Someone Turn Out The Lights!

Epilogue: Europe 2006!

”Regrets I have a few, but then again too few to mention” - Frank Sinatra “My Way”

The final entry for this adventure! It seems like both a long time and an instant since I sent you my first London blog in January. Right now I’m sitting on an American Airlines Flight heading back to Dallas. Not really certain where I’m going to live, but hey that’s a small detail. This has been a great year for me and one that many people (including a lot of you reading this) are getting tired of hearing about. I know it comes across as bragging, but I’ve been like a kid in a candy store for over ½ a year. A brief summary:

• 31 Weeks in Europe
  
• 10 real countries visited (England, Ireland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Holland, Czech, Lithuania)
  
• 2 almost countries (Scotland & Wales - Technically UK)
  
• 9 trips around the UK (Cardiff, Yorkshire, Dorset, Brighton, Cambridge, Newcastle, Dunoon, Isle of Wight, Edinburgh)
  
• 4 return trips to Dallas
  
• 5 groups of visitors
  
• Countless great Indian dinners, pints of European beer, chocolate bars etc.
  
• Other Highlights: World Cup, Wimbledon, Various Festivals & Concerts, Visiting old places I’ve lived, Working with a great team in the Sabre Europe office
  

Those are the good things I’m taking with me, but I’m also ready to get home and start taking care of the one negative thing. Free living, a lack of running and no intention of missing out on great European foods, beers and candy means I’m taking an extra 18 - 20 lbs home on me. I’m not worried about that part of it though; a couple of months back in my comfort zone with limited beer, extra salads and a bit more exercise should get me in a good position to gain it all back during the holidays ;-)

I wanted to take this chance to express my gratitude to several key friends who helped make this trip both enjoyable and possible.

• Steph & Dom: For keeping my car healthy for 7 months and for your visit
  
• Anja: For sharing your home with me, and a lot fun in various countries and cities
  
• Michelle: For the place to stay on my Dallas trips (and for the next few days)
  
• SarahJane: For being my main London friend and Lithuania companion
  
• Donna: For rides from DFW to Southlake and your visits to London & Scotland
  
• Jan & John:For sharing Ireland and Isle of Wight (plus cooking & sending mail)
  
• Ryan & Denise: For coming to visit and keeping me entertained
  
• Laura: For always offering to help out with rides or meals in Dallas
  
• Sabre Holdings: For picking up the tab!
  

I’m going to keep this blog alive for the future, but will only send out an entry when I want to share a cool travel story with you. I have 5 weeks vacation to use this year, so I dare say I’ll find myself in some new and interesting places before we close out 2006. For instance, I’m taking a 7 day cruise with Jan, John, Jo, Marie & CW for thanksgiving. I’d be shocked if that didn’t yield a good story.

Hope I’ve provided you all some entertaining reading and thanks for sticking with me! I’m looking forward to visiting with as many of you as possible over the next couple of months; it has been way too long!

James!

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