It would be good if anyone reading this blog knew a former teacher at Plymouth College called Roli Jones? He was Head of Geography and coached the 1st XV when I taught there in the early 70’s….yes, a long long time ago now. Roli was a passionate Welshman, who loved his rugby. He taught me one thing, which has remained with me ever since…..”You win more with sugar than you do with vinegar”, was an oft used phrase of his, which stays with me, because it is so very true. I like, whenever and wherever possible, to praise rather than to criticize. It was a good maxim for teaching. I well remember regularly giving 14 or 15 or whatever, out of 10 for homeworks…and what happened? They just got better and better….It was good therefore to be able to contact Teignbridge this morning and praise the driver of the gutter cleaning vehicle, who was going out of his way, or so it seemed to me, to do a really efficient job which was made particularly awkward by the number of vehicles parked around Forde Park. Praise where praise is due….and vinegar only when necessary and a last resort. That said, there are those with whom I come into contact that deserve the vinegar from time to time, but even less frequently get it!