First Lettuce Eaten - not grown on Earth

Just heard the great news.  NASA announced that the astronauts have eaten a lettuce which was entirely grown on the space station.  James on Rn breakfast radio just said
"That's one small bite for a man, one giant leaf for mankind"

I love it.

The "Vero" Villanova

I submitted this small item at the occasion of our friend,Ted, attending his school reunion - Villanova College.

Our son, Chris, is a Villanova old boy.  At our first interview we attended with a view to Chris attending the school, he was asked about five questions regarding his interest in playing Rugby,  Ah those cherished  Augustinian values....

​However, the true Villanova{n} is my dad, Alf Villanova.  He was born Orfeo Giobattista Villanova in Due Ville in the Veneto region. Dad came to Australia when he was two years old and was famously bitten by a tiger snake, and lived... He grew up in Ayr.

​When I was growing up, there were only three Villanova's in the phone book-:

​

​     Villanova Players

     Villanova College

     Villanova, A. J.

I would always have to spell my surname until someone would interrupt and say Ah Villanova, like the college.  ........So I could ALMOST say "Iona College"... 

Of course,  you already know, being well-educated, that the name Villanova  is for St Thomas of Villanova. and that there is even a Villanova University in  the U.S.A.

But did you know there were ancient Villanovans, who were early iron age people, centred in north eastern and central Italy.  They introduced iron foundry to the peninsula.  

Alf Villanova, 88, sends his congratulations upon the occasion of your reunion and wants you to know that the view from "over the hill" is pretty good.  The proud name of Villanova goes back a long, long way.

And we Villanova' s all agree "V" for Villanova  "V" for victory