A quick blog before I head off to bed. My 3:30am wake up this morning has taken its toll and I'm buggered (Australian way of saying very tired). I'm a little worried about tomorrow. I don't expect any sympathy or even understanding but I'm getting too old to put on a fake smile so I'll just put it out there.

I feel like I've had my time in the spotlight this year. I'm done. The preparations for the Olympics were exhausting and took all I had. I fought hard in training and I went out and fought even harder in my matches in London. Then to go out and play my best table tennis ever was a dream come true and was the epitome of personal satisfaction. Then I went on holiday in Europe for a few weeks and didn't touch a racket for a month. Then a month I went back to full-time work, which I'm really enjoying and table tennis was pushed down the priorities list. And here I am in Liverpool about to play the World Cup. I realise many players would give at least part of a little finger or toe to compete in the same hall as Ma Long or Timo Boll and I'm probably making them and you angry right now.

I think I've got to go out tomorrow and take it as it comes, without expectations or pressure. Having high goals would feel strange when my mind is this uncharacteristically scattered so I'll just try to enjoy playing. I start against Canadian Pierr-Luc Theriault at 10am, then play Ali Ahmed Saleh from Egypt at 11:30, who I lost to in a close match at last year's World Cup. In my last match I play Thiago Monteiro from Brazil. I hope to have better news for you tomorrow.

In other news, there were some unhappy table tennis players at dinner tonight. The catering at the tournament hotel is poor to say the least. Each player is allowed one small plate of main course each from the buffet. We aren't allowed to serve ourselves as we may take too much. Oh, and you are only allowed a certain amount of things on the same plate. So I chose the spaghetti and chunk of ham as my main. I snuck around the back and stole some napoli sauce to have on my pasta which I knew was wrong and which I am sorry for.. The ham was so salty it couldn't be eaten so I took it back and asked for a piece of fish instead. I was told I had already taken ham and wasn't allowed fish, nor any more spaghetti as I'd already had my serve. I asked to see the manager who was no help so I asked to see his manager. I then got a piece of fish. The unflattering comments from staff about 'why ping pong players need to eat so much' didn't help the situation.

Enough whinging - I'm off to bed.