yesterday was...

A good day for:

Geoffrey, a donkey who has been successfully treated for alcoholism at The Donkey Sanctuary, near Sidmouth, Devon. Geoffrey had become addicted to gin-and-tonics given to him by his owner. Alcohol makes normally placid donkeys aggressive. Another beer-drinking donkey trained to pick up and drain half-pint bottles, attacked a pub-owner's wife.

A bad day for:

The French, who have been said to "lack a sense of humour" by a Belgian film director accused of hurling a cream pie at France's minister of culture. Jan Bucquoy, who has set up an "International Pastry Brigade" maintains that pie-throwing is a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. "For many people it is an honour to have pies thrown at them," he said.