My BBC news email update carried a lovely story about Mary Doherty, who lives at Urmston Cottage Care Home in Greater Manchester. Celebrating her 102^nd birthday this week, Mary has seen off 2 world wars and 21 Prime Ministers. The secret of her longevity, “eating no veg”. So there you have it, despite the world’s top scientists advocating the “5 a day” rule, vegetables are actually very bad for you, something which school children have been claiming for decades. I suspect that the true answer may have something to do with the tap water in her care home, as Mary’s best friend and fellow resident Maggie Redmond, is also 102 (its either the water or the fact that nobody in there can count). Asked what she would like for her birthday, Maggie replied “a Chippendale”. Such is the state of British care homes, they don’t even supply settee’s!