Postlude

It is hard to describe the experience I've had this year, but let me run some numbers by you:

Around 20,000 - number of kilometres that I've logged this year on buses, train, boats, subways, shuttles, you name it in regards to public transit (not counting flights!)
12 - number of countries I've visited
39 - number of cities/villages I've visited
47 - number of dives I've logged in three continents
12 - number of months on the tour where I logged at least one dive
2 - number of times I sat front row at a major musical production
10 - number of times I fed the fish on the Great Barrier Reef
12 - number of game shows I saw taped
2 - number of game shows where I appeared speaking on camera
1 - number of game shows where I was sitting in the audience and pretty much had no idea what was going on (thanks, Gunther Jauch)
Around 630,000 - amount of money that I saw given away this year (not taking exchange rates into account)
2 - number of cult Canadian shows where I was an extra
1 - number of times I almost got kicked off a train
1 - number of times that I almost got sucked out a train door
1 - number of times I ran into a plexiglass wall
2 - number of times it took me on a high trapeze to nail a full flip
7 - number of extreme sports that I tried for the first time
420 - height, in feet, of the tallest roller coaster that I rode
2 - number of times I worked on a game show production
2 - times that I hosted a major cult game show (even if it wasn't on tv!)
3 - radio contests that I won
1 - airplane contests that I won
1 - pop superstars on the same airplane as me
3 - "world's biggest" that I visited (for the record: deepest pool, biggest Muskoka chair, biggest coral reef)
2 - times that I experienced animals in the wild
1 - number of times where my alarm didn't go off and I almost missed my flight
2 - number of articles I had published
1 - number of times I got stuck in a metro station in Paris
24 - number of hours I spent on a train, consecutively, with 3 kids under 5 sitting across the aisle
4 - number of times I've been a guest teacher (twice where I didn't know the kids that I was teaching)

... and most importantly...

0 - things I've regretted doing this year.

This is merely just a sample of everything... I could go on but it's already on the blog!

It is very difficult to sum up in words what I have thought of this year. When I started out this dream about four years ago, the intention, as I mentioned in the first post a year ago, was to go to the Olympics. Now while that didn't happen as planned, what did was nothing short of remarkable.

If you ever have the opportunity to do something like this, like I said, take it. Whether it's by yourself, with a stranger, with your best friend or your significant other, with your family or with a touring group that leaves you stating "if this is Tuesday, this must be Belgium", it is a life experience that you never will forget.

And for me, life has changed. I left my job back in late April and at this moment am exploring and experiencing life in a whole new way. I don't know where life will take me now, but I'm really excited to find out.

Before I go, tons of thanks. Bear with me. And bear in mind that I will possibly forget some people, so please forgive me.

To Gordon, Jason and Travis: thank you for letting me into your game show world.
To Juliette, Seb, and Charles: merci d'avoir recu durant deux vacances, avec deux enregistrements. C'est reussi!
To the GO gang: thank you for making a 7.17 am ride to Union exciting. Who is Patrick Swayze anyway?
To Em, Chris and the staff at Em's school: thank you for welcoming me as one of your own, lending me golf shirts, and teaching me the best halloween party game ever.
To the Lloyds: what a pleasure it was to see you and the new arrival. And the suit!
To the extended Llewellyn family: thank you for shuttling me around, skittles, SingStar and extensive help with my planning.
To Steph: Thanks for taking the time to dive with me, arrange shuttling, and trekking 500 kms for my taping. Sorry I didn't win the teapot.
To the staff at Deal UK and Countdown: thank you for giving me some of the best audience and contestant memories I ever could have thought of. And to that extent, thank you to Tracey for being part of the wildest audience ride I've ever been on.
To Nick: thanks for keeping me in check in Manchester.
To Kay and Jeff: thanks for enabling me to relate to 8-year-olds.
To Danielle: I don't know anyone who would get up the night after a hen party to drive me to the train - you're the first one, which makes you wonderfully wonderful.
To Jeanette: I know I'm nuts but it was great seeing you again and I am looking at opening a Frites Flagey in Toronto (not really, but still)
To les Strasbourgeois: merci pour la visite. Je vous promis ca ne prendrai pas un autre huit ans pour revenir.
To Endemol Germany: I know you let me jump a two year queue. Danke Shoen.
To der famillien Koll: Bob Dylan will never be the same.
To ASORTF Limoges: Merci pour la seance piscine, et la tarte flambee. Vous etes un group superbe d'avoir acceulir un Canadien comme moi.
To the Haugs: I threatened for four years to come visit and you still let me come! I'll learn how to sand dune jump before I come back.
To Liz, Hannah and Annabelle: I couldn't have anticipated a nicer reception in Queenstown, and then again a superb visit in Melbourne. Lock it in, Eddie!
To Christiane and Torsten: It was because of the two of you that I went back to Fergburger. I look forward to seeing you on my side of the pond.
To Trish, Adrian and Edie: Thank you for welcoming me into your home.
To Jen: Thanks for hooking me up with them.
To the staff of Rotorua Flashpackers: Thanks for not getting mad at me when I locked myself out late night.
To the staff of Dive HQ Central in Whitianga: You blew away my mind.
To Katja: You are something special - never forget that.
To Peter and Vanessa: Thanks for making the train ride tolerable.
To Cassie, Louis, Chris, Christiane, Kristen and Paul: Thanks for the Alva Beach experience. And not laughing too much when I hurled.
To Cabe: for reminding me that people actually read this blog. Mackall Road is becoming a second home to me.
To Krista and Kate, Peggy, Geoff and Tracy, and Derek: for making some of my wildest television dreams come true.
To the staff at Reach for the Top: You gave me a position that I could only dream of, and I can't thank you enough. I look forward to working with you again next year, and for many years to come.

To Chris Powney: after 12 years emailing on the internet, we met. And you did one of the kindest things anyone's ever done - clear your schedule for two days so you could play tour guide with me. Thank you so much.

To Kelly: Two drives to the airport at horrible, horrible hours. You are such a strong friend to me.

To Chis, Laura, Gweezy and Kari: You are my rocks.

To Pineuf: Je t'aime infinitivement.

To Helen: Thanks for listening.

To Bill: Thanks. You know what I mean.

To Hans and Helga: I am so blessed to have roommates like you.

and finally:

To my parents and sister: What a wonderful gift - this year - that you have given me. It will take me years to make it up to you, but I'll try.

For the final time,

Cheers,
Vick.