BASTILLE DAY

Yes, it's the 14th. Best wishes to any French readers. One extra reason to celebrate is that it's Jacques Chirac's last as president.

I wish I'd been there for the great meridian feast of 2000 [right]. L'incroyable pique-nique... 650 km of French food. Could there be anything more tempting?

Meanwhile, I'm mortified to discover that I'm twelve years older than Loïc Le Meur...