Sometimes the small things make a big difference. Like getting my BA silver card back last month. When I was at Marconi, travelling everywhere on fully flexible tickets in Business Class (managing budgets not a strong point perhaps?) - even though I travelled more often on Lufthansa to Munich and Berlin when I managed the Siemens OEM relationship - I managed to accumulate a fine amount of BA miles and tier points and hence access to the airport lounges. Unfortunately when I left Marconi and entered self-employed land (offering my services to impoverished start-ups) I quickly lost that benefit.

Imagine my joy on getting a shiny new silver card in the post last month. But yesterday I was miffed to find out that I couldn't access the lounge. Due to the proposed BA strike I booked to fly SAS to Copenhagen. As I was flying economy (very expensive economy - but still economy) I couldn't get into the Star Alliance Lounge (God know what became of all those Lufthansa points I accumulated) and as I wasn't flying on a One World carrier my BA card was worthless too. So I was relegated to the WiFi zone in T3 and did my email surrounded by screaming kids....

On Monday I found out that the wonderful Prof Dylan Evans-Jones had secured two extra tickets to Ireland's opening Six Nations fixture. So I thought I'd book two first class train tickets from Reading to Cardiff. I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the price. Nearly £100 for standard class. First class? More than my flight to Copenhagen. Think I will drive.

On a more positive note, Ireland are being touted by some as favourites for the tournament. This is an ominous forecast. The Ireland rugby team like to keep you on the edge of your seat. Sometimes they are world-class and capable of beating the All Blacks. Sometimes they play like a schools side. Don't really mind how they play on Sunday (as long as they win) if they finish like they did last March in Twickenham. I flew back in from Seattle that day, completely sleep deprived, and witnessed the victory from the West Stand. Around the time of Shane Horgan's last-minute disputed try, our Partner Sales Director went pale. He'd made a bet with me (after several beers in the Westin a few days before) that meant he had to come into the office on Monday wearing....let's just say....items of clothing he wouldn't normally wear into the office. Still have the pictures to remind me of that great day. C'mon Ireland.