I have just returned from a lost weekend in Las Vegas - and what a fantastic time we had.

I call it lost because the brave Ricky Hatton did not win - not because I can't (or don't want to) remember anything. Las Vegas is my sort of place and we made the most of it.

The VU party flew in on Saturday afternoon with just a few hours to spare. The atmosphere around Las Vegas was brilliant and very British. After a few beers it was time for the fight. Despite the result it was a great sporting clash and I really hope that Ricky does not hang up the gloves just yet.

Then it was off to a fantastic Japanese restaurant and of course the tables. I am ashamed to admit that I had about as much luck as Ricky Hatton. I have probably ended up making a loss on this trip! I was hammering the free vodka and cranberry juices they kept bringing - I should have seen that coming.

Later it was a quick trip to Spearmints (it is never my idea) Guess who was in there - yes Mr Mayweather himself. He does not do things by halves and was just handing out wads of cash in tips. I don't think he knows much about rugby though as he did not come over and say hello.

Whilst I was over for the fight I bumped into my old Bath mate Tony Swift. It always brings a double take when you see someone you know so far away from home. I wonder if it was a bit of a trip on the sly because I saw him on the train a couple of weeks ago and he did not say then he was heading out.

It is my first full day back in the office today and I must admit that I am still suffering - I blame the jet lag.

I can't wait to run some more trips out to Las Vegas as British boxing really takes off. I hope I don't keep making such a big loss on them!

It all started off when I decided that it is never to late to start preparing for the Lions Tours to South Africa in 2009. The tour itinerary had been leaked and although there are lots of denials that this is the actual schedule it is a mighty large coincidence that the hotels are getting booked up around the dates suggested.

So my advance mission to South Africa was booked and I arrived at Heathrow on Sunday – but there was a problem and it had nothing to do with queues for security, I did not even get that far. When I went to the South African Airways check-in desk they took one look at my passport and said I would not be flying. The problem was that there was not a clear page in my passport for a stamp when I landed. South African Airways faced a fine if they let me on the plane, and I would be on the next one home again anyway.

What a rule. There was room for South African officials to get their stamp in, but they insist on a clear page. I suppose looking on the bright side it could have been worse. This might have happened as I flew out for the tournament itself! Also I will be telling all VU clients heading off for the Lions Tour 2009 to make sure they have a clear page in their passport, or they won't be going out.

So after a wasted trip to Heathrow I had to spend £160 changing the flight and also make an emergency appointment at the passport office to get myself a new one. Now it is Wednesday and I have just arrived at Heathrow again – but to more grief. I booked economy, even though I never go cattle class, because a contact at South African Airways had assured me of an upgrade. I arrived at check-in and they had absolutely no note of this. So I face the prospect of around 10 hours with my legs around my ears and my belly resting on the fold-out table.

I am sure it will be worth it to give me a head start with the Lions planning. I am back in under a week and in that time I will be checking out hotels, restaurants and the odd bar in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town and holding a series of now rearranged meetings. As an old pal who was once in the Army told me once 'time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted'.

I love South Africa and really can't wait for the 2009 tour. It is important to do it in style so there was no way that I was going to let a full-up passport and the prospect of going cattle class get in the way of me going out there.

When I get back from South Africa I will have just enough time to wash my pants and vest and then get back on a flight – this time to the Dubai 7s. We have got a great VU trip going out there, and having been at the tournament last year I know it will be a cracker. Then it is back from Dubai and out to Las Vegas for the Hatton/Mayweather fight. Honestly this job is harder than it looks.

Everything has calmed down post World Cup. I have been impressed with the performance of Wasps in Europe and it was a cracking win for Bristol last weekend. It shows that the game is really strong in England.

Anyway time to get on the plane, can anything else go wrong with this trip – I hope not.

Sorry about the wait since the last blog. After the World Cup I have been walking around like a zombie. What an amazing six weeks, but since then I don’t think I have made it past 9pm at night.

I am trying out a new font for the post-World Cup blog so I hope you like it. There will be more updates before during and after events like the Mayweather and Hatton fight in Las Vegas and the Dubai Sevens as the end of November. Then there is the RBS 6 Nations and even the Lions in South Africa in 2009 – so plenty to talk about.

For someone who was said to be like a rabbit caught in the headlights he did a good job getting a team labelled as a bunch of no-hopers within inches of winning a Rugby World Cup (maybe it was a try). I am sure there are coaches in Australia, New Zealand, Wales and Scotland who would have been prepared to be called any names if they got their team to a World Cup final. I suspect not many of them have had to put up with the sort of comments levelled at Ashton since the tournament.

Since the World Cup other than sleeping I have been doing a bit of catching up. I sorted out Ronnie and Matt Dawson to appear at a function for those nice people at Nationwide. I have also been putting the finishing touches to my new newspaper. It will be going out to my clients, but if you want a copy drop me a line with your name and address to info@vultd.co.uk