±«Óãtv

The last 48 hours has been weird, being back at home after 16 consecutive days on the road, broadcasting from a different location every time.

Along the way we covered 2,500 miles and met supporters from 14 of the 16 Euro 2008 countries. In fact, so quickly have I exchanged one routine for another that departing Jamie Carragher's bar and restaurant in the centre of Liverpool feels like a month ago rather than late Sunday evening.

At the risk of breaking strict ±«Óãtv guidelines on commercial endorsements, it's a really nice gaffe that Jamie has there - and it has proved a welcome home for the Spanish half of Merseyside during Euro 2008.

Family life has gone on as normal in my absence. The only real change, I am sad to report, is that Lou-Lou the Guinea Pig is no longer with us. I received the news by text when I was with the Turks in Newcastle.

My daughter is 14 and has faced this trauma before. In my absence, she heroically dealt with the funeral herself, although I gave her two essential pieces of information by telephone. Firstly, make sure Lou-Lou is definitely dead before burying her. Secondly, dig a deep enough hole to make sure next door's cat doesn't pull her back up for breakfast. Mission accomplished - and she even marked the grave with half a piece of roof tile.

And so to the semi-finals, producer Garth has been bashing his contacts, and tells me we are back with the Turks tonight. I will bring you up to date with how we got on tomorrow.