It's driving me crazy!

So it seems "the heart of the Gulf is racing" ... and if they're talking about my blood pressure, that seems to be sky-rocketing at the speed of sound, then they're right!

Everywhere I turn all I can hear, see and smell is tainted with Formula One mania! A whole year has been and gone and it's time for the country to come to a standstill again - for a car race.

Billboards, posters, advertising ... Everywhere has got some reference or other to this weekend's events. People are planning, preparing and talking about one thing ... and one thing only ... Bahrain's main event of the year.

Bah Humbug!

It seems I'm supposed to jump on the bandwagon and get excited that the entire country is full to the max with people flying in just to see a bunch of very noisy cars zoom past them every minute and half or so.

Then there's the endless talk about all the other events that are happening in conjunction with the race - the parties and restaurants to be seen at and the clothes to be seen in.

Add to that the fact that both my jobs at the newspaper and on the radio entail saturation coverage of said events and anything to do with F1. AHHH!

What with the fact that I don't really care about a few lumps of metal attached to an engine going round and round in circles for an hour-and-a-half, I don't see why I should have to be hear all about it , my every waking moment.

Not only is it all going on, but even the studio - my haven of peace and my sanctuary for my sanity - is invaded by Formula One information, interviews and progress reports: who's bumped into who on the track, the street performers' amazing talents and the smell, sound and electric atmosphere down at the track. Oh, and then I get to go down to the track to witness it all for myself in it's full glory and talk about it while broadcasting live from the thick of the action.

The fact that anyone with even the mildest interest is either at the race or comfortably ensconced at a table watching the race from the comfort of their favourite watering hole, seems to have completely gone right above everyone's head - if people wanted to know about the race they'd be there, so what's the point of going on about it on the radio when the only people listening are the ones that are trying to ignore the fact that it's all going on in the first place.

Walk out of the studio and straight into F1 insanity at the newspaper: an extra pull-out all about F1 and the circuit. "Marie-Claire, please write your column this week about Formula One".

Has no one else noticed that the reality of the F1 weekend is double the traffic, no parking - anywhere, all your favourite restaurants fully booked and you're stuck nose to armpit as you try and walk from one end of the bar to the other?

My usual remedy to this malady that comes around every 12 months is to take a week off from work, stock up with DVDs and all the food and drink you think you're going to need and lock yourself behind closed doors until the last of the F1 tourists has boarded a flight off the island.

This year though? I'm going to be in the thick of it and I can't wait ... see you there.