Blears is still to show the kind of metal that would prove she could be an iron lady and poor McDonnell who pledged to give labour back its voice in politics will find it hard to ever again launch any serious challenge for the keys to Number 10.

I think Brown is therefore in the clear, at least for now. There is just nobody for him to promise to share the spoils of prime minister-ship with. And that could also mean the days of hand-me down prime ministers may be at an end.
So then back to the main question around town and on the air; was Blair wrong to keep his promise with Brown? Or was he right to break the full term promise he made with everybody else?

Think about that and see what you make of this. As Cameron prepares to go head to head with Brown he has run into a road block from within. Some Party faithful are just not taking kindly to what they see as his hot and cold antics regarding grammar schools. Cameron faces Tory revolt, is the headline I see.

Let's talk Cricket

England and the West Indies lock horns this week in what is going to be some test series. West Indies start with a new captain. England starts with a stand in captain, who continues to build up a healthy drop down the order, drop out the line-up record. He was dropped down for the Ashes tour, dropped out of the line up for all but a couple of world cup encounters and dropped down the order for the matches he played. Strauss will probably promote himself to open again at Lords but if he fails and Vaughn comes back for the second test, he could easily be, yes dropped out of the line up again. As for Flintoff, after his world cup exploits, it looks like the ankle problem may be back. West Indies must be licking their lips at the possibility of starting a series against an England line-up without Vaughn and Flintoff.

England look to be starting as favourites. In their favour is the fact that so far this century they have not lost a test at Lords. Impressive; is it not? But don’t ever right off the West Indies. Weather permitting; change could be on the way. Under Sarwan they say they are fired up to prove a point. Who knows at back of their minds maybe manager Findley’s mission for a 100% win this series. Or could it be they are bent on proving that whereas they have been loosing with king Laura (they have not as much as smelt victory in their last 15 tests) they can now win without him.

We must have the makings of a good, good series. Two below par teams fighting for survival. What could be better?