| June 97 | Unknowingly, I log on to PowWow to chat to my
Australian friends, little knowing what else I would find in the top left
portion of my chat windows.
Being the inquisitive type, I have to look at any photos that anybody may have available. Since I already knew everybody except this stranger in the top left, I have only one choice to Click on the photo icon |
| September 97 | After a slight break and chatting like clockwork
on Saturdays due to the time difference between England and Alaska, I could
resist no longer......I had to call Christy! And I did! What an experience
it proved *s*
Later in the month I've decided.....I'll visit Christy in Alaska.... |
| October 97 | After preliminary investigation of tickets, availability
etc....all plans were put on hold as Christy might be moving from Alaska.....though
it had been arranged that I would visit in February wherever Christy happened
to be.
By the 28th October, it was Illinois I'd be going to in February. |
| December 97 | A happy camper was detected in Illinois and my flight details were confirmed for February on the 7th December. Further confirmation received from travel agent on 18th December.... Thunderbirds are go! |
| January 98 | Early January on the 3rd tickets arrive in the post.....a look at the calendar reveals not long now until 4th February...a date which will be special in my heart forever. |
| February 98 | Nervous times these as the day approaches and
I worry every hour whether I'm making a big mistake, whether I will arrive
with nobody to meet me.....will Customs and Immigration let me in!!!!
The 4th arrives and a long trip ahead of me....Wake up 3.30am GMT, board the airport coach service at 4.30am, and arrive at 9.30am at London Gatwick after a gruelling 5 hr drive. Can't believe I've got this far, been up 6 hrs and its still going to be 11 hrs till I hopefully step off the plane into hopefully welcoming arms.... 9.30pm GMT and I arrive at St.Louis Lambert Intl....and joy of joys, a vision of beauty is there to greet me. The best 2 weeks of my life follow, everything just clicked...and I reluctantly board the aircraft back to the UK with a tear in my eye....... |
| March 98 | Late in the month, I just had to go back to see Christy...there was no escaping the fact! The last 2 weeks of May were discussed and agreed. Plans were underway. |
| April 98 | Priced it up, and was astounded to see it was cheaper to have Christy fly to the UK....so I paid for Christys tickets to the UK...arguably more to see in the UK anyway...Arrival for 31st May and departure 14th June.. |
| May 98 | Went through the same emotions as when I was
approaching February.
May 31st....Left home at 7.30am to drive to Gatwick.....I was a nervous wreck.....having visions of arriving there and no Christy on the plane...Everything made worse by the fact that the plane was 40 mins late, and that Christy was first to board the plane and last to get off. Sadly on arrival home we were greeted by the worst news possible...a death in Christys family....I accepted that Christy would be going home very early. |
| June 98 | By the 5th day of Christys visit it was obvious
a flight couldn't be found, so we tried to make the best of it......
Drove out to the Peak National Park on several occasions, visited stately houses, visited Blackpool for the Pleasure Beach and other pleasures of Blackpool.....No doubt that these were the best days......*s*... as Christy got me into things I wasn't intending to do....the Big One rollercoaster for one, but there were many other things *g*....Finished off with 2 days in London (a disappointment for us both) to reduce the distance to the airport. |
| July 98 | Missing each other....... |
| The future | December 19th 98-January 5th 1999
|
| TO BE CONTINUED! | |
