THOUGHT OF THE MONTH: MARCH

There wasn't one. Last month I failed to think. It's a strain, you know.

I should remember that the brain needs fuel. There's an impressive guy called Ori Hofmeckler (artist and athlete and a former member of the Israeli Special Forces) who sells a diet plan called The Warrior's Diet. Unlike other food gurus, this guy is the best advert for his own ideas: he's in his fifties, and (assuming the photos aren't doctored -- I haven't met him) he looks like Bruce Lee but with better abs.

Anyway, he recommends sometimes alternating between high-carb and high-protein days. I tend to follow a tailored version -- the Enhanced Warrior's Diet With Added Chocolate -- and I've been experimenting with alternating high- and low-chocolate days. Well, my brother Colm did warn me of the dangers of chocolate-reserve depletion...

I'll try to remember to keep eating enough chocolate to think with.

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

Through hard work, the stars...

It's the motto of the Royal Air Force, and they live up to it. In March, I had the honour of instructing for a week at RAF Kinloss. My thanks to an outstanding team of men! I was very impressed.