So we come to Israel. And on our first night we always eat at the same place. But I mean ALWAYS. There’s no discussion, no debate, no arguments (who would argue with that? Other than a vegan, maybe, so we just don’t bring them here) just; its our first night, we’re travel-weary, tired, lazy, we’ll just walk ten minutes along the road to…

I don’t even know what its called. I’m sure it has a name but its not about that. A hotel concierge sent me there about 15 years ago when I asked ‘where’s good shawarma?’ and I’ve never looked back. It ‘changed my life’. Especially my waist measurement. Ha, ha. But not even true. Because this is the famed, fabled, legendary ‘Mediterranean diet’ which makes you live to 110. Ok, there’s chips so maybe only 108. Nothing vaguely ‘mediterranean’ about chips other than salt. But we include them because… because we like them.

Hummus with sautéed mushrooms and onion, with a little tahini and some shawarma meat because I wanted some. They do hummus with mushrooms or hummus with the meat. I wanted both. They can’t fit both onto the plate. So we compromised. Chicken livers from the barbecue. Israeli chopped salad (at least 3 of your 5 a day) with chips (take away 2) and some wonderful pickled vegetables and chillis (must be worth 2 or 3 more). Couple of warm, fluffy pittas and cold beers. Heaven might look a bit different but could never taste better.

Then we come back and another miracle was occurring. Spurs were winning a game. Of football. In Belgrade. And continued to win. And won more. 4-0 to my boys. Are they back? Well, let’s not get carried away. Champions League is one thing, we have Sheffield United at home on the weekend and then we can say if we’re on the up or not.

And Saracens rugby club have had a 35-point deduction added to their league campaign. Let’s say, winning the league will be difficult. A hefty fine too. And there’s a move to strip them of their last 2 victorious campaigns. On the grounds that they cheated, financially. Broke the very strict ‘salary cap’ that top flight rugby has.

How reassuring that rules against financial cheating can be imposed in major league sport. I hope the Premier League, UEFA and FIFA are paying attention. When all they collectively offer is their token gesture ‘Financial Fair Play’ which… certain teams, shall we say, flout regularly.

Ok, I have some sun-rays to catch

Happy Wednesday

A xxxx