Gaffs

If you could do anything you want tomorrow, what would it be?
Submitted by Becca-Pink.

I would love to spend some time on a vineyard learning how they run throughout the year. Early Summer would be a great time to start. Of course it would have to be in Italy, I have nothing against English vineyards, except the weather.

When you travel, do you use a guidebook so that you're well prepared, or do you go without much prior knowledge so that you're surprised?
Submitted by Jack Yan.

That's interesting. See, I find guidebooks fairly useless until I'm actually at the place that I need to be guided around. Then again they are useful in pre planning a trip i.e. places to stay, itinerary etc.
For example for my trip to Sicily last June I used  a Lonely Planet guide to plan my route around the island and which campsites I was going to stay in. Unfortunately, what the guidebook didn't tell is that the transport on the island is next to useless and that one of the campsites that I had planned to stay in was closed. I changed my route daily and will have to go back again to see some of the places I had planned to see, though I am not sad about this. You will have to visit my blog on Myspace to read the whole story http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&friendID=105768996
To summarise, in answer to the question, a guidebook is no substitute to going somewhere with an open mind and a sense of exploration, but be preparation is important, but don't over do it.

Gaffs

What would you name your first, or next child? (Girl or boy.)

If it was a boy, I have a hankering for Gian Franco, after the legendary ex Chelsea striker Zola.
As for  a girl I am unsure, but would like to go for an Irish name, maybe Roisin or Caitlin.