Salut!

A very belated Happy New Year! Please do not think I have forgotten you - It has simply been a time of reflection!

First of all I would like to thank everybody who sent me birthday wishes last month. I had a quiet time with my family in the south of France which was lovely.

So what am I up to? Well, I was back in London last week to host the Eurobest Advertising Award at Vinopolis. I presented the entire evening, and although initially apprehensive, I had a great time! I took to it like 'a duck to water', as you say in England.

The awards were handed out to advertising agencies throughout Europe, and there were some extremely clever ads which won prizes. A very popular one was the advert in which an Asian man hammers his car into the shape of a Peugeot - I'm sure you've seen it. Speaking of adverts, I am hoping to film another ad in the summer for Carte Noire, and will keep you posted.

I was in London again this week to attend the press launch of the Designs of the Times charity auction at the Audi Forum in Piccadilly. The auction is of original sketches of outfits worn by Princess Diana, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry amongst others. They will also auction 20 personalised Beanie Babies, and I signed one of me in a Tottenham kit. It will take place next month and is in aid of two children's charities, Norwood and Demelza House.

Those of you in London may have seen an article in today's Evening Standard about acting lessons I have recently started in south France, and the fact that I intend to commence acting lessons at Rada in spring or summer. This is because I have decided to seriously pursue acting as my next career move, and I am going through a number of scripts at the moment.

It has been difficult for me to accept the transition from football to film, as football has been my life for the past 17 years, and although I am moving on, football will always be my foremost passion. I kept an interested eye on the transfer window in England which opened and closed last month, and the lack of frantic activity just goes to show the current financial state of the game right now.

But the Championship race is still very much alive, with Arsenal, Manchester United and my former club Newcastle the main contenders, and it promises to be an exciting climax.

Enjoy your weekend!

A bientôt,

David Ginola.

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