Scotland captain and scrum-half Mike Blair sends his first exclusive blog to the Scottish Rugby website as the opening match of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa looms large.

It’s 11 days since the 2009 Lions assembled in Surrey and the time has just flown by.  I had thought the first week in camp in England might have dragged given how keen we all are to get to work on the field but this hasn't been the case.

I guess doing new and different things in training, different defensive systems and generally just working with players you’re not familiar with has helped.  Days have flowed pretty quickly, especially when we’ve had altitude fitness training and rugby in the morning, weights around lunchtime and then rugby in the afternoon.

As players we decided last Wednesday night that we’d rather not head down to Portsmouth to do some sailing and canoeing after two pretty intense days of training; instead we met in the bar for a couple of drinks and a bit of relaxation. Friday and Saturday were pretty full on again so I think the decision not to have a day at sea on the Thursday was justified.

At our hotel I roomed with Leigh Halfpenny for three days before he had to return to Cardiff Blues for treatment to a quad injury. Its an awkward situation when someone is told to go home but once Leigh is fit again he will meet up with us in SA. I then had the room to myself for two days before James Hook was called-up and was in for our last night.

Before we left the UK we did have a media day but it wasn't a busy one for me as there was no Scottish media representation - not that I was complaining.

We boarded our British Airways flight, dubbed Air Force Scrum, on Sunday.  I sat opposite Lee Byrne for the ten hour flight.  I had my food and then slept for about nine hours which was ideal.

On arrival at the airport in Johannesburg we were greeted by some traditional South African dancers. It was at this stage that it sunk in that we were on tour and realised the significance of a Lions tour to SA.

It’s my third rugby tour to South Africa – I was here with Scotland in 2003 and 2006 – and the facilities are as good as I remember them.   We’ve been training this week at St David’s School in Sandton. It’s been roasting hot so sun tan lotion has been the order of the day.  As part of the recovery regime we’re all well accustomed to ice baths but our fitness team have supplemented that by cold showers.  Apparently having a cold shower helps recovery and adaptation as the nervous system takes the longest to recover from the sort of exertions we’ve been doing. I'm yet to be convinced of this though - I just get a head freeze!

Tonight we have a reception at the British High Commission before we travel up by coach to Rustenburg, the venue for our first game on Saturday.

I’m delighted to be playing in the opening game.  As I said when I was called up, I won’t feel that I’m really a Lion until I actually get on to the field and aim to win in the jersey. I haven’t played with anyone in the squad for Saturday’s game before, but that’s always part of the challenge that the Lions represents.

Anyway, I’ve got homework to do now as I’ve been designated tourist information officer for the boys for Rustenburg.  The internet is a wonderful thing but if anyone knows anything more about Rustenburg than the fact it has the two largest platinum mines in the world, then that could prove very helpful!

You can catch up on the latest news from Mike Blair’s Edinburgh and Scotland team-mate, Ross Ford, by logging on to www.edinburghrugby.org