I have long wondered what makes men tick and now I think I have the answer.

My 86-year old father has just spent several days in hospital, initially in Watford General, before being transferred to the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.

I am delighted to say when he was discharged on Monday he was full of praise for the care he received in both.

But while I, as a woman, asked him about the food, attitude of the staff, cleanliness and if he knew which tablets to take - and when, once he was home - all my Londonderry born-and-bred dad wanted to tell me about was how he got to watch Ireland beat France at rugby in the hospital TV room.