IT'S been nice to get out of my room and take part in last night's England game after spending most of the week in isolation.

I was up all through the night last Sunday. I felt achy and had a migraine with stomach cramps right through Tuesday.

I don't really know what it was, whether it was a virus or a dodgy chicken sandwich I ate on the way back from Lens. No-one else was ill in the same way although Danny Hipkiss was also suffering with a bad throat.

Anyway, the team doctor Simon Kemp wouldn't let me out of my room until Wednesday in case I passed it on to any of the other players.

I wasn't even allowed down to eat but Noony brought some food up for me. It was a nice bit of steak and some duck but, to be honest, I didn't have a great deal of appetite.

I finally got out on Thursday and, although it was technically a day off, I had a bit of a run with Danny and Mike Ford.

In the afternoon I had a wander around Versailles with Jonny and Noony and went for a hot chocolate and a cake around the corner from the hotel, practising our pidgin French.

Jamie and I are doing a Michel Thomas language course.

I'm on the foundation level at the moment and it's actually quite fun. He tells you at the start of the CD that he doesn't want you to try to remember anything or write anything down. He just wants you to talk and repeat what he says. I have loaded it up to my laptop and now it's on my iPod so I listen to it on the coach.

I'd like to play abroad because you only have to listen to Perry Freshwater, who is at Perpignan, to see how well you can pick up the language - but not for a few years yet.

I finally trained with the team on Thursday and got up to speed with most of the moves before I went with Andy Gomarsall, Jonny Wilkinson and Jon Callard to do some kicking at the Stade de France.

I try and stay quite chilled before games. I'm not one for getting wound up, although for big games like last night you can't help but get a bit edgy. And with it not starting until 9pm, it was a long day.

The Blackster (Steve Black) has been in touch with some words of wisdom.

He's always spot on with his sayings and I'm also reading a book by Jack Canfield - the Success Principles, How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be.

My girlfriend is coming over and staying locally for a few days. My cousin Bill is also here and my dad too, so I'll catch up with them all.

Newcastle start their season tomorrow against Sale at Kingston Park. I spoke to Fletch (John Fletcher) and Burkey (Matthew Burke) and they are in high spirits and looking forward to a full house.

We didn't have much to celebrate last night, but let's hope they have something to rejoice about.