Saturday Sep 14 & Sunday Sep 15
When does one working week start and another begin? For me this week began on Saturday morning as I decamped to Mondello Park for the curtain closing Leinster Trophy weekend. No I was not competing (Shane is the only one around here with a race licence); instead I was covering the event for Autosport magazine in the UK.
It was streamed live on Mondello.tv with the production suite based just over my shoulder, giving me great insight into the demands on the director and camera crew. Sometimes the events unfolding behind me were even more exciting that what was going on on-track.
The chequered flag on the last race fell at 6pm but it would be another eight hours before leaba as reports have to be filed before I go to bed. A long day...
Monday Sep 16
"Go shorty, it's your birthday..."
Another year older, no wiser. Well maybe a little as to mark the occasion I booked a week with the 300hp Audi S3. A full review will follow but initial impressions are that it's a hugely quick car, but with suspension too stiff for the roads in my particular corner of Kildare.
Before the S3 there was the small matter of the Audi A3 Saloon Irish launch at the O2 in Dublin.
We have already driven the car in Budapest but this was a chance to try it on Irish roads and with Dave and AutoWeek's West Coast (of the USA) editor Davey Johnson on board we put it through its paces. Initial impressions are good - as it has been with all A3 derivatives - but I look forward to spending more time with the car.
Tuesday Sep 17
An early morning start for a meeting with the Sunday Times. I will not go into too much detail other than to say good coffee and pastries.
Everything past that meeting is a drug and hooker induced haze punctuated by unprovoked attacks on random strangers. No I have not gone postal; I have joined the word of GTA V. The immersive Rockstar world has been my home for many an hour, but it is all work related as I track down every car imaginable and find out which real world car inspired it. (That is the excuse I gave to Shane and my wife. Shush...)
Wednesday Sep 18
My dedication to the cause is beginning to take its toll as late nights 'working' on GTA V interfere with daily life. Today will be spent catching up with our Irish reviews and sorting out the little amount of news that is circulating in the post-Frankfurt vacuum. The joys of a job as News & Road Test Editor.
Thursday Sep 19 & Friday Sep 20
Thursday and Friday were spent with Shane and Laurie shooting a host of cars from the Dacia Logan to the Audi A3 Saloon. This of course involved standing on the side of a mountain in the cold, but at least I had the S3 to warm me up afterwards.