This week sees our Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston. I hear it's hot and humid. If you're not there in person you can see some of it online. Getting texts from the guys there. They get funnier as the night goes on. Whereas, I have just arrived in a hot and sunny San Fran, leaving a rather autumnal London behind.

I love this place. I don't know why I feel so at home here. Perhaps it's the weather, the way you order eggs sunny side up (that puts you in a good mood in the morning), the buzz, or the fact that as a Manic Paddy (as my former boss calls me) I fit right in. That and the marvelous shoe collection at Barney's. At the hotel I was instantly relieved of my bags and handed a glass of chardonnay. I walked into my room, docked my ipod and got online. It's all so civilised. It might be 2am for me right now but I'm wide awake and ready to soak it up...

Tomorrow I meet up with the leadership team to talk about all things start-up and entrepreneur; we're building up to launching major programs and doing this worldwide does take some orchestrating, I can tell you. We may suffer from overwhelming levels of potential and possibility right now, but what a nice position to be in. Finding focus is they key. Changing the world is never easy. So we have to bite off manageable chunks...

After a few days assimilating, debating, plotting and strategising, it is on to a quiet hotel down the coast to chill - and run. 12k in an hour - between vineyards. More exercise and sleep is required - and less fine dining and fine wining. Now that I have my NY marathon place I am compelled to don the shorts and ipod every day. Not easy when you are shifting timezones and working long hours. But hey, I am glad I signed up to the challenge. You're dead long enough. And as my friend Rob said the other day - I believe in life before death.

I was practicing partying technique in the sunshine at Henley Regatta on Friday where several tankers of Bollinger and Laurent Perrier were consumed. So Tuesday night I resisted the fizz (wow) at the launch of politicsandthecity.com - brainchild of the wonderful June Sarpong. I love the fact that June is so unapologetically feminine and - dare I say it - girlie; and at the same time a successful businesswoman. She has great charisma...as seen in Brussels at our recent summit when she hosted the student session for me.

Last night's launch party at the ICA in London was a total celeb fest, complete with paparazzi snapping outside and "mwwaaw hello dahling" exclamations echoing all over the room. June's speech was inspiring (as always) and I was so proud watching her. Look at me getting all maternal. It's a great site and we will see some cool content in the coming months. It does address an interesting thing though. Serious Girls. They are everywhere. One minute discussing IRR on Venture funds or a new project in South Africa and the next someone is admiring your Louboutins. Alistair Darling and Diane Abbott looked on as June eloquently described her passion, mingling effortlessly with size zero's and telly types, techies, entrepreneurs, City folk, corporate types even (me and the guy from Sun Microsystems having our perennial debate about who is more cool). June asked me to write a blog on the site a few months ago and I know there is plenty of material for this - I just need to stop long enough to write it.

From here I'm off to Atlanta (which is also going to be pretty hot and sticky). We just closed our fiscal on 30 June so we are now in kick-off mode. 10,000 Microsofties from around the world will convene to reflect on the year just gone, celebrate late into the night (they are never quiet affairs) and hear from SteveB about our plans for the year ahead. Then I have a weekend in Miami to recover on the beach. And no doubt burn a few calories on the dance floor. I hear the Delano is just awesome. Decadence is certainly something that has not been in short supply of late. It's a hard life. You wouldn't guess I was in training for the NY marathon by my routine for the last few months. 18 weeks and counting. But for now, I am off to sample what SF has to offer. The Clift (in Choo's) will be on the list. Awful place. Bye for now.