Your Harryism for the week is:

If you don't get wet, muddy and bloody, you're not doing it right.

Wales was amazing, Paris was amazing. I've had an awesome week off, and I'm not afraid to boast about it! The trip driving to Paris is longer than it makes itself out to be - Eurostar is definitely worth the extra money, for convenience and time saved - but we got there okay on Friday evening, dropped our bags off and rushed off to the match. I think it only really sank in for my buddy Ross and I where we were and what we were there to see when we got off the train and saw the Stade de France, and the masses of green & gold and red & white supporters.

The stadium was spectacular (no, I didn't take my camera), and the atmosphere was awesome for the first ten minutes, after which anyone dressed in red & white quietened down significantly, but anyone in green & gold just got louder. At this point, I would usually continue to rip the hell out of the English, but I really think the 36-0 defeat left nothing more to be said. (Well, I've pretty much let off all my steam on our two English mates that were there with us anyway! Shame, they really took it well!)

Needless to say, the match was followed by a virtually non-stop 48-hour party in Paris. We met up with some more (thankfully female) friends and it was awesome fun. Very cool to be in a city where everyone (even those in red & white) was so good-natured and everyone was just out to have a great time. And the French were friendly too. But the cab drivers would rather give you directions and see you walk - I found that out the hard way.

And we didn't even see the Eiffel Tower, not even from a distance!

Yesterday was a difficult ride home.... well hung over, desperately tired but unable to sleep in the car (sometimes my insomnia really is a cruel thing), I'm still feeling a little shattered today - a four-hour meeting so helped the day go by quickly - and for the first time in many many months I had more than two coffees in one day (a long story for another day).... and all before 10am.

Go South Africa!!!

H out.