I thought the cockade was green. That is what I sing.

The more I learn about customs and traditions of the armed forces the more I wonder what it is about putting on uniform that removes a man's natural common sense.

Rose petals are edible and give wine a nice touch of the exotic but you have to take them off the middle part and remove the white bit at the bottom because it contains enzymes which destroy the aroma - the habit of eating a whole rose on the annversry of the Battle of Minden is likely to require the application of the Heimlech manouver. A breathed in rose petal is difficult to dislodge.

One of the madder caesars once drowned quite a few of his guests in a downpouring of rose petals - probably accidentally - he ordered a shower of rose petals and I expect they didn't want him to feel they were being stingy.

Anne