I really don’t know where to begin.  I had hoped to be writing this on a beach in Florida,  sometime in November,  but I was so busy in the USA,  I just don’t know where the time went.

I suppose I will start with a quick run-down of my trip.  I left Shannon on October 30 headed to Sarasota, Florida.   I had a wonderful time there and especially enjoyed the sun.   I went to a Blues Festival there and also had one of the most memorable nights of my life watching the election results come in at a Democrat Party in Sarasota. I will bring that one to my grave.

I then spent about 10 days in Key West, (what a life !!!!!!)  This is one of the most wonderful places I have ever been to.   Everyone is so happy there.   It’s like going back to the sixties.   I hope to get there again next year.   Thanks a million Jay and Caroline…………  Now I had to do some work and flew to Chicago and from there on to Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving where I had a wonderful time with Anne Feeney and family.   We even had an Irish night in her house.   It was wonderful.

From there I took a flight to Nashville,  spent a night there and drove to Norman, OK where I met some friends.   I spent a wonderful night there and really enjoyed the drive.   On then to Colorado Springs, CO.  The weather really got bad there and the snow was difficult for me,  but I got used to it.   I did a presentation there,  but really enjoyed being there.   We went to see my great friend Johnsmith perform there also.   As usual he insisted that I sing a couple of songs,  which I really enjoyed and we met some wonderful people after the gig.  The next night it was on to Fort Collins, CO.,  where i did a couple of songs with John,  again.   I am getting used to this thing now,  but I think I will stick to my day job, ha! ha!

I now got a notion that I would like to see Cheyenne, Wyoming,  so I drove through the snow there,  spent an hour there and started a 1,400 mile journey back to Nashville.   I was just ahead of the weather all the time but it was a wonderful drive.  I am so happy when I am driving the American highways.   I has always been my dream to do this,  so I thank my lucky stars and of course, GOD for my good fortune.

I then flew back to Florida from Nashville where I met Dennis Devine,  who is hoping to put together a tour with me this year.   He helped me so much with my computer problems.   Thanks a million Dennis and Peggy.   Also,  thanks a million Martha.   Jan and Jean were also so good to me there and looked after me so well.  While there I went to see a hero of mine,  John McCutcheon.   I was not dissapointed.  As the Americans say,  “He was AWESOME”   I am in fact listening to his album………Hail to the Chief,  as I write this.

I got home two days before Christmas and I rested all over the holidays.   I will write again next week and tell you of my plans for 2009.   I now am in the middle of getting a brochure together,  so things are still busy here.

TOM