Tuesday was probably one of the most surreal days of my whole life. Hearing my name being called out live on television as a British and Irish Lion simply hasn't sunk in yet.
It is the biggest accolade for any player from these shores - all the years of hard work growing up, the history and prestige of a Lions tour, the players who have worn that red shirt - to hear your name being announced is like nothing else.
I don't think it will feel real until I am lucky enough to pull on that jersey and play my first game on the tour. My first memory of the Lions is seeing Brian O'Driscoll's performance in the first Test against Australia in 2001.
Disbelief: George North holds up his British and Irish Lions jersey after being confirmedI was watching at home, screaming at the TV with my mum and dad - and now I might soon have the honour of playing alongside him! The night before the announcement, I thought I'd struggle to sleep, but I was so knackered from training that I was OK.
I did wake up at 6am and it was all I could think about. They moved around the training schedule at the Scarlets so we could all watch the announcement as a squad. I had rehab first thing in the morning, where I just tried to keep my head down and get stuck in to stay distracted.
After some unit work with the backs, we finished and headed up to the team room, where the announcement was put on the big screen. It was the most intense 20 minutes of my life and my legs were bouncing up and down on the spot - I couldn't control them.
They named Alex Cuthbert first and then moved on to Sean Maitland. I then thought the last spot was probably down to me and Tim Visser, and I was the last wing to be read out, which was terrifying! All the boys screamed, and it was such a relief.
First up: Alex Cuthbert and Sean Maitland (right) were named before North's name was read out 'It is the biggest accolade for any player from these shores. To hear your name being announced is like nothing else'Then we hushed down again to hear the rest of the announcement and another Scarlet, Jonathan Davies, was named as a Lions centre. He also got a huge round of applause from the squad.
We had a break for food before the next training session, and my phone was going berserk. I had a chance to call mum and dad, who were over the moon for me - they hadn't dared to look into flights to Australia but I think they will today!
My parents have seen all the years of hard slog and training; they've seen me try to climb up stairs on a Sunday morning after a game unable to stand up straight. It has been a funny build-up to the announcement and it is nice to be able to use the 'L-word' again.
Every player from every country gets measured for kit during the Six Nations simply because there is so much to be made in such a short space of time. I'm so superstitious that I didn't even dare look in the mirror with the red shirt on.
Coy: Sam Warburton did not tell North that he was captain ahead of the announcementTwo weeks ago, about 50 or so players received a letter to make sure that we all had kept the tour dates clear. I opened it and shut it straight away. I spent the weekend with Sam (Warburton) and he didn't tell me that he was captain.
We drove up to Ryan Jones's testimonial dinner in Llangollen together - and he didn't mention it. Obviously I was teasing him about it, but he gave nothing away.
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