Fri, Feb 29th

Once again the two of us were more than happy to see the end of the week. Dawn returned to City University on Monday feeling a little better than she had last week. However, the continual stress and problems that she had to deal with ran her ragged. She was worn out by Friday.

As for me, the Sage problem was resolved on Monday and did not return. However, the telephones were a constant pain in the butt. Still not everyone had extensions. So it was a lottery trying to pass on calls and messages. With regard to the Adeo problem, we received the repaired hard drive back around 6pm Tuesday. But, as at 4.45pm (when I left work), we could still not use the system. We'd lost a whole week.

The week wasn't completely bad. Tiny wasn't sick once this week and she also didn't lose her appetite and ate her food every day. Let's hope she can keep it up next week.

Mon, Feb 25th

I arrived at our new Enfield office with a little trepidation. I was part of the first phase of the transfer from Hertford, which consisted of around 10 or so members of staff. Well today the rest of the staff arrived and I was a little concerned that we might have one or two problems to contend with regarding the systems. I was right. However, it was more than just a minor glitch. In the transfer we lost Adeo, our project management system. This meant that we could not raise new jobs, process existing ones, and worst of all could not invoice the jobs that we had completed.

In addition to this, none of the accounts team could access Sage, the accounts software. And if that wasn't enough, we couldn't transfer calls to anyone. Not everyone had a telephone, and those that did hadn't a clue what their extension number was.

It was not a good start to the week. Thankfully we knew someone who could try and restore the lost data from Adeo. However, that meant that someone had to drive half the way to Wales to meet one of our surveyors coming from the other direction to take the computer hard drive to its destination to be restored.

Sun, Feb 24th

As we had a couple of Tupperware boxes of chili in the freezer and didn't want muffins this week, I didn't need to spend a couple of hours in the kitchen cooking as normal. Dawn, unfortunately, still had the laundry and ironing to do. However, I did help out a little by doing the vacuuming.

After lunch Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady before I settled down to watch the live coverage of the Carling Cup final from Wembley between Spurs and Chelsea. As a Spurs fan for nearly 40 years, it would be an understatement to say that I was overjoyed that we ran out 2-1 winners after extra time. To beat both Arsenal and Chelsea to lift the trophy made the triumph even more sweeter. I only hope that it does not take another 9 years to win another cup.

Sat, Feb 23rd

We had plans to catch the train to visit Dad today. But canceled our journey because of Dawn's flu. One, we thought it would be better if Dawn rested at home; and two, we didn't want Dad to catch Dawn's cold.

Dawn, however, could not stay at home all day. We had to pop into town for our haircut, and then dropped into Morrisons to do the weekly grocery shopping. Then it was home in time for Dawn to settle down in front of the television so she could watch three back to back episodes of American Idol while I sat at the dining table processing last week's timesheets (because I couldn't get them done at work this week).

Fri, Feb 22nd

Not surprisingly Dawn did not go to work today. Her flu symptoms had evolved overnight and she now had a nose to match the rest of her aches and pains. Tiny didn't mind because it meant that for the third day in four she had some company at home.

Work was once again frustrating for me as again I had to deal with constant interruptions, problems with the telephones, and more glitches with the system. Earlier in the week I'd had a meeting with our database designer. However, all these problems meant that we ended the week behind schedule. Needless to say, things will not get any better on Monday as the rest of the company are moving from Hertford to Enfield. To say I am dreading next week is an understatement.

Thu, Feb 21st

Despite protests from me, Dawn went back to work today. She's spent the last two days at home with flu-type symptoms (excluding runny nose), but felt she was well enough to make the trip. However, if she was being honest, she was more concerned with her workload than her own health. By the time I boarded the train at 5.09pm (the early train), Dawn felt like death warmed up. Her day at the office had not been a good idea. Her symptoms were worse than they had been all week.

At lunch Dawn took some time out for a lunch date with some of her colleagues. From left to right there was Tessa, Sharon, Matt and Patricia. As always, she enjoyed her Thai Red Chicken Curry. However, she would rather have been at home on the couch with Tiny and a nice warm bowl of soup.

The best news of the day was that Tiny was again eating food.

Wed, Feb 20th

My new work life now involves leaving home around 6.50am, boarding a southbound train for all of 15 minutes (see photo), then walking two miles east from Enfield Chase to just the other side of the A10 road between the North Circular and the M25. By which time it's 8am and I have another eight and three quarters hours of work ahead before I walk/jog in the opposite direction, only mostly uphill, back to the station. However, this week it has been even more strenuous as I race to catch the earlier train to get home to Dawn early. Dawn went down with a flu bug and has been at home the last two days.

For those of you keeping tabs (sorry, no pun intended) on Tiny's welfare. She has hardly eaten much the last couple of days. Although she did eat some chicken today. If she doesn't start eating normally soon we'll have to take her to the vet.

Our Highland Vacation 2007

We just wanted to let our readers know that they can now get a paperback copy of the journal that we wrote to commemorate our tenth wedding anniversary last May. If you click on the link to the right it will take you to a website where it can be purchased.

Sun, Feb 17th

Boy are we glad to be able to spend the day at home today after a long and grueling week. However, I still had to walk down to the Post Office with my hat protecting my ears, gloves keeping my hands warm and scarf around my neck to stop me getting a chill, as it was sub zero temperatures here again in Hertford.

After breakfast it was back to the weekend chores. I made another large pot of chili and another couple of dozen oatmeal muffins before getting our payroll information so Dawn could complete our US tax returns. In between she did the laundry, vacuuming and ironing. I also made a nice roast beef dinner before calling Dad and settling down for the evening. Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady around 2pm (our time).

Shattered isn't the word to describe how we all feel. Dawn and I are both tired, and Tiny again is on a hunger strike. Either she was upset by seeing a couple of kitties in the back yard this morning or she's not too keen on what she has in store over the next five days until she has us back full time next weekend.

Sat, Feb 16th

Today we had a ride into Welwyn Garden City so I could pick up a rain coat for my walk to work. Last week I wore the leather jacket Dawn bought me for our first Christmas together, and it's just too heavy and too hot. I will need to wear a hat and scarf for the time being. Especially as it's around freezing when I get off the train in the morning. But, at least I won't feel so hot.

We then enjoyed a belated Valentine meal at Ask. Nothing too extravagant. Some stuffed mushrooms, garlic bread and olives for appetisers, and then we shared a chicken penne dish. I even had a pot of tea, too.

Fri, Feb 15th

Well I did it. I completed my first week in Enfield and probably walked the best part of 25 miles in the process. I can't say that I can see much weight loss. However, my blood pressure does seem to be coming down. Perhaps my dream of running the London Marathon by the time I am 50 could be a reality after all.

Thu, Feb 14th

No Valentine meal for the Whites this evening. Not with us having to leave Tiny all on her own all day. We decided to have a nice lunch out at the weekend instead. We did exchange cards as usual, and I was able to pick up a couple of roses at the station after my long walk.

The best news of all was that Tiny hadn't been sick while we were gone. Hopefully she'll get used to the new routine. At least she has been eating all her food. Which is something she hadn't been doing even last week.

I ended the evening watching the first half of Sparta Prague versus Spurs live on Channel 5. I taped the rest for the morning. One I was too tired and needed to get some well earned rest. And, two we didn't need to upset Tiny with another change to her routine.

Wed, Feb 13th

Yesterday went well despite more fog, and frost on the car. Even our systems were working in Enfield. So things couldn't be too bad. Today, however, I parked the car near Hertford North and did the two mile plus walk to the Hertford office for a change. I had to meet Steve and Ilyas so we could transfer the accounts archives to Enfield. That meant that I was able to enjoy (maybe not the right word just yet) the uphill walk to Enfield Chase station after a long day at the office.

Tiny hasn't taken to the change in routine as well as we would have liked. Monday she was fine. But both yesterday and today she threw up. On Tuesday she decided my shirt was a nice target, and this evening we were welcomed to a nice pile of what had been her dinner on the top of the stairs.

Mon, Feb 11th

Today marked a return to public transport after an absence of nearly 23 years. And what a reunion. We woke at 4.45am to a blanket of fog over Hertford, and even worse a layer of ice over the car. The latter needed scraping before Dawn and I made our short journey to Hertford North station. From there, I joined the commuting world by boarding the 7.18am Stevenage to Moorgate train with Dawn. Then, less than 15 minutes later, we said our good-byes and I headed out into the cold and a wonderful two mile trek to my new office. I didn't do too badly, making the journey in a little over 28 minutes. I even cut a couple of minutes off that time on the way back in the evening. Hopefully, the walking will do wonders for my blood pressure, not to mention help me lose some weight.

Sun, Feb 10th

A day at home today. Dawn did the usual chores and I spent a couple of hours in the kitchen making a pot of chili and a couple of dozen oatmeal muffins. Then, after lunch we relaxed for a couple of hours watching the film "A Good Year."

For dinner, we enjoyed a nice piece of salmon with some mash potato and green beans. For dessert a baked apple with raisins. Then we counted the hours down until it was bed time again and another week at the office. Only for me, it wasn't in Hertford anymore.

Sat, Feb 9th

Saturday means grocery shopping. So after pottering around the house we headed out to Morrisons stopping at the Post Office on the way so we could mail a parcel to Michaela Dixon for her 10th birthday.

After lunch we headed out again to visit Dad. Once again we went by train instead of driving. I also used the opportunity at the station to purchase my monthly rail ticket. On Monday I will be going by train instead of by car. I can't wait. Especially the two mile walk to and from the station and office.

Later on, after we had got back from our visit to Dad's, I popped out to the Frying Pan for some fish and chips.

Fri, Feb 8th

Although I am officially working from Enfield now, today wasn't a normal working day. For one, I drove down the A10 again. I left home around 8.15am and arrived dead on 9am. While there I continued to get organised for next week. An IT company was in sorting out the computers, and if all goes to plan I will be able to work from Monday as normal. However, the timesheets I normally process on a Monday will still be in Hertford. Oh well.

As I drove to Enfield and didn't take a lunch, I set off home around 4am to avoid the worst of the rush hour. Again the trip took me 45 minutes. I popped into Tesco and my doctors to collect my cholesterol results before meeting Dawn at the station.

Above is a photo of my office. My desk is on the far side of the green partitions.

Thu, Feb 7th

Finally my company has relocated office. Well, not completely. Only the training department and accounts department are now located in the Enfield office. The majority of the Hertford based staff are still working there.

Today, however, it was our turn to make the move south. I got in before 8am as usual and spent the next three hours either dismantling computers or stacking files into crates. Then, after popping home to check on Tiny, I drove down the A10 with our car full of computers to the new office. Once I arrived there I had to do the reverse task of putting the computers together again.

As for Tiny. Tonight she ate more food than she has done over the last three days and even slept on the bed with us. Saying we felt relieved was an understatement.

Wed, Feb 6th

Today was my last official working day in our Hertford office. However, my mind, and Dawn's, was somewhere else today. Tiny again has been on a hunger strike for the last three days and has not been her usual self either. Over the last month or two there have been several occasions when she has been like this. But on this occasion she has been less energetic than usual and has even spent the night sleeping in odd places - like the closet. She never sleeps there.

Sun, Feb 3rd

No where to go today (except me walking to the papershop for Dawn's Sunday papers). Yet that didn't mean that we could take it easy. Dawn again did her usual Sunday chores and I again found my way into the kitchen. This week was a little easier than last week, though. I made a couple dozen oatmeal muffins before lunch.

This afternoon Dawn had her weekly video call with Brady and I finally got back to the draft version of our book (presently called Leap of Faith). This will be a project in itself editing this. However, I can assure you that by the end of 2008 it will be completed. I can't guarantee that it will be ready for you to read, as we still have a little issue about how we are going to get it published.

Sat, Feb 2nd

Today we spent an hour or two in town visiting our usual haunts. First we dropped into the Oxfam bookshop, where I dropped off about 15 books that I read last year. Most were probably bought from there in the first place, so at least the money will have gone to a good cause (twice). That's what I call practical recycling. We stopped at the Co-op for Dawn's pills, Messages for some wrapping paper and cards, WH Smith for some stationary, and finally a petshop for some food for Tiny and a couple of toy mice. One, which by the way, she has already chewed the tail off of!

Next we dropped into Hertford North to get Dawn's monthly rail ticket. I also picked up a railcard after I got my mugshot taken in one of those instant photo booths.

From there we headed to Morrisons for our weekly grocery shopping before making our way home to Tiny.