THERE is a running battle in our household that revolves round the central heating thermostat.

I am happy for the temperature to be a little lower. My wife, on the other hand, would always prefer it to be a little higher.

So we end up with the situation where I’m sitting in the living room watching television wearing shorts and T-shirt while my wife has on a jumper and cardi and maybe even a blanket to keep her legs warm.

Now it looks like she’s right and I’m wrong (nothing new there then).

According to a new study, the temperature of people’s homes may impact their blood pressure with those with colder homes are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.

After comparing blood pressure readings of people in their own homes with temperature readings, researchers from University College London found there was a statistically significant link between indoor temperature and a person’s blood pressure.

Dr Stephen Jivraj said: “Our research has helped to explain the higher rates of hypertension, as well as potential increases in deaths from stroke and heart disease, in the winter months, suggesting indoor temperatures should be taken more seriously in diagnosis and treatment decisions.”

But will Dr Jivraj be there to take my blood pressure when the gas bill arrives, I wonder.

  • I WAS gutted things didn’t go Warrington’s way in the Challenge Cup final on Saturday.

Early tries from Catalans Dragons seemed to knock favourites Warrington off their stride and provided too great an obstacle. For the neutral, it was a pretty good game to watch. For Wire fans it was heartbreaking.

But that’s sport and it’s why we watch it.

If everything was predictable, there would be no fun (just think back to Wigan’s run of eight consecutive Challenge Cup wins in the 1980s and 90s – how dull was that for the rest of us).

But I have to confess I was a little irritated with the apparent glee demonstrated by the BBC commentators that brave little Catalans had overcome all the odds.

They seemed fascinated by the novelty value of a French-based team winning the trophy for the first time and this is now supposed to spark a huge revival in the game across the Channel. Only time will tell.

  • IT looks like Junction 9 retail park isn’t winning the hearts and minds of Warrington’s shoppers.

A couple of months ago I commented on how the automatic number plate recognition system at the former Alban Retail Park had been changed so drivers can park free for four hours.

But Guardian reader Alwyn Stapleton managed to get caught out.

She said in a letter: “If you are just one minute over the allotted time of four hours, a company called Smart Parking will send you a parking charge notice.

“To have the notice cancelled you have to produce receipts from shops – hard if you haven’t bought anything or just had a coffee.

“I often go there just to browse but will think twice about doing this in the future.”

Well said Alwyn, well said.

  • MY reference to Bally Anne Day meals recently generated a discussion about food in general and somehow we ended up talking about gammon.

Now I like a gammon steak and it is a go-to choice for a pub meal.

But where on earth did the gammon and pineapple combination come from? I think that’s just bizarre and a throwback to the culinary wasteland of the 1970s.

I’m a gammon and egg man myself. Even more strange is the offering in some pubs where you get gammon and egg and pineapple.

That’s just wrong on so many levels.