An article that appeared at the Guardian online website today brought a smile to my face and confirmed something we women have all known for years.

China is currently choosing it's first female astronauts, picking from the cream of their female jet fighter pilots - ladies in excellent physical condition and with first class flying skills. Interestingly, they are restricting candidates to those who already have children amid concerns about the affect of space flight on their future fertility.

Commenting on this and the selection process, Xu Xianrong, an expert at the Chinese air force general hospital is quoted as saying that women have advantages as astronauts over men because they are. . . . . . more mentally stable, better able to deal with loneliness and have better communication skills!

I have no argument with that!