Top 12 North American experiences to date (in no particular order)

* First time up the Empire State (New York, 1996)

* Walking round the Stanley Park sea wall - glorious sunshine, beautiful mountains - on the phone to mum and dad getting ready for bed at home in Wales (Vancouver 2002)

* Jen and Dunc's wedding - despite that damn yellerjacket (Clayton, GA, 2002)

* Catching a 20-yard touchdown pass in the end zone at Texas Stadium (Dallas, 2002)

* Fuddruckers - never have hamburgers held such an air of wonderment (Miami, 1987)

* Hunting for giant maple leaves with Frances, Morgan, Polly, and a killer hangover (Seattle, 2002)

* My first hockey match (Vancouver, 2002)

* Michelle and Arthur's wedding reception - and, uh, afterwards... (New Jersey, 1996)

* Seeing Dan Marino in the flesh - and almost hyperventilating (New York, 2002)

* Dunc's stag night (Atlanta, 2002)

* Going down to the Keys - papaya milkshake and glass-bottomed boats (Miami, 1987)

* Watching U-Dub's Huskies beat Stanford (Seattle, 1996)

NYC: T minus two days
Atlanta: T minus five days