I've repeatedly entered this thread with the intention of posting, but for some reason I've hedged. Still not sure why.
First of all, I'm sort of an Anglophile. I adore many things British. I've been to the country twice, and hope to return soon for a visit up north. I maintain several friendships with residents from various parts of the country.
I remember this charming, sharp-witted Welsh girl whom I had the pleasure of traveling with for a week across Europe. We had corresponded a few times via mail (yep, hand written no less), and when we finally met during the orientation for the group tour we were partaking in, it was instant, mutual attraction. In fact, it was so strong that I think I could have overcome the AS hurdles, but I also lacked experience in such matters, so who knows. The real issue, however, were the other British blokes tagging along on the group trip. We couldn't shake them. We'd try to steal a moment at the stern of the ferry across the channel, and sure enough here comes the blokes, wondering where we'd gone off to.
Train rides, hotels...always the same interruptions, distractions. It became an inside joke between us, lol, which became all the more funny because of her sharp wit.
It remains to this day one of my greatest regrets that I let that relationship dissolve. But it also will be a memory that I carry to my grave. That cute Welsh girl with the sharp wit.