How to stop query_posts ?

OK… here is a problem that I never solved.

If I have a “classic loop”, just like in single.php for instance, folowing a loop based on query_posts, the query seems to saty active for the second loop…

Let’s say I want to use this code in my header :

<?php query_posts('cat=12&showposts=1'); ?>
<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
--- My stuff ---
<?php endwhile; ?>

And, this loop in my single.php :

<?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
--- My stuff ---
<?php endwhile; ?>

Since I called the query_posts in the header before the loop to display the content of the single posts, the query_posts, and the arguments it contains, stays active…

So I end up with a single posts whom display, in this code example, one post from category 12…

Another example, if I want to use tables to display some stuff (and please, don’t tell me I shouldn’t use table…:-))

If I call the query_posts in the first column (td), then the “classic loop” for the single posts in the second column, the query_posts stay active.

I understand why… the second <?php while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?> is just another call to this same query, so WordPress display the stuff based on the same result…

So is there a way to stop the query_posts ?

Thanks!

S.