"Lecturing" in Canada and the US, followed by a visit to Toronto. Met many great people, but particularly Betty and her husband, Richard. In the following years I kept in touch through CompuServe.

After five years of talking on-line, I went across and stayed with Betty and Richard at their home in Arlington, Texas for the first time. We took a trip down to Houston, then on to visit their daughter, Laura-Beth, husband Mark, and 5-year-old Bryan, in Brownsville. I also flew over to New Orleans for two days, and then to Orlando to have my first experience of Disney and NASA.

To Arlington for second time, with Mum on her first visit there. Betty and Richard drove us down into the Big Bend National Park.Then, we both flew over to Orlando, where Mum had her first experience of Disney and Key West.

 Me (4)    
Mum (2)   

Third trip to Arlington, and Mum's second. We took a drive down into the Big Bend again, this time with Joe and Chris (friends from England) along with Betty and Richard. Once back in Arlington, I headed off on my own to the west and Arizona. Visited Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. Back to Arlington for Betty and Richard's son's wedding.

This time it was a last-minute decision to go (on my own) to the US. Got a cheap week's fly-drive to Atlanta, Georgia, and drove down into Florida. Made it as far as half-way down the Keys.

Arlington for a fourth time, but on my own. Drove out west again, into Arizona and back.

Amiga software developers' conference in Orlando. Met up with many friends from the UK and US, including Betty. Went to Cocoa Beach and night-time rocket launch.

Fifth trip to Arlington, with Mum (her third). Betty took us down to New Orleans. Once back in Arlington, I took Mum out to see Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Using accumulated "air-miles", I flew to Salt Lake City, Utah. Then drove across to San Francisco, down to Los Angeles, up through Death Valley and Las Vegas, back to Salt Lake City.

With Paul and Martyn, both colleagues from work, went to Florida. Flew into Miami, drove up to Orlando and had a week there, followed by a drive down to Key West.

Flew to San Francisco with Paul. Visited a friend of his there, and then drove across to the Grand Canyon, down through Tucson, Arizona, across to Houston, Texas, then to New Orleans, and back to Houston!

My sixth visit to stay with Betty in Arlington, with Mum (her fourth visit there). Spent most of the time with Betty, but Mum and I took a few days drive on our own through the edge of Arkansas, and across to Oklahoma City where we saw the OK State Fair..

On my own this time, to Florida. Started down in the Everglades, at Flamingo Lodge. Then a couple of days in Miami, and finally up to Orlando, including a special "back-stage" tour of Disney World.

On my own to Arlington for the seventh time, to visit Betty. Spent weekend with Bryan, her grandson (now 12) at Six Flags, an air-show and the State Fair of Texas. Did a drive out into north New Mexico on my own.

To Florida with cousin Ginia, and Mum (her fifth trip to the US). One week in a rented house in Beliville Blvd, Naples (in the south-west of Florida); a day out in the Keys, and then another week up in a house in White Oak Circle, Kissimmee.

To Florida on my own as part of convalescence after surgery. After one night en route, stayed in south-west for seven nights, followed by three nights on the Keys. Then flew to Arlington (eighth time there) for Thanksgiving, then returned to Orlando for two nights, with a day at Disneyworld

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Mum (6)     
Ginia (2)     

To Florida with cousin Ginia, and Mum (her sixth and final trip to the US - she passed away in March 1999). One week in a house in Oak Park Loop, Kissimmee; a week down in a house in Dundee Court, Naples and three nights on The Keys.

To California for a 2-week drive up to Mt St Helens. Then to Texas to stay with Betty for a week - my ninth visit.

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Ginia (3)     

To Florida with cousin, Ginia. First week was in a house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood, on the west coast, and the second week in our favourite house in Belville Blvd, Naples house. We then had two nights on the east coast, in a Suite in Deerfield Beach. Then to Orlando for two nights, when I went to Disney to meet up with Bryan and Mark, friends from Texas who were on a trip with the Mansfield High School band

After two nights in Galveston, drove up to Arlington, and spent my tenth visit with Betty. Spent a lot of time with Bryan and his father, Mark (assistant director of Mansfield High School marching band).

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Ginia (4)     

Flew to Orlando with cousin, Ginia, and stayed one night in Kissimmee. Drove down to Naples for a week in a rented house in Davite. For the second week we moved up to the Casa de Meadows house in Englewood, where we had stayed in 1999, and then had our last night back in Kissimmee.

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Flew to DFW (eleventh visit). Spent Thanksgiving with family there. Went off taking photos with Bryan. Saw Unbreakable and The Grinch.

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Flew to DFW (twelfth visit). Went there to attend GenTech-2001 conference.

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Ginia (5)     

To Orlando with cousin, Ginia. First night in Kissimmee, then to Naples for a week in the Naples house (Belville) where we've stayed at a number of times. The second week the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood, followed by three nights at the Ocean Terrace Suites in Deerfield Beach, plus the last night in Kissimmee before flying home.

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Flew to DFW (thirteenth visit) for Bryan's Eagle Scout ceremony.

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Ginia (6)     

To Orlando with cousin, Ginia. First night in Kissimmee, then to Englewood for two weeks at the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood ... followed by four nights at the Ocean Terrace Suites in Deerfield Beach, plus the last night in Kissimmee before flying home.

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Ginia (7)     

Flew to Tampa, via Chicago, and drove down to Englewood to spend a total of seven weeks at the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood ... although I'd stayed here several times before, this was not longer a rental property and I'd since met the owner and I spent some of the time looking after the house while contractors carried out work following a lightning strike. My cousin, Ginia, joined me after four weeks, and I then went on to Arlington (fourteenth time) to spend Thanksgiving week with friends.

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Ginia (8)     

Flew to Tampa and drove to Englewood for just under 3 weeks at the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood

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Ginia (8)     

Flew to Tampa and drove to Englewood, this time with Ginia's cousin, Paul, joining us for another 3 weeks at the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood. Took a short trip up to stay at Disney and have a couple of days in the Parks

Me (30)     
Ginia (8)     

Once again, flew to Tampa and drove to Englewood for just under 3 weeks at the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood

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Ginia (9)     

Once again, flew to Tampa and drove to Englewood for our last visit to the house in Casa de Meadows, Englewood (the owner sold it). Because I had retired to Northumberland, getting to Gatwick for the flight was a slog. Drive to Newcastle station, train to Kings-Cross, a cab to south-east London and overnight at my cousin's before heading to Gatwick. Coming back was a bit quicker, but was also a major slog (particularly having to hump cases across London to get to Kings Cross).

Me (32)     
Ginia (10)     
Heather (1)     

Went with two cousins this time (Ginia, and Heather on her first trip). With the Casa de Meadows house no longer available, we stayed at a lovely house on Kevitt Boulevard, just east of Englewood. Because we had decided to fly to Tampa again, Heather and I flew from Newcastle to Heathrow, got our bags, took a taxi to Gatwick where we met cousin Ginia, and had to check in again and then flew to Tampa. Unfortunately, BA decided to change the Newcastle flight schedule at the last minute and we had to stay overnight at a Gatwick hotel. It was a most unpleasant experience, and we vowed we'd never do it again.

Me (33)     
Ginia (11)     
Heather (2)     

With my two cousins again, and found another lovely house on Kevitt Boulevard, This time Heather and I I opted not to fly from Gatwick, which meant flying from Heathrow to Miami. It avoided transfer complications (no bags to recheck and so on) and, although the drive to Englewood was longer, it worked so much better (and we chose to stay overnight and visit the Everglades on our way). The downside was that we ended up in a horrendous queue at Miami airport for over 4 hours, for which Miami and America ought to be ashamed. The delay was due to Republicans not agreeing the President's budget, which in turn led to a serious financial shortfall and staff working on short time (fewer than half the immigration booths were operating).

This time a trip on my own to Alrington, TX (fifteenth visit) to attend Bryan's wedding. He and Allison invited me to attend as an Usher, and I was thrilled and honoured (sorry, "honored") to accept. It was a traumatic flight out, with my very early flight from Newcastle to Heathrow cancelled at the minute. Had to hurriedly rebook and get a later flight to Dallas, which required a very quick transfer at Heathrow, which involved running the length of the terminal, and only just making it. This damaged my knee and I arrived much later than planned. As always, I was welcomed and treated as a distant member of the family, and the wedding was a beautiful affair. I had the privilege of walking Bryan's grandmother, Betty, down the aisle and was included in the family photo! The trip was painful on the knee

A mixed emotions trip to Texas (sixteenth visit). Following the death of Betty, my dear friend of 35 years, earlier in the year, I went to visit to pay my respects. Stayed with Betty's daughter and son-in-law for 10 days, and was thrilled to see Bryan and Allison's new son, Geoffrey, who was only a few weeks old.