Mon, Dec 31st

The last day of 2oo7. First we drove to a small butcher shop near Sele Farm in Hertford to pick up a ham for dinner today and tomorrow. Then it was off to Welwyn Garden City to get some kitchen stuff for me in the sales. Well, Dawn too. She fancied some home made biscuits with her ham and realised we didn't have a rolling pin. Well that problem was solved pretty quickly. After that we grabbed a quick bit for lunch at Bebo's before heading to the grocery mad-house that was Morrisons. There were more people there today than before Christmas. The line of cars leading into the car park as we left reminded of us of the Publix in Dunedin when a hurricane was on its way.

At the house (you've guessed it), I was back in the kitchen again. This time baking honey glazed ham for tonight's dinner, macaroni and cheese (from Nigella Lawson's cookbook), and some home-made biscuits. Then, if that wasn't enough, when that had all gone down I made some caramelized bananas for dessert while we watched the movie Prestige on TV.

Being New Year's Eve, we had to stay up (much to Tiny's disgust) to see in the new year, stepping outside the front door seconds before midnight so that we could bring in the new year (with some coal, money, bread and a glass of wine in hand) for good luck.

Sun, Dec 30th

This was supposed to be a down day where we took things a little easy. However, it didn't turn out that way. Dawn spent several hours taking down our two Christmas trees and putting away all the ornaments.

I was kept busy, too. I spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen making a nice and tasty beef stew to freeze before making dinner for the evening. We had (not that you need to know, but as it was delicious we thought we'd tell you) home-made salmon patties with slow roasted cherry tomatoes on rocket lettuce with goats cheese. I know, all we seem to have done this Christmas is eat, eat, eat. But, we have certainly enjoyed it!

Sat, Dec 29th

Today my daughter Hayley paid us a visit. I picked her up at Hertford East Station and together popped into Tesco to get some sandwiches for lunch. Back at the house, with Dawn, the three of us chatted about our Christmases and caught up on things. It was great to see Hayley and spend some time with her. Hopefully in the new year she will be back so we can all pop into town and enjoy some of the local scenery. I even promised to cook us all a nice roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings next time.

Fri, Dec 28th

This morning we had a ride out towards Hertford Heath to visit a local farm shop at Foxholes Farm. However, when we pulled up outside the shop we just couldn't bring ourselves to get out of the car and check out the butchery and delicatessen. There was a barn full of cute cows grazing on some straw. We just couldn't do it.

So it was off to Morrisons in Welwyn Garden City for the weekly grocery shopping. However, our journey didn't work out as planned. They didn't have a single sachet of Felix "As Good As It Looks" tuna. So once we got home and unpacked, we had to jump back in the car and head out to Crews Hill inside the M25. Now that Tiny has settled into eating this particular food, we weren't going to try her on something else.

Back home Dawn finally got a chance to read the day's newspapers while I made a cottage pie using Gordon Ramsey's recipe. It was "excellent". We have been in food heaven this Christmas.

Thu, Dec 27th

Today we had a ride up to Watton-at-Stone for lunch at The George & Dragon. A work colleague of mine that lives in Hertingfordbury recommended the place and she was spot on. The ambiance and food was excellent. Best of all was that we enjoyed a stroll around the little picturesque town and even found a butcher that sells mostly local food. We'll definitely be back here again. The butcher, who had been working there for over 30 years, also recommended some other pubs in villages nearby where we could get some excellent local food.

Back home I finished uploading all the photos that I had edited and posted them to our photo diary on the web. You can check them out by clicking on the link to the right. You can also check out our Christmas letter, too. We have links to both this year's and last year's for those who want a quick glance on what what we have been through the last two years.

Wed, Dec 26th

We used today to recuperate and relax after the last few days. We certainly needed to catch our breath after all that we had been doing. Best of all was that we didn't have to go anywhere. Although I did pop into town to pick up a couple of newspapers for Dawn.

With us eating such a big dinner yesterday, we decided to postpone our Christmas breakfast to today, Boxing Day. Needless to say, we both thoroughly enjoyed a plate of Eggs Benedict before jumping in the shower.

The rest of the day was spent with Dawn downloading music from i-Tunes and a new website we found where she could get songs for 5p each, and making a festive video call with Brady. I on the other hand spent forever editing all the photos that I had taken since Thanksgiving.

Best of all was that we were able to have some Christmas dinner seconds. Our leftovers from yesterday tasted even better, if that was possible.

Tue, Dec 25th

Christmas Day. As usual we got up early like kids to open our gifts. However, that was more because we had a long day ahead rather than eager to open our presents. Tiny joined in, but was more interested in her Christmas stocking than the chair we bought her.

Dawn and I opened each other's cards and those from Dad and Hayley before opening our gifts from each other. We both loved our gifts. Dawn especially loved her pearl earrings and personalised hardback book of our 1997 vacations. I just loved the gold cross she gave me.

Before a quick shower, I then got back into the kitchen to prepare the veggies for dinner and bake the stuffing. Then all of a sudden my cell phone rang. I answered it to hear my daughter Hayley's voice. We talked for a little before she hung up and called Dad. It was a Christmas gift better than money could buy.

We then drove up to Holloway to collect Dad and George and brought them back to Hertford. Here they were given a basket each, full of food goodies wrapped in Xmas paper, before I disappeared into the kitchen to complete our dinner.

As for the meal, it turned out to be the best Christmas meal I had ever cooked - Roast turkey, roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, honey baked parsnips, Brussels sauteed with pecans and bacon, sausages wrapped in bacon, stuffing, Yorkshire pudding, cranberry sauce and gravy. For dessert we had Christmas pudding, mince pies and whipped cream.

After allowing our food to go down, we took Dad and George home before crashing on the couch and watching a recording of the Queen's speech.

It was my best ever Christmas Day with a couple of text messages from Hayley before reading Christmas Jars (a gift from Brady and Jim) adding the icing to the cake.

Mon, Dec 24th

Yep, the Christmas period is well in the swing now. Today, again after another leisurely morning, I was back in the kitchen getting more stuff ready for the big day. This morning I made the Christmas stuffing. We used a recipe from last year that was excellent. I then wrapped the sausages in bacon and then cooked the turkey. This time I lay the bird on a bed of onions, carrots and garlic. We saw it on a food show recently and apparently it will add some wonderful flavours to the gravy.

Once that was in the oven, I went out the back to clear up the back yard while Dawn completed putting the year's photos in photo albums.

Tonight we watched the last of four films that we watch as part of our Christmas tradition - It's a Wonderful Life. The other three being Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas Vacation and of course Love Actually. I'm sure next year we'll add another film or two to the list.

Sun, Dec 23rd

We like the Christmas holidays. Today we took our time getting up and getting dressed. It made a nice change from rushing around. However, once we were up, and after Dawn had read the morning papers that I had gone out to get from the local newsagent, Dawn did have to tidy the house a little. I on the other hand ran into town and picked up a few presents for Dawn that I had not been able to get before.

Back at the house Dawn then continued to tackle the last eleven months' photos that we had taken. It's part of her usual festive routine. Leave the photos in a shoe box for the best part of the year and then in two days put them in photo albums while I work in the kitchen.

I made some home-made Beef Wellington. That too was excellent. Best of all was that we had plenty of left overs for Monday.

Sat, Dec 22nd

Today Mum and Dad should have been celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary. Sadly Mum is no longer around to enjoy the day with Dad. However, she is still with us in our minds and hearts. And on occasions still offering a helping hand where needed. Anyway, this morning we had a ride up to Holloway to collect Dad and George and take them to the cemetery to lay some flowers on Mum's grave, and also Dad's parents' grave, too.

Later in the day I watched Spurs on Sky Sports lose to Arsenal in a match that they should have at least got a point from if not won. Not a good start to the festive period for my team.

Dawn and I then chilled out watching a couple of films. The first we had recorded from Sky movies, The Holiday. Then after dinner we watched (as part of our Christmas tradition) our favourite film - Love Actually.

Fri, Dec 21st

At last Christmas is here. We may already have a Christmas tree beautifully adorned in the living room and a collection of Santas bringing some festive colour to the mantle piece, however, it didn't really feel like Christmas until we could turn our backs on our jobs for the holidays. And today we both felt one hundred percent better waking up knowing that we didn't have to go to work until the New Year. In fact, I never received one card from anyone I work with.

To celebrate, and get the festive season off and running, we booked a table at the White Horse Hotel in Hertingfordbury for lunch. We had been meaning to try this place out for a while and this seemed the ideal time to go. It certainly turned out to be a memorable occasion, but not for the reason we expected. We thought that the restaurant would be quaint and old, with a couple of areas for an even more romantic setting. However, the room was an open plan room with a conservatory attached to the back. Under the conservatory and stretching into the main area were four long banks of tables covered with white linen. The staff were laying the china and cutlery, not to mention party hats and Christmas crackers. Our single table was located to the side at the back of the room with two chairs side by side. In between was an area big enough to be used as a small dance floor after the party had finished the food. The party by the way was not scheduled to start until 7.30pm.

You've got it. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves. It did have piped Christmas music in the background, and the food was excellent. But the ambiance was not what we expected.

Thu, Dec 20th

When a company relocates their office in England, under employment laws the employer and employee must undergo a 12-week process called a consultation period. The main component of this is for the employee to visit the new location so that they are able to evaluate the affect on their working conditions and travel situation. So, today, Steve (my boss), Christine, Simon, Ilyas and I (the accounts team) made the journey over to the new location in Enfield.

After a leisurely walk through the building, the biggest issue was where the accounts department were to be located in the new set-up. The journey also received one or two complaints as well. Fortunately, when we arrived back in Hertford, the issue of the accounts office was raised with senior staff and it was agreed to move the department to a better location. As for the travel, that will be what it will be.

I ended the day feeling pleased that I had somehow been able to not only complete my week's work in four days, but had also been able to deal with the cash for November that Steve wanted and sorted out the first payment run since Lina had left last month. Unfortunately, I left for the Christmas break with one issue still to be resolved regarding the company's relocation in the New Year.

Wed, Dec 19th

Today I had a meeting with my new boss to discuss the move to Enfield and how it would affect me. It was a positive meeting with regards to my work load, as I will be passing a lot of the data input work I currently do to the new accounts assistant. We were even able to address the travel situation. Instead of being a five minute drive to the office, it's planned that I get the same train as Dawn in the morning and walk the two miles to work from Enfield Chase. This will mean that I will get to work around 8am. A huge difference from being able to go home for another hour to be with Tiny before I leave for work. I won't be coming home to see Tiny at lunch time either. As for the journey home, I will have to leave before 5pm so that I could be back at Enfield Chase station to catch the train Dawn had boarded at Old Street. I still have one or two things to resolve, but it's alot closer than things were a month ago.

A Christmas footnote: This morning I handed out Christmas cards to some of my work colleagues. Those in my immediate office also received a special CD that I had copied with my favourite Christmas songs.

Sun, Dec 16th

More relaxation today. However, I did work on some papers for work while Dawn had her video call with Brady. We then sat down and enjoyed watching Christmas Vacation on DVD before watching several Christmas cooking programs on the Food Channel.

Oh yea, Dawn also wrote out several cards for some of her workmates at her office.

Sat, Dec 15th

Today we spent the morning in Hertford. First port of call was to get our hair cut. However, the girl that cuts our hair did not turn up. We waited for about 30 minutes before the owner decided to do our hair herself. We had it easy though. She had to re-schedule all the other people who were due to have their hair cut that day to Sunday instead. That would have been her day off, but she decided to come in especially to make sure her customers got their cuts.

Then it was the usual places. WH Smith for newspaper and stationary, Clinton for some cards, the Oxfam shop for some cheap books to read, Waitrose for a Christmas pudding, and then the local garden centre to find something green and festive for the mantle piece. The latter being unsuccessful, I am afraid.

Back home we chilled out and watched the first of many Christmas films this festive season - the original Miracle on 34th Street. I always remember watching this when I used to arrive home from midnight mass in the early hours of Christmas morning. Later tonight we then watched the X-Factor final. Dawn was pleased that Leon won. Although we're both convinced that Rhydian will have a huge career.

Fri, Dec 14th

A nice day off work. However, it was not an inexpensive one. We dropped the car off at Marshalls in Welwyn Garden City for a major service and made our way on foot to the Howard Shopping Centre so Dawn could pick up some new work clothes. An hour later we got a call on the cell phone to advise us that we needed new front break pads and that a rear tyre had a slow puncture. That just doubled the cost of the bill. But we had no choice other than to get it done.

Dawn was in heaven though. Not because of the car. But because she was finally able to find some warm work clothes that she liked and that fit her. I got something, too. I picked up a new roasting pan for the Christmas turkey and an oven thermometer. After cooking the fruitcake cookies on Sunday, I felt I needed to check out whether our oven's temperatures came anything close to what they should be.

After a nice lunch we picked up the car (also had a silent cry when we paid the bill) and then drove around to Parcelforce to pick up a Christmas parcel Brady had mailed us. When we got home, Dawn found a couple of packages of grits and popcorn inside, as well as a few gifts that we put under the tree and several Christmas ornaments (including one for Tiny from Chance).

Thur, Dec 13th

This was a short week at work for the two of us as we both booked Friday as a day's vacation. However, this didn't mean that it was any easier as we both had to cram a week's work into less than four days. That was because I had a dentist appointment on Monday, and Dawn had an appointment with her doctor on Wednesday.

If that wasn't bad enough, I had to train and supervise the new bought ledger clerk at work, too. By tonight I was more than glad to be out of the office. Dawn on the other hand was having to deal with the aftermath of one of her director's resignation. It looks like as his PA she will be the one tasked with a lot of the handover of information from him to his successor. As with me, this will also mean in addition to her already extremely busy workload.

Sun, Dec 9th

Another busy Sunday. I did some (yes, you can guess) work on the baseboards before Dawn put our new Christmas tree up in the living room. Dawn keeps reminding me that it's a Fraser Fir. I, on the other hand, remind her that it's still artificial.

In the meantime, I made a mess in the kitchen while I baked six dozen fruitcake cookies. We used Brady's recipe as best as we could, but had to substitute some dried fruit for glazed pineapple pieces, which we couldn't find. The first batch got overcooked as I left them in the oven too long. I had stuck to the recipe. However, the later batches came out fine as I adjusted the temperature and the length of time I left them in the oven.

Sat, Dec 8th

After running out to do our grocery shopping, we made our way to Hertford North to catch a train to Holloway to visit Dad. We chilled out by reading our books. That was until Dawn noticed a reindeer on a leash looking into our carriage as we arrived at Gordon Hill station. Dawn asked me what it was doing there. Apart from suggesting it was waiting for a train to the North Pole to meet Santa, I hadn't a clue.

We caught the tube from Finsbury Park to Holloway Road so we could stop for a bite at the Coronet before stopping in to see Dad. However, as I had forgotten our umbrella in the car and it was pouring down with rain, we had to stop at a local shop to pick up a cheap one to keep our heads dry. This it did successfully (almost). However, our backs, jeans and feet were soaked by the time we got to Dad's. Thankfully, the walk back to the station afterwards was a little easier as the rain had subsided.

Back home, I worked on the baseboards again. This time I started to paint them.

Fri, Dec 7th

Today Dawn used some of her holiday entitlement by taking a day off work to recover from her long day yesterday. However, she didn't waste it with her feet up. I dropped her off in town when I went to work in the morning and she spent the next four and a half hours doing some Christmas shopping before I picked her up again when I popped out of the office for lunch.

After I returned to work, Dawn then spent a good few hours pulling out the Christmas ornaments. When I arrived home shortly after 5.30pm, I was welcomed with a wreath on the front door, a festive clown hanging in the den, a mini Christmas tree on the kitchen windowsill, a small Christmas tree in the bedroom on top of the dresser adorned with countless miniature ornaments, and a nativity scene on top of one of the radiator covers in the living room.

Again after dinner I worked on the baseboards before settling down in front of the television.

Thur, Dec 6th

Will this week ever end? We set the alarm for 4am this morning because Dawn needed to catch a 6.30am train from Stevenage and needed me to give her a lift there. Dawn then enjoyed (perhaps not the right word) a 3-hour hour ride to Durham where she attended a Business Continuity meeting at the university there.

I, on the other hand, had to drive out to the other side of Stanstead Airport to attend my company's overhead Christmas lunch at the Lion & Lamb. Thankfully it started around 1pm so I could make my way there and back without too much of a problem. However, it was probably the most surreal Christmas lunch I had ever attended. Our HR officer Christine was the only female present among the 30 attending the festive meal.

When I got home, I did more work on the baseboards before picking Dawn up at Hertford North after her long journey home (one that she needed to get two connecting trains resulting in a 20 minute wait on the platform in Stevenage). We finally sat down for dinner around 7pm feeling completely exhausted.

Wed, Dec 5th

Our busy weekend continued this week as I spent the evenings after work gluing baseboards to the walls in the living room and then filling the gaps the following night. At lunch for a couple of days I made a trip to the post office so I could mail some packages that we needed to send to the US, and also pick up stamps for our Christmas cards.

Oh yea, on Tuesday I also spent another half an hour on the treadmill. This time at 5am in the morning before we jumped in the shower and got ready for work.

Sun, Dec 2nd

A very busy day for us today. I continued from where I left off yesterday. First I sanded the walls that I plastered yesterday before adding a coat of paint. Next I fixed the two radiator covers to the wall, and then I started cutting the baseboards ready for the walls. I had a brief break while Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady around 1pm. I was also able to relax in front of the television for the second half of Spurs versus Birmingham live on Sky Sports. Once again they threw away points by conceding a goal in the second minute of injury time to lose the game.

Incredibly, I was also able to get out to the shed and spend half an hour on the treadmill. This was the first time this year that I had been on it, so I took it easy and didn't over do it.

Sat, Dec 1st

Another busy weekend. No rest for us this time. We had a ride up to Welwyn Garden City to do our weekly grocery shopping before stopping at B&Q to pick up some baseboards for the living room. That meant that when we got home I had to spend a couple of hours plastering the bottom of the walls so I could start fixing them this week.

Dawn, in the meantime, spent a good couple of hours writing out our Christmas cards and wrapping some gifts that we need to get in the mail next week.