It all started back in April when my brother sent me a link to the xboxcup.com competition.  Of course I had to have a go at stopping a multi coloured bar going across the screen, I mean how difficult could it be.  Well after an hour or so and suffering from RSI I managed to put up a reasonable score and get into the top 360.  At this time I was happy thinking I had the chance of winning fifa 2006 for the 360.  I couldn’t wait though so I went out and bought it the next day. Over the next few days when I had the chance I would be playing on the website trying to increase my score, and I eventually got into the top 10.  Once I had got this high I didn’t want to stop as I felt I had a chance of winning.  I carried on playing when I finally got to the top, where I stayed until the final day of the competition.  I woke up on the 24th of May( the last day of the comp) expecting to still be top and low and behold someone was beating me.  I was gutted (not quite as much as when the Hammers lost the cup to Mr G!)  I couldn’t stop thinking all day at work at how close I came as I didn’t think I could beat the top score.  Anyway I left work a bit earlier that day to try my best to win.  I think I must of played it for a few hours before thinking that I was never going to win.  I stopped for tea and feeling rejuvenated I gave it one last shot - and at about 11:45pm (the competition closed at 23:59) I managed to climb to the top of the leaderboard.  I couldn’t believe my luck.  I convinced myself I had won and the clock passed Midnight.  I then realised the competition close at 23:59 GMT not BST so I waited up to 1am to see if I had won.  Next Day I couldn’t contain myself, I was sure I was off to Germany.  I was due to hear about the competition on or around the 30th of May but I didn’t get my confirmation until the 1st of June - I was worried that I had missed the email as you only had 48hrs to respond and my email had been playing up at the time.  Still my worries turned to excitement once the email came through and I have been counting down the weeks to the competition.  Its amazing how many new friends you have when you tell them you are going off to Germany for the World Cup.  Luckily the misses is a big football fan (unfortunately Arsenal) so she is as excited as me, though im not sure she will be that interested in the xboxcup unless she gets the chance to play Zuma.  Since then I have had many forms to fill in which I didn’t understand - im not sure what I have signed up for!  Also I have had a call from Stuart at Extreme Sports Channel to ask me a few questions and telling me there is a possibility Radio 1 might be there. I think me and the misses  might feel a bit old when we're there compared to all the younger gamers and fans but Im just going lap it all up - should be great fun and I cant wait…..