We'll always have Paris

Did you see that? Three days since the last post? Incredible. That shows nothing of the posts I type out and never publish. But anyway. All-nighter followed by all-nighter, followed by news today which is good and bad.

Next week is the WPT in Paris. It's one of only two events to take place outside the mainland USA. Our original plan was to skip it. Who wants to follow poker during the world cup anyway? And then, an emended plan splashed on to the drawing board. We'll cover the final day. A one day trip - come back the morning after. This was better.

Then, a bolt of lightening struck someone somewhere in the face. A two day trip seemed half hearted. Instead, a five day trip. What the hell, let's cover the whole thing. We'll send Steve!

So yes, Paris for a week. Ordinarily this would be good. And of course I'll go where they tell me. Play starts at 4pm everyday so there's plenty of time to look around. But without sounding ungrateful for what would ordinarily be the prestige posting, I'd rather not.

I used to think Paris was mine, after almost two years of going there every couple of months. But now I perhaps need to make the effort for it not to be mine. Leave it to the American tourists who head for McDonalds and Shakespeare and Co. Leave the past behind. There are better things to look forward to.

So a week away, get back, and then my girlfriend goes away to do a similar job in Barcelona for a week. Yes, we're grown-ups. But I have an adolescent brain and my heart is weak. I'm being sent to the romantic capital of the world on my own. Would anyone believe that?