id the Federal Aviation Administration had given the City of Cincinnati permission

My China week began with a call from Natalie Pinkham on Monday evening.Help! Do you know anyone round here who cuts hair and will come to the house? Daniel is bald! Well, I think that was what she was trying to say between the cries of laughter.You will have seen the pictures and video by now of Natalies husbands attempt to give Daniel Ricciardo a haircut that didnt quite go according to plan. I suggested calling one of our make-up girls at work because a lot of them are trained to cut hair too or, and at the very least, they would know someone who could help. That is how Vince came to be cutting a Formula 1 drivers hair late on Monday night. Against the clockThe flight, or flights in this case, to China are always difficult to get right. I always say sleep on the first leg and then stay awake on the second. But with our flight taking off at 4pm, we were wide awake all the way to Doha. And as the second flight took off, we all fell asleep.You just have to accept that this race is one where jet lag will hit; you will be awake in the middle of the night and there is nothing you can do about it. Its not unusual to find the hotel gym at its busiest at 4am!I have flown a fair bit and am one of those people who now doesnt pay enough attention to the safety demonstration, but this time was different. Qatar Airways sponsor FC Barcelona and had enlisted the players help. Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique demonstrated the brace position, in airline seats, in front of goal, defending a free kick! WATCH: The best of Sky F1 In the week Sky Sports turns 25, check out the best of the first four years of Sky F1 Lionel Messi helped demonstrate where the nearest exits were and for the explanation of the drop-down oxygen masks... well, Piques adoring fans were reaching for them at the sight of their hero. In the video that is, not on the plane.The final shot was of Luis Suarez standing in the middle of the pitch wearing a life jacket. He inflated it and then looked around the stadium for applause as though he had just scored a winning goal. It may sound silly but it had all our attention, so it did its job.The paddock mazeWe arrived at the hotel in Shanghai at around 8pm on Wednesday evening and, too tired to do anything else, we grabbed dinner in the hotel restaurant. In previous years, we arrived on Wednesday morning and after a few hours sleep would head into Shanghai itself for shopping and food.Wednesday night was, as expected, completely restless. A couple of episodes of a box set, two newspapers from home and some yoga helped kill time but when my unnecessary alarm went off, I had had a total of two hours sleep.Thursday was the usual media day at the track. Our TV compound is a long way from the paddock in China and the paddock itself is enormous. It is easy to do 10,000 steps a day without even trying at this race. It makes you pretty organised too. The last thing you want to do is leave something at one end or the other! The team hospitality units are very spaced out too. They have two buildings each, on stilts on the water. They are connected by paths and bridges but no matter how many years you come to this race, you still get lost.The teams change position pretty much every year too and, for example, the Mercedes building closest to the paddock was for team only, but a few short steps past them to the building behind was Williams hospitality. I never actually found Mercedes hospitality or the Williams team-only building. Such is the layout of the Chinese paddock!On Friday morning, after another restless night, I woke up to my alarm and hit snooze. About five seconds later, I realised I had set my alarm an hour too late. If you remember the scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral, when Hugh Grant and his friend are late, well you have an idea of the scene in my room that morning!The rain gameIn China, we travel to the track by bus. The bus leaves on time whether you are on it or not, as one member of our team found out this weekend! Luckily our hotel is by a train station but I wasnt about to try out my non-existent Chinese and find my own way to the track - so disheveled and discombobulated on the bus it would have to be!Plus, I actually enjoy the bus journeys. Our route took us past some of the more remote parts of Shanghai and I watched as local people went about their days oblivious to the Formula 1 juggernaut that had arrived.From little local shops that looked like someone had opened up their front room at the side of the road, to the families all travelling together on one scooter... usually dad at the front wearing the only helmet, with mum behind and a small child or two sandwiched between. Although in my picture, the child got the front and it looks like they are driving it! The weather was lovely on Friday and unusually for China, we enjoyed high temperatures and sunshine. Fast forward to Saturday morning and not only had the heavens opened, it was if they had turned the taps up to full flow. And for the first time this year, we had security doing scans and body scans at the gate.Unfortunately, it was all hand searches and everyone usually arrives at the same time. We waited on the bus and got off one at a time to try and not be in the torrential rain for too long - but we failed miserably. Especially when security wanted to question me about my perfume miniature in my handbag.They didnt know the English for what is this and I didnt know the Chinese for keep it its not important - so we all got very wet! I dont think the office hairdryer has ever had so much use as we all tried to dry our clothes out.By the time P3 started, the rain had eased off a bit and we did get some action to watch, but the talk was about the forecast for qualifying. I checked my phone several times during the session and it said 100% chance of rain from 1pm local to 5pm local.The last time I checked was 12.55pm just before we wrapped up the show. Ten minutes later, the forecast changed to just wind between 3-4pm. Our hopes for some excitement and unpredictability seemed dashed. However, we did get a mixed-up grid.A go-faster haircut?Lewis had engine problems and went out in Q1 and the Red Bull found pace not even Christian Horner could believe. Daniel was ecstatic, as you would imagine, but is always easy to interview. Even when he had a bad day on the Friday in Bahrain, he didnt make my job difficult and those of us that do post-session interviews always appreciate that.Of course, its easier when a driver is happy and has had a good day but its when they have had a bad day you get a better idea of the personality.Christian had mentioned over the team radio that it must be down to his new haircut but Daniel explained to me he might not be allowed to keep it as his mum hates it, but a podium on Sunday might change her mind. Nico was buzzing with his pole but also knew it was still only Saturday and the Ferraris recently had the better starts. After getting a new mohican haircut, Red Bulls Daniel Ricciardo secured P2 in qualifying in China, and might think about keeping it a little while longer He does have that confidence back though and the sparkle in his eye. Lewis was pragmatic about his issue and spoke well, despite the disappointment, while Seb wouldnt give away any clues as to his tyre strategy, understandably, but did have a wry smile when I mentioned he had saved an extra set of new supersofts for the race.And what a race! I need to watch it back again once I have written this because so much was happening throughout I am sure I have missed bits. From the Safety Car to Lewiss five pit stops, you never quite knew how it would play out. Except at the very front.Get Sky F1: Every race liveNico managed to avoid trouble and even when he was running second, the leader gets a puncture. I think that was the last time I saw him until the chequered flag, such was the action behind him. Ricciardo was so unlucky to have hit some debris and we wont know what might have been for him but that Red Bull looks promising.You would not have picked China for their first podium of the season so I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for them. Sebastian found a Kimi to the left of him and a Daniil to the right of him at the start so we wont know what he could have done or if he could have fought Nico to the end.It was a shame to hear him criticise Daniil so much afterwards but with the big boss at the race that weekend and having been beaten by his team-mate in qualifying, he was probably feeling the pressure more than usual. Sebastian Vettel has words with Dani Kvyat as they wait to head out to the podium Inside The PenWith all 22 drivers finishing the race, the post-race media pen was crazy. I tried to grab a word with as many drivers as possible and always feel guilty when a driver is answering a question but sees me looking over his shoulder and nodding at another press officer to let them know I want to speak to their driver too.It must be off putting but hopefully they understand, they certainly never complain. Its a hard one to judge too.For example, I wanted to speak to Kimi and was waiting for him to finish another interview when Nico Hulkenberg became free and no one else was ready to interview him, so when the press officer looked over I said yes and began the interview.As he was answering my questions. Kimi left the pen and sprinted back to the Ferrari hospitality. He was in such a hurry he vaulted the barrier and left his press officer behind. But thats Kimi!And finally...My favourite moment though belongs to Dani Kvyat. He is one of the funniest drivers on the grid and I hope we find more ways to get that across to the fans this year. After the race, he walked into the pen with Seb, who gave him a friendly tap, and came straight over to me. Drivers are usually always wearing a cap at this point and I saw Dani looking back for his press officer, who had got caught up behind some fans taking pictures.I asked him if he wanted to wait for a cap and he replied, No, its OK, I have good hair.You certainly do Dani, better than your team-mate right now thats for sure…RBDont miss the F1 Report on Wednesday at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1 for full analysis of an action-packed Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. Natalie Pinkham is joined in the studio by Marc Priestley and Alex Lynn.Also See:Brundle: Rosberg on a rollChinese GP driver ratingsCheap Basketball Shoes Store . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. Basketball Shoes Outlet .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.cheapbasketballshoesstore.net/?tag=cheap-nike-paul-george-basketball-shoes-china . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Cheap Nike LeBron James Basketball Shoes China . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Wholesale Basketball Shoes Shop . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night.CINCINNATI -- The Pittsburgh Pirates did the little things to come up with a big win.Jordy Mercer had an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, David Freese added a two-run single, and the Pirates overcame some shaky defense to preserve their chances in the NL wild-card race with a 9-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.The Pirates loaded the bases against Tony Cingrani (2-5) with a walk and two infield hits, including catcher Francisco Cervelli beating out a bunt to load the bases before Mercer snapped a 6-6 tie with a single to left. Freese singled to center two batters later.With (Cingrani), you have to be patient, Cervelli said. He throws the ball down and wants you to hit ground balls. We tried to do the little things. In that situation, you trust the guy behind you. The way Ive been swinging, I had to do it perfectly.You cant walk the leadoff man, Reds manager Bryan Price. Its basically a nothing-nothing game. You have to come in throwing strikes. Tony has had a terrific year, but thats been his nemesis lately.The Pirates have scored a combined 11 runs in their last at bats over their last two games. They scored eight in the ninth inning on Thursday against Philadelphia.They continue to play, manager Clint Hurdle said. Thats it. Theyre looking to continue games and finish games. That game was fun. Different things happened. Different opportunities presented themselves to different people.Gregory Polanco and Jung Ho Kang homered to help the Pirates to their third win in four games after a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh remained 5 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the NLs second wild card.Antonio Bastardo (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth and Tony Watson allowed Steve Selskys first career home run before finishing up for his 13th save.The teams combined to use 15 pitchers.Polanco followed Andrew McCutchens RBI double with a two-run homer to right in the first, his first since Aug. 29.After Brandon Phillips RBI single in the first, Ramon Cabrera tied the game 3-3 with a two-run homer in the second. Robert Stephenson hit Kang with a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the fifth.Scott Schebler cashed in on two Pittsburgh fielding gaffes with a tie-breaking triple to give the Reds a 6-4 lead in the fifth.Joey Vootto singled with one out in the sixth for a 4-4 tie.dddddddddddd One out later, Brandon Phillips reached when pitcher Ryan Vogelsong dropped first baseman John Jasos throw for an error. Schebler followed with a line drive to center field that McCutchen uncharacteristically misplayed, allowing it to sail past him and roll to the wall for a two-run triple.Kang tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh off Blake Wood.RECORD(S) SWATKangs seventh-inning home run was the 236th allowed by Reds pitchers this season, tying the franchise record set in 2004. It also was the 93rd allowed by the Reds bullpen, breaking the major league record of 92 set in 1964 by the Kansas City Athletics.WET BLANKETThe start of the game was delayed 31 minutes by rain, one day before the teams play a day-night doubleheader created by a postponement from May 10.MANDATORY HBPStephenson grazed Kang with a pitch in the first inning and plunked him solidly with the bases loaded in the fifth, pushing to 20 the number of Pirates batters hit by Reds pitchers this season and to 53 the number over the last four seasons, the most by any major league staff against any opponent.FRIENDLY SKIESA drone was spotted flying around outside the ballpark before and during the game. A Reds spokesman said the Federal Aviation Administration had given the City of Cincinnati permission to let the drone record events on Friday and Sunday along the Ohio River.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: Continuing low back problems kept LF Starling Marte out of Fridays starting lineup. Marte hasnt played since Sept. 5.Reds: A day off on Thursday wasnt enough for SS Zack Cozarts right knee to improve enough to play. Cozart hasnt played because of soreness in the surgically repaired knee since being scratched from Sundays starting lineup.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Trevor Williams (1-1) is scheduled to make his first major league start in the second game of Saturdays day-night doubleheader. RHP James Taillon (3-4) is the first-game starter.Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (8-3) can match the career high for wins he set last season in doubleheaders first game. LHP Robert Finnegan (9-10) is scheduled to start the second game. ' ' '