Sat, Mar 31st

Today we popped into town to collect Tiny's flea medicine and can report that we are pretty pleased that it cost half as much as it used to in Florida. The brandname is called Frontline. But it does the same thing. Then we dropped into Tesco in Harlow to get some treats for Tiny. This is because we can only get her favourite treats, Salmon sticks, at one store.

Dad's was our next port of call and we stayed there for a while and chatted. He looked a lot better than the last time we saw him. Two weeks ago he spent most of the time in the chair. This week he was up and down like a yo-yo getting books and odds and sods from the box room. We brought some sandwiches with us for lunch and Dad did himself a ham roll, while George had a couple of pork pies.

On the way home we dropped into Morrisons at Enfield to do our weekly grocery shopping before crashing in front of the television.

Fri, Mar 30th

Another quiet week in the White house. In fact, I don't think we did anything except go to work, come home, eat meals, watch television and read. Dawn did have some frustrating moments at work. However, in view of the media coverage of employer lawsuits, we will refrain from commenting here. All we will say is, "Thank God it's Friday."

I on the other hand can feel a little satisfaction in being handed my first payslip on over six months. Let's hope I can survive longer at my new job than I did my old.

I of course called Dad a couple of times, and made arrangements to go see him at the weekend.

Sun, Mar 26th

Why do the weekends pass so quickly? We just don't seem to get enough hours. It didn't help that we lost an hour when the clocks went forward last night, too.

Yesterday we popped into town to run a few errands and get our haircut at 'A Head of Time.' I picked up a couple of books at the Oxfam shop and Dawn a cheap umbrella at Woolworths. Then it was onto Morrisons for the weekly grocery shopping. I called Dad after we ate dinner, and was pleased to hear he was okay.

Today was chore day. Dawn did more laundry and ironing, while I spent a couple of hours in the kitchen doing prep work for this week's meals. Although I did splurge by melting some dark chocolate and covering some strawberries for a delectable dessert for tonight. I finished reading Humble Pie by Gordon Ramsay (my 20th book this year), and Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady. But, like I said, the weekend all went way too fast.

Fri, Mar 23rd

I'm sorry blog watchers. It's been a pretty mundane week in the White house. We both had a pretty hectic work week, and were more than happy to see Friday evening arrive. Unfortunately, the weekend just flies by and it's Monday again.

Our living room ceiling repair hit another snag when the plasterers that came to view the damage informed the builder that the whole ceiling needed to be replaced. As the builder had already surveyed the damage, they knew this wasn't the case. So, it was back to the drawing board with another plasterer and a few weeks more wait.

Dad seems to be doing well. He's getting out and about. He's been to the hospital for more blood tests, done the grocery shopping with George, and even went down Eastcheap on Thursday to pick up some First Day Covers.

Sun, Mar 18th

Yesterday we had a ride into town to run some errands. Dad asked if I could pick him up a photo magazine and coin album in WH Smith. While we were there Dawn picked up a couple of handbags for £10 at the street market, and I picked up a bunch of flowers for Mother's Day. Then it was onto Welwyn Garden City to drop off four bags of cardboard, plastic bottles and glass bottles at the recycle centre. We have our newspapers and aluminium cans collected fortnightly. Grocery shopping at Morrisons followed, then it was home to spend the rest of the day with Tiny. Dawn was also able to catch up with her sister Kelly on the phone in Florida.

Today we had a ride up to see Dad and took him with us to the cemetery to lay some flowers on Mum's grave for Mother's Day. Last year it was pretty memorable as it was the first time in 7 years. However, today it meant that much more as a few weeks ago we didn't know whether Dad would still be with us. Then it was onto the Gatehouse for lunch. For once none of us had the Sunday roast. As we're on the South Beach Diet again, Dawn had the Cesear Salad, and I had the gammon and egg with a salad as a replacement for the normal chips.

When we got home Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady, and heard all about Margaret's memorial service. Margaret was no doubt proud to see (looking down from her better place) th1 100 or so friends and family that turned up, and wonderful spread her church laid on afterwards so that they could spend some time together to pay their respects. She was certainly one wonderful lady, and it was fitting she had such a touching send-off.

Fri, Mar 16th

Today was Red Nose Day 2007. Here in the UK, Comic Relief was launched back in 1985 to raise both awareness of the plight of the suffering in Africa, and the less fortunate here at home. Today it is now an institution where Red Nose Day is celebrated with a seven hour telethon on commercial free BBC television.

At offices and places all over the country, workers do what they can to raise donations. Where I work, it was a dress-down day where your clothing MUST include the colour red. Donations were also collected. I wore a shirt we embroidered with the Braves logo, and donated £10. We collected around £130, and the bosses rounded the donation up to £200.

Then, after watching the scenes broadcast on TV tonight that showed how just £2.50 ($4) could save a child's life by buying a net to prevent malaria, we felt compelled to donate more. Scenes showing towns that had no running water and waste sewage being tipped into streams and rivers where kids played were just too much to bear. Sometimes we take for granted just how fortunate we are to have been born in a developed country. We made another donation online, which thanks to tax relief will be increased by 28p on the pound.

Wed, Mar 14th

A long day at the office for me today, even though it was just a little over half a day. This is because I work flat out while I am there and pace myself for two four-hour segments with a lunch break in the middle. Today, though, I got in at 8.30am and worked through until mid afternoon when I left for my dental appointment.

Which brings me on to a confession, and a couple words of praise. Firstly, I dislike dental surgeries with a vengeance. Anyone who knows me knows just how much. However, with Dawn's inspiration and drive, I have turned my attitude towards dental appointments around and no longer avoid them. It has also helped having a good dentist, too. Now I feel good about going to the dentist; in fact, I have been to the dentist five times since arriving back here last year. Better still, thanks to flossing and using a proxy brush daily, I have a clean bill of health and can look forward to six months between dental appointments.

Mon, Mar 12th

A day of mixed news. We received an email from my brother David in Dublin to let us know that he had got the all clear from his heart surgeon and did not need to go back until next year. He's had a rough eighteen months between having part of his lung removed thanks to cancer, and a heart valve replacement operation. Hopefully, now he can start moving forward again.

Then an hour later Dawn received a call from Brady to let us know that Margaret (Jim's mother) had just passed away. We were saddened to hear the news, as Margaret had meant so much to us. Especially Dawn, as Margaret had been a part of her life for the last 26 years. She was a sweet lady, and never had a bad word for anyone. However, over the last few months her health had deteriorated after she went down with lymphoma. We're glad that her suffering is now over with, and that she is where she should be. A much better place.

Sun, Mar 11th

On Saturday Dawn drove us to Harlow so we could do a little shopping at PC World. We picked up a wireless network card, and a cheap laptop. We need to be able to move our desktop PC from where it is in the front room when the builders repair our ceiling. And I need a laptop so I can start writing my novel. Then we dropped into town to make a haircut appointment, and pick up some groceries. The afternoon was then spent sorting out our wireless network. I had major problems that even the BT helpdesk couldn't assist me with. They just informed me that our computer was broke and that I should take it in to to be fixed. That proved false, as I was finally able to get the network up and running.

Sunday was a chill out day (sort of). Dawn did the housework while I made some oatmeal muffins. Then she had her weekly video call with Brady, while I watched Spurs draw with Chelsea in the FA Cup on BBC 1. I also called Dad to check on him. He had a quiet weekend, apart from getting a bus down to the grocery store yesterday.

Fri, Mar 9th

Today we celebrate one whole year living back here in England. And both of us are so pleased that we're home. I know in my own heart that deciding to come home when we did was one of the best decisions I have ever made. We still have a long way to go before we can say life is the way we'd like it. But, compared to living in Florida, we can sincerely say we are happy.

On a more mundane level, Dawn took the day off work today to go to the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City to get the results for her tests last month. The good news was that she got the all clear. Unfortunately, they needed to get the syringe out for some more extractions, and want her to come back in a few weeks for an ultrasound. However, this is covered under the NHS and therefore doesn't cost us any more than what we're paying in payroll taxes. If we were still in America and paying for health care through Blue Cross Blue Shield, it would cost us between $1500 and $2000 (in addition to the insurance premiums!).

Dawn also had a ride up to Morrisons to do the weekly grocery shopping. She drove the car on her own again, including ferrying me to and from work, and made the comment "Driving around Hertford is a piece of cake compared to driving in London."

Thur, Mar 8th

I'm getting used to the work routine now. We get up early (around 5am), check emails etc, shower, have breakfast and then I drop Dawn off at the station before going home to spend an hour with Tiny. I then rush around for 10 minutes feeding Tiny, putting on my suit, and then rushing out the door for the 10 minute drive to work. I do four and a half hours at the office, then rush home to feed Tiny, call Dawn and check emails before rushing back to work within the 30 minutes I have for lunch. I then work for four more hours before making the five minute journey to the station to pick Dawn up and go home. Tiny then loves on us before I feed her once more, and then make dinner. Usually, by 7pm Dawn has cleaned the mess I made in the kitchen and we can relax for a couple of hours before going to bed where I read for somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour. Then, it all starts over again.

Tonight Dad called to see how Dawn did at the hospital. Unfortunately her appointment wasn't until Friday. However, even though I called him Wednesday, it gave me a chance to see how he was. He got a bus to and from the grocery store to do some shopping. Then spent the rest of the day resting. He seems to be progressing well. But, it's taking its time, and he is still pretty tired afterwards.

News from Brady wasn't so good. The nursing home where Jim's mother, Margaret, is staying at the moment called Hospice in. Her condition is getting worse daily. It breaks our hearts to hear how she is suffering, and know it is tearing Brady and Jim to pieces to see her in pain. Now, probably due to the drugs she is on, she doesn't know where she is, who anyone is, and probably hasn't a clue what's happening. Our prayers go out to Margaret and all her family.

Tues, Mar 6th

Today we had a little rain in Hertford. Nothing compared to the downpours we experienced in Dunedin. But it still flooded Horns Mill Road. Luckily, I was able to get through it on the way to work. However, a little later, I wouldn't have been. A small river overflowed and the water reached all the way to the Post Office. Here is a photo I took five hours later after it had started to go down.

Mon, Mar 5th

Today we can start eating more fibre and carbs again. After two weeks on the South Beach Diet, I lost ten and a half pounds, and Dawn lost five. Phase Two allows us to introduce whole meal bread and pasta, brown rice, and some fruit. Above you can see the oatmeal muffins I made yesterday and we couldn't wait to get tucked in. They were delicious.

Dad was went to both the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals today. He has a burning sensation on his leg, so the RFH said to change the dose of his medication. His INR was lower than it should have been, but the nurse at the other hospital said to stay on the current medication and come back in two weeks. He was completely exhausted though. He went by bus between the two, and to and from home. What a difference two weeks can make.

Dawn and I were back at work, and it was hectic for both of us. However, I think Dawn's was far worse than mine.

Sun, Mar 4th

What a weekend. Yesterday we had a ride up to see Dad and Dawn drove all the way there and all the way back. This was the first time that she had ever driven into London, and she did pretty well. She felt a little nervous on some of the narrow roads where it was a tight squeeze to pass, and maneuvering the roundabout at the North Circular. But, I wasn't at all worried and felt that she should be proud of her accomplishment.

As for Dad, he looked well. He didn't get up while we were there. But, we chatted for a couple of hours and he seems to have regained some of the colour and weight in his face that he lost during his stay in the hospital.

Today we stayed at home and did things around the house. I watched Spurs come back twice to beat West Ham in a dramatic style with their third goal of the game to tie the match in the last minute, and their winner in the fifth minute of injury time. It was nail biting at times. But at least we won. That makes it four wins on the spin.

Oh yea, Dawn had her weekly video call with her mum earlier today, and tonight called our niece, Michaela Dixon, to wish her many happy returns for her 9th birthday. She then grabbed to opportunity to chat with her sister Kelly for a little.

Fri, Mar 2nd

I've finally completed a full week at work. My first since the week before last August bank holiday weekend. That, as you can imagine, seems a lifetime ago. All in all, I am pleased with how it went. However, the reasons for my position being created have certainly been very obvious. There has been a lack of controls in many areas. My company also bought out another company and the amalgamated procedures has meant the transition has resulted in many problems.

I've also been in contact with Dad every day. Today was the first day this week that he has stayed home. He had a district nurse call around. Monday, however, he is back to the hospital for another blood test. We plan to go and see him on Saturday.

Dawn has had the week from hell at work. Fortunately she was working from home on Wednesday (when she wasn't at the hospital).