Planning ahead, one of the best meteor showers is the Perseids shower in August - up to 60 shooting stars a minute, apparently. Last year we sat round a camp fire in Italy with an amateur astronomer, who pointed out such things, adding a load of mind-boggling statistics. So I have decided to have a party on Saturday August 14th, 2010, to celebrate my half century. Put it in your diary, if you have one for 2010. That's if I'm still alive - if not please have a he-nearly-made-it-but-not-quite wake. I'll be there this August and next, warming up - one plan is for a large communal bath outside in the ruins - very Japanese.
