How peculiar it is reading about a battle taking place in a foreign country - and being able to smile.

This is one of the strangest celebrations I can ever remember seeing and it looks as though everyone involved had a really good time. If only all wars in the world were as harmless as this one!

It is pretty incredible to learn how this has gone on for more than two hundred years. Although, I am not sure it would have been quite as much fun in its early days, when ash was used rather than flour…

There should be festivals like this one in all countries around the world. I’m sure we would have a far better sense of community and that people would be much happier if they got the chance to take part in such light-hearted activities. However, I can’t see it ever coming about in Britain.

Imagine something like this taking place over here. Thousands of revellers would immediately be arrested and fined for littering with coloured powder (and intent). But that would not be all; if it ever did get the go-ahead, then it would not be until all of those involved were dressed in the appropriate personal safety equipment. Health and Safety would have an absolute field day. I’m sure none of it would have quite the same level of enjoyment if everyone had to wear goggles, gloves and ear-defenders.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? Flour is so cheap at the supermarket and you could get yourself fully tooled-up for a ‘Self-Raising Armageddon’ with a couple of quid or so. Perhaps our country just takes itself too seriously. It would do us all the world of good to act like a bunch of kids for half an hour every once in a while.

Amazing update everyone, Lesley just got a few months work with a dragons den company that sells summer kaftans , I expect free stuff!