Well, it's started... This morning I woke up, pulled back the curtains, and greeted the day with a 6sneeze salute. The poor sparrows outside out window probably thought someone was taking shots at them. Still, they'd better get used to it, because my sneezing routine is pretty much a permanent fixture every morning during the summer months. Of course, now that I have my Salt Pipe, I'm convinced my hay fever is going to disappear almo ..

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When I read this article last month, I tore it out of the paper with glee. I meant to tell you about it immediately... But with all the recent sausagebased cancer hysteria igniting my fury, I put it on the backburner 'til today. By the way, my 'backburner' is not a new exercise machine, but a very large pile of newspaper cutting, magazine articles and reports which sits under my desk. I eventually do get round to passing on this infor ..

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If you walked into my office right now, there's a fair chance you'd mistake it for one of those Christmas snowstorm things... You know, one of those little plastic trinkets that you shake to create a snow scene. I have so many articles, snippets and quotes torn out of papers and magazines that if Lara wandered in here with her hairdryer... WHOOSH! There'd be bits of paper floating around everywhere, with me standing in the middle like a ..

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New research suggests that I, Ray Collins, am a descendant of Montezuma II - Emperor of the Aztecs. Or maybe I was Montezuma in a past life. I can just see myself draped in gold and feathers, sitting on a throne with an army of maidens to do my bidding. And if Montezuma's wife was forever telling him he should give his chariot a wash and clear out the garage - then my theory is conclusive. So why do I think I'm a long lost son of the Aztecs. ..

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Sometimes I think scientists decide to conduct a study specifically with me in mind… Really. Some of their research seems so bizarre, you'd think there were hundreds of scientists sitting around all day, scratching their eggshaped heads, wondering what to study next... 'Hey, have we tested the effects of a wind tunnel on a chicken before?' 'Yeah, we did that one back in '97. The results were inconclusive.' 'Hmmmm... how about side effects of ..

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'Christmas comes but once a year', or so the saying goes… But judging by the news I heard this week, I have to disagree. In fact, this breakthrough is so important, it's something I put to the test that very day. “It's not for me, it's for the sake of the family…” I explained to Lara as I rushed past her into the garage. Not to clear it, but to hunt for something that could unexpectedly protect me from heart disease… Strengthen your heart in ..

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I've been getting back into water therapy again. Now, when I say this, you can forget the image of me lowering myself into a hot bath, clutching a single malt and a copy of a Rugby World… That's for poor Lara to witness. No, this all came about because a friend of mine, who has asthma, challenged me to find something 'genuinely weird, useful and interesting' that they could try to relieve their problems. Weird, useful, and interesting? Tha ..

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They should come with warnings on them. They really should… “Danger! Could cause you to choke on corn flakes.” I am, of course, talking about the papers. Every week I read about some latest health development that causes me to laugh out loud, curse, or rant for a minute while Lara calmly asks the children if they'd like more toast. And this week it's news of yet ANOTHER miracle pill developed by the drugs companies to make me shake my head ..

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Typical isn't it? For years I've made an effort to look after my health -particularly my weight and my heart. I've jogged round parks, I've joined gyms I never go to, I've cut out fatty foods… all the things I'm meant to do... And now it turns out that a cheese could be one of the most powerful remedies for cardiovascular disease yet discovered. Of course, all the above are good for you, but it still comes as a surprise to me that a cheese cou ..

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So we were about to sit down for our evening meal and my daily glass of wine, when Lara said... 'White?' 'Yes,' I declared. 'It's time for a change. And anyway, I've found out something about white wine.' 'Right...' 'It's quite interesting, actually... it's really good for your lungs.' 'Oh no, Daddy,' said my eldest, clamping his hands to his ears. 'Not at the dinner table,' said Lara. 'But' 'Put it into one of your letters,' she said. 'T ..

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