If someone had told me this time last year that I would be cheering on the England football team in a bar in Holland with a group of Slovenian fans, I'm not sure I would have believed you.
But on Wednesday afternoon, having rushed from Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands to catch the second half of the England match in our hotel in Groningen, that's exactly what I was doing.
Silverstone
Twenty-four years is a long time to play bridesmaid and not bride but this weekend Silverstone will step up to take centre stage from Donington and once again be the main focus for British Motorsport as MotoGP rolls into town.
The last time motorcycling's premier class was here, Kylie and Jason got hitched in Neighbours, Madonna's Papa Don't Preach was at the top of the charts and Wayne Gardner was beating Randy Mamola, Niall Mackenzie and Ron Haslam to top spot in the race. Most of the riders taking part in this weekend's event were not even born then!
If you talk to anyone in the motorsport world, they will tell you that Mugello, nestled in the scenic Tuscan hills, is one of the most exciting places for racing on the planet. If you have not been there, then let me tell you it is a pretty amazing place.
There are two things that make it extra special - Valentino Rossi and his passionate fans.
As commentator Charlie Cox gave me a guided tour of the track before last weekend's MotoGP, there were yellow flags waving, giant 46's etched into the grass and a sea of tiny tents perched on the hillside at angles so impossible that Italian skiing legend Alberto Tomba, who was here taking in the action, would have found it difficult to keep his balance.
There is something very special about Rossi. Charismatic, elusive and clever, MotoGP fans love him so much, which is why many of them where inconsolable after the events of Saturday morning.
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Hello, I'm Jennie Gow and I'll be guiding you through this year's MotoGP coverage on the BBC. I've been working in the biking world ever since I started out in TV, covering Speedway and Motocross before my move into the world of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden et al. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog and all the gossip and tales I'll be bringing from the grid and paddock.You can stay up to date with Jennie Gow via these feeds.
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