I am writing this on our way up to Edinburgh, the last leg of what has seemed like a lengthy tour of the north of Britain.

As a study of the social differences between different areas of the country it has been quite interesting. We've managed to fit in a few games of cricket too.

During our week in Colchester the minibus that had failed to turn up at Hove somehow managed to find its way to us. Not being the absolute height of luxurious travel, we kept a few of the cars we had with us and moved on in convoy up the M1.

We were hoping that the natural high we were feeling after our brilliant win against Essex would carry us through the next three one-day games. As I write, we have lost to both Nottinghamshire and Durham and now have only a win against Scotland left to salvage some much-needed pride.

Having been on our mini tour for a week-and-a-half it gives us some sort of indication of what it must be like to tour with England. We have had the same hectic schedule to contend with (seven days of cricket out of ten).

There are the same mixed feelings of being excited at the prospect of travelling the country yet, at the same time, longing for home and the familiar comforts. It can be extremely tiring living out of a suitcase and moving from one hotel room to another. There's no doubt it can affect your cricket if you let it.

I remember reading an article by Robin Smith saying he thought he always scored more runs when he played in Hampshire than elsewhere.

He thought the fact he could relax with his family away from the pressures of cricket during the evening allowed him to focus even more on the actual day's play.

I don't know whether that is always the case. There are days when you need to think about cricket away from the game, whether it be about tomorrow's opposition or a new technique you have learnt. But I agree with him that sometimes there is a need to get away from cricket and totally switch your mind off the game.

On a tour with 12 other cricketers, unless you lock yourself in your hotel room and live off room service (not always the most appealing food option), this is impossible to do.

I hope I am not painting too much of a picture of pessimism and depression. Don't get me wrong, touring the country playing cricket is for the most part highly rewarding and a great privilege (especially as we are being paid to do it!).

In the last week I have seen a new town that I otherwise would never have visited (Colchester), have been back to my old university and relived memories of three of the best years of my life (in Durham) and am now on my way to one of the most beautiful and famous cities in Europe of which I know very little and am looking forward to exploring (Edinburgh).

So, we may not be winning our one-day matches but if you can take any solace in the fact that we are becoming more rounded individuals, maybe you will forgive us!