a Ryanair flight(not fun due to some drunken chavs),
being driven around Germany/Holland in a greenhouse on wheels (no air con, 30+degrees, lots of sweat not fun),
Sailing (fun and totally for fun - decided as I live on an island time to learn to sail),
And a BA flight to Bordeaux (fun) for a recce, the talent being a Mr Dom Joly, he was initially going to attend but couldn't make it - his taxi from Gatwick back to London didn't get canceled. I saw his driver holding a 'Dom Joly' sign and broke the news, he asked if he was part of 'a wind up'. I explained he wasn't - but he wasn't happy.
I returned to Bordeaux some weeks later with Lighting Camera Operator to the stars - @Jonasabbott, @SoundManSandy (new to Twitter), @domjoly and client. Our mission to make some compelling content to inspire people to enjoy Bordeaux wine and perhaps even go visit.
We shot Dom taking part in a 'scream off', offering warm words of encouragement at a Marathon (where you drink wine as you run), and various other wine related activities. A particular highlight was the final day where with an hour to kill Dom undertook some dancing with a busker (hidden camera banter), I later briefed the busker he was being secretly filmed and that Dom Joly was a comedian - who wouldn't be joining him the next day - the busker was cool and with a 5 euro note was happy to sign the release form. Overall it was a great shoot and I came away having learnt much about grape juice.
The French enjoy cycling, they even have a Boris bike system. I recently encountered a 'bike off' in London where I and another chap both arrived at the only docking point available for our Boris bikes. I wasn't in a massive hurry so I suggested we toss a coin. He won, I lost. I then walked to the other end and seconds later a women took a bike freeing up space for me. I docked and turned around to notice the victor of the coin toss hadn't been able to dock his bike due to a technical issue - karma was on my side it would seem.
Like other euro cycling areas France is blessed with dedicated cycle routes, unlike the absolute carnage in Britain's First City Colchester*, however where they don't exist the cyclist casually rides where he/she pleases. This has never been the case in Britain, for as long as I can remember cycling on the pavement/anywhere other than a road has always been looked down upon, and today I had to fall on my sword over cycling on the pavement. As I swung by London's Barbican I saw the sign suggested 'no cycling' around a large open square / pavement. I saw the sign but was gently cruising (barely even peddling) as I turned a very wide corner onto a very wide pavement I saw rage in an elderly man's face. As I got closer I got sense I'd been caught out. This wasn't like the days when I'd be cycling on the pavement in the village doing my paper round, I was most certainly in trouble. The man spoke softly and with a good solid RP accent; "If you are looking for the road, its just there....". I smiled and said "I know", immediately getting off my bike and crossed to join the carnage of taxis, buses, white vans and city fast car drivers. Oh for a dedicated cycle lane with protective railings........
*
http://bit.ly/p6qzTa
