I'm actually quite excited that I'm doing my Christmas letter again this year electronically. It gives me the opportunity to be able to write more, not have to filter based on space and also attach pictures I might not be able to attach otherwise. It also allows the procrastinator in me to wait much later to write this because I don't have to put it in the mail....it's also amazing that this letter will be going live before I even have my cards in the mail thanks to my travels (see below). Oh well. "The Christmas you get you deserve!" =)
This is the current view that I have as I sit and type this from the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow...it's such a pretty tree.
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| Happy Christmas from Virgin Atlantic |
It has been a pretty amazing year, and I'm able to add photos of Christmas in two different cities to this year's letter. I've been on the road since the day after Thanksgiving and have been to London, on to Singapore and back to London before returning home. I was really excited to be able to be in London to see all the fairy lights all lit up. I've been in London in November before when the lights were being strung up, but have never been over to see them all lit up, so I was quite excited. (excited more than just being in London again.)
The year started off with a trip to Houston and San Antonio to check in on the Billy Elliot and Wicked tours. I got to see Gus in Houston after doing some sleuthing and tracking him down and it was so good to be able to check in and see him again. I saw Anthony in San Antonio...and haven't seen him since he was living in LA...so I was excited to be able to spend an afternoon with him.
Onto Charlotte, NC after that for a conference and spending some time with Eric before he left me for another job with the company...while I was sorry to not be working with him directly anymore, I was excited at the opportunity that arose, as I was promoted to Director and am now responsible for the Live Theatre EHS Department...which is amazing. That has totally contributed to all of the travel in my life though.
After Charlotte, I took my first trip to London for the year to check in on Billy and Wicked in April. I'm happy to report there were no Ash Clouds this year to wreak havoc with my travel. There was this pesty little wedding thing going on...but really, was out of the country before any of the real chaos from that started. There was record heat for London in April though, and I ended up having to buy some shorts whilst there...ironic, since when I was back in July it was cool and I was wearing light weigh sweaters...oh well. In between the London trips I spent about two weeks in San Francisco with the Billy tour. Caught up with Eric as he was in San Jose and came into SF for the weekend and we spent a great weekend in the sun and full of SF Pride. Was totally brills! Good to catch up...good fun...and not a lot I can put in a family friendly letter!
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| The Singapore Botanic Gardens all lit up for Christmas |
July travel was a little bit fingers crossed. My sister was due to give birth, and, while she was crossing her fingers to give birth (and get it over with already) I was crossing my fingers that my nephew would be born after I was back stateside. Miles Michael must be a fan of his Uncle Greg, as he arrived after I was back in the states! August saw me visit DC where I was able to hang out with Rich (and his partner Donnie) for a bit, my friend Brian from college, and, by complete chance, catch up with Helen and Doug as they were in town for a wedding. And while we weren't leaning on a lampost, I was able to catch up with JeanMarie after not having seen her in years!
In October I made a third trip to London and was able to coordinate my trip with a long weekend trip my parents were taking there to celebrate their honeymoon. I had decided giving them trips and experiences was the best way to go as a present, but I'm also really glad that I was able to be there for a few days with them. I've never really traveled with my parents since vacations as a child...was nice to see them young and exploring and having a good time. I'm glad they had a great time...I did as well and met some great new folk on that trip, whom I've checked in with on this trip through. Was also in Orlando for a quick few days for a meeting and some sunshine.
The beginning of November got me to St. Louis for a speaking engagement for the Broadway League on Safety in Theatre. Eric swooped in and was a great understudy when another colleague had to swing out (as we say in the biz), so was able to spend more time catching up. At the end of November, I packed the bags for the final trip of the year and stopped into London for a quick training session at Billy London and then was off to Singapore on the worlds largest passenger aircraft, the A380-800. That was quite an experience. What took me to Singapore you're wondering, the Wicked Asia tour kicked off from Singapore, so I flew down for the last few days of tech and opening and to meet the cast and crew. Flew back to London from Singapore on the tenth of December, watched Christmas movies and wrote out all my Christmas cards. Bought them in London on the first few days as I decided it would be wise to have them done and ready to just be stamped when I got back stateside on the 14th. Now I'm sitting in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow, waiting for my flight to take me home...enjoying my newly minted Gold status, drooling over some of the boys and loving the purple Christmas decorations all over (see above).
I've had an amazing year...and as much as the travel has taken it's toll, I am by no means complaining. It's been an absolute blast and I love my job. The boys will have gained some amazing souvenirs this year that should make them pretty popular at school...and I get home in just enough time to be able to relax a bit and then head home to see all of them and spend the holidays with them! While it was a bit odd to be in 94ish degree heat and hearing Christmas music and see all of the decorations, Singapore was brilliantly lit up...the Christmas spirit really took hold back in London though...where the sights, the sounds and the chill in the air really made it feel like Christmas time!
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| a little Christmas...a little disco at the Apple Market at Covent Garden |
I wish you all the best for the holiday season, hope that you have a prosperous and fantastic new year with family and friends and that you've had as much fun in 2011 as I have. Here's to even more in 2012! I hope that you'll continue to follow my exploits around the globe on the blog...I've been getting much better about updating. You can also find me on facebook (if we aren't friends already) or on twitter, although be warned...some of my tweets are just ramblings. Whether old friends, or new friends, whether you're here for the first time, on a repeat visit, return often, or won't be returning until next year's Christmas update...
"I wish you a hopeful Christmas, I wish you a brave new year!"
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