So, how's life?
With spring at the door, it is a great time of year.
What were you like at school?
Quiet and lazy; the type that sits near the heater and goes to sleep.
Are you a good dancer?
At least my wife thinks so.
What film have you enjoyed recently?
Chocolat. An interesting caricature of life in a French village.
If you went on ėMastermind,' what would your special subject be?
I would choose music, and I would lose.
Would you sunbathe naked?
Yes of course, in Jurassic Park, I would fit in well.
Would you bungee-jump?
Not voluntarily.
Have you got any scars?
Yes, but nothing really exciting.
Any tattoos?
No.
If not, would you ever consider getting one?
Why not? A tattoo might make the naked sunbathing more interesting.
Where did you spend your most recent holiday?
In France and England . The highlight was riding a horse at maximum speed along a beach in Bretagne, with 20 others.
If you could holiday anywhere, where would it be?
I will definitely go back to the Caribbean this year. Sailing the entire Caribbean is one of my dreams.
If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
We love to move around, so we are happy anywhere we go.
What is your greatest personal sporting achievement?
Finishing this year's Paris Marathon, with my friends Pascal Bailly and Cristi Banica.
What is the most memorable sporting event you have attended?
My first marathon (see above).
Describe an enjoyable meal.
A grilled lobster on a Caribbean beach.
Describe the best party you ever went to.
An oyster and champagne party in Trafalgar Square ń my farewell party before leaving London.
What is your most recent extravagance?
Definitely losing 30 kilos and going to run the Paris Marathon, all within the same year. Thanks largely to my excellent coach and friend Cristi Banica, who encouraged me all the way and did an unbelievable job.
When was the last time you cried?
After I crossed the finishing line in Paris, there was no holding back.
What is your favorite musical instrument?
The piano.
What five words best describe you?
Passionate, reliable, humorous, demanding, stubborn.
What do you like least about yourself?
My fiery temper.
What's your worst habit?
Leaving my socks drawer open.
Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?
Oh, it's definitely half-full.
Where were you on 31st December, 1999?
I was in the Novotel Heathrow, where we partied with guests all night.
What do you do passionately?
I try to do everything with passion; otherwise I lose interest very quickly.
What is your most prized possession?
None really. My family is most important for me, not that I possess them.
What do you always carry with you?
My mobile phone, a Sony-Ericsson T68i.
What might you be reincarnated as?
A horse, because I love horse riding.
What is the most you have ever paid a hairdresser?
I have not paid a hairdresser for years. I have no need for them!
Name three personal heroes.
Cristi Banica my coach, l'abbe Pierre , and Lance Armstrong.
What was your first car?
A Simca 1100. It was 1984, so I was 18, the car was a disgusting gold and the front doors didn't open, so I had to enter and exit it through the back doors.
What do you do in hotel rooms?
Everything. I have spent my life in hotel rooms.
Who is your favourite James Bond girl?
Definitely Halle Berry .
Have you had any interesting jobs before this?
So far I am blessed; I have found all my jobs interesting.
Have you got any pets?
Yes, we have a cat, called Cream. It's two years old.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
Again, a horse.
How much money have you got on you now?
Absolutely nothing.
What is your favourite website?
www.accorhotels.com, of course.
Is the art of letter-writing dead?
No, but it needs life breathed back into it.
Can you recite a line of poetry?
Yes I can.
Go on then.
L'homme et la mer de Charles Baudelaire
Homme libre, toujours tu cheriras la mer!
La mers est ton miroir; tu contemples ton ame
Dans le deroulement infini de sa lame,
Et ton esprit n'est pas un gouffre moins amer.
When was the last time you were in a fight?
Never - I have never been in a fight.
Who is the sexiest person in the world?
Cameron Diaz and Halle Berry - I can't decide.
Who is the sexiest person you know?
My wife, of course.
Do you talk in your sleep?
That is a question for my wife, not for me.
When did you last have too much to drink?
It was New Year's Eve 1989, in Val Thorens, a ski resort in the Alps. All the staff of all the hotels were in fancy dress and drinking tequila.
What is the best rock concert you've seen?
U2, in Paris , in 1994.
What is your all-time favourite song?
That is hard, but I would say George Michael's A Different Corner.
If a film was made of your life, which actor would best play you?
Danny De Vito, if he was a bit taller, and a bit less talented.
What is best about living in Romania?
Romanians, for sure.
What question would you most like to answer?
Q: Do you still accept donations for your marathon running on behalf of the Princess Margarita fund?
A: Yes, because we are planning to run a second marathon later this year. Please call the Sofitel on 224 3000 and ask to be put through directly to me or to my assistant, Andreea Badescu.
