To stake one's pop on it I would ike to know if this expression is a set one or not. I think the French equivalence is "y mettre sa tête à couper" and I know there is another one which is "y mettre sa main à couper". So could you say "I'll stake my head (or my hand) on it" or anything else, something which is valuable or important for oneself (car, person, personal object...).

Health problems Few days ago, I had to do a check-up. I have had a blood deficiency for two months and my doctor wanted to see if there was any problem in my stomach or my bowels. Before the surgery, I had got some medicines and I had had to go on a very strict diet. All my meals had to be cooked in a particular way and I could not eat some food. The only good point was I could eat chocolate (I'm a chocoholic :p) Eventually, nothing wrong was discovered. All I had to do is not to worry about it and continue to take my medicines. I felt a bit anxious about the surgery but everything was good.

Another Code : Two Memories (part 5) I follow the path heading to the north (the only path, in fact). The first obstable Ashley meets is a bridge upon the sea. Ashley thinks Jessica must have passed by this way. Suddently, she hears a voice which sounds like Jessica's one. Ashley decides to go and see but before she can cross the sea, the drawbirdge gets up. I get near the machine which gets thebridge up and down. It is quite rusted but still fonctional. I use the stylet to select the handle and make it turn round (two turns to the right are necessary). The bridge gets down again and I can go to the other side. Ashley calls for Jessica twice but the latter doesn't answer. I go straight up to a stone marker. On it, I can see “Property of the Edward family”. Ashley remembers it is the rich family name. I keep going to the north, up to an intersection. In front of me, there is a big house. I cannot enter it because of a high wall and a closed gate. I can see a broken sign and some wood pieces on the floor. I fixe them, as a puzzle so I can read “<-- The Edward Mansion” and a strange symbol on the right. I take a photo, it may be useful later... When I'm sure there is nothing left to do, I take the path to the right. I arrive at another intersection. I cannot go straight because the way is blocked by big rocks. Again, I take the path to the right. It leads me to a cemetery. Ashley calls for Jessica again, but still gets no answer. There are many gravestones, most of them are broken (by time or by someone ?). Two of them are still complet. The first one indicates “Thomas Edward, 1912-1948”, the second one “Henry Edwards, 1910-1948”. So, Ashley has the proof the captain's story was true. All the cemetery is circled (surrounded ?) by a stone wall. At the end, there is a hole which is filled by a large stone slab. With the stylet, I move it from the left to the right. When it's done, the stone falls and I can get out but before leaving the cemetery, Ashley notices a “D” engraved on the back of the stone. Then, she hears a voice. Someone asks who is there and what he is doing, before demanding to answer quickly. Ashley asks the person to show her. A boy appears...but it is a ghost !

Another Code : Two Memories (part 4 ) The father should be waiting for Ahsley and Jessica but he is not present. Ashley quickly gets worried, Jessica says they should look for him. Ashley refuses moving. I start talking with the boat owner who looks like a sea dog. He's wearing a white t-shirt, a light blue shirt and a grey pair of trousers. He says Ashley looks really down and he asks why. First Ashley is not talkative and only gives monosyllabic answers but then, she says longer sentences when she explains Jessica is not her mother but her aunt. The old man stops her, because he doesn't want to know all the details. But he declares he will wait for Jessica with her. For a few seconds, Ashley thinks about her aunt and admits feeling a bit worried for her before putting all the blame on her father. The captain drawns her from her thoughts and allows her to ask questions. I ask a question about the captain and the island. I'm not really interested in his life or whatever, it's just that some actions have to be done before continuing the game. Here, the point is underlining the fact Ashley could remember something she saw or heard when she was a little girl. That's the opposite Jessica told her, as if she wants her not to remind a particular memory. The boat owner has been captain for a very long time, far before Ashle's birthday. He doesn't remember if he has ever wanted to do another job, his memory is not as good as it was before. He adds if she wants to remember something, she has to repeat it in her head. Finally, he tells her it has been his second time on the island. The first time was with a tall blond fellow...which could be Ashley's father ! But he refuses giving any futher piece of information, “strictly confidental” he says. Then I learn the island used to be oowned by a rich family, the Edwards. One day, the owner got sick and every member of his family died one by one (one after another?). The reason has never made clear. Ashley wonders whether it was an accident but she cannot think about it any futher, the captain stops her thoughts once again and adds the rest of the family left the island. Since then, nobody really lives there. That's why it is so empty and people dudded it “Blood Edward Island”. The discussion finishes on Ashely's father. She says to the captain what she knows about him : not many things...Then, she decides to go and find Jessica. The man gives her some sweets, what she is fond of. She thanks and leaves him.