Mon, Aug 27th

Hurrah, it's a bank holiday and we didn't have to go to work today. However, we didn't have it all easy. Dawn did some vacuuming she neglected to do yesterday, not to mention some ironing and washing. I, on the other hand, prepared some bean salad for our lunches this week, and made a nice roast beef dinner, our first in ages. This was after we'd had an excellent Zucchini Carbonara last night, thanks to a new recipe we saw Jamie Oliver do on his new cooking show.

It wasn't all work and no play though. Yesterday we watched 'An Affair to Remember,' the classic Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr movie where they were supposed to meet at the top of the Empire State Building. And today we saw the George Clooney movie about McCarthyism called 'Good Night, and Good Luck.'

And I have also been writing every day working towards completing the first draft of my book about how Dawn and I met. It's been incredible re-reading all the emails we wrote to each other eleven years ago. As for the book, I am averaging over 3,000 words a day and have completed over 103,000 words (217 full pages of text). And I still have the whole month of October to go, not to mention our fateful weekend in New York.

Sat, Aug 25th

Today we headed out to St Albans to visit a gas fire showroom. As much as we like having an open fire where we can light our logs and listen to them crackle, it's just too much work keeping the damn fire clean, not to mention we can only use it while we're in the house all day. We really wanted something that we could use in the mornings before work and in the evenings, too. A nice gas fire would suit the bill perfectly. We left after placing an order to have one fitted in about five to six weeks' time. Unfortunately when we got home we noticed that it looks like we have another water leak. This time from underneath the shower. Needless to say, we're not looking forward to having to deal with this too.

Fri, Aug 24th

Today I completed my six month probation, and can now relax knowing I have a full time job and can't be shown the door with just seven days' notice. It's just a shame that I can't celebrate the fact. Instead I have a few months to wonder whether my company will be relocating and I'll be looking for another job by Christmas. Although the move looks likely at the moment, I am still holding out for the 'nothing is as expected as the unforseen' to happen, but don't hold out a great deal of hope.

In the meantime, I spent the week working on the labour analysis, covering for the purchase ledger clerk who was on vacation, doing management charts for the Financial Controller, and last but not least working on a proposal for migrating one of our information systems to another. I didn't seem to remember any of this in my job description when I started work there six months ago.

Wed, Aug 22nd

Following weeks of waiting, today we finally had the three piece purple light fitting removed from our bedroom ceiling and replaced by a ceiling fan and light. I came home from work early to be at the house for the electrician and ended up being home the rest of the day. At least it gave me a chance to do some more writing.

Sun, Aug 19th

After a day where we had spent most of the time out of the house, we spent Sunday at home with Tiny and she loved it. She spent most of the time resting on a Publix paper bag on the floor, or the couch behind me, while I was writing or while I was sitting on the couch watching the movie "Ice Storm" with Dawn.

Dawn was able to speak to Kelly for the first time in a month, and then had her weekly call with Brady.

As for me, I made some chili, and wrote, wrote, and wrote some more. I quit halfway through the afternoon to give my eyes a rest having completed over 75,000 words and 16o A4 pages of my first novel. I have now set myself a target of completing the first draft by the end of September so watch this space.

Sat, Aug 18th

Today we got out early and did our grocery shopping before the rest of mankind descended on Morrisons. We need to do that in future. Then after a salad for lunch we caught the train from Hertford North to Finsbury Park to see Dad and George instead of making the 40 mile round trip by car. It may have cost more than it would have in petrol, but it was certainly less stressful than making the trip by road.

While we were there Hayley called Dad and asked if it was okay for her to pop up to see him. We bumped into Hayley after we left Dad's on our way back to the station.

Back home, I continued to write our story, which I have now provisionally called 'Leap of Faith' because it described exactly what we did when we met in New York for the first time back in 1996.

Fri, Aug 17th

Dawn has had another week of problems with her daily commute to work, but not for the reasons she has become familiar with. On both Monday and Tuesday, I got held up in traffic on the way to pick Dawn up at the Hertford North station. What made matters worse was that I couldn't find out what caused the problem. On both occasions Dawn had to start making her own way home walking, while carrying some kind of injury in her foot. Thankfully I was able to meet her halfway home. Wednesday night I left 15 minutes early and sailed through in no time and had to wait 20 minutes for her train to arrive. On Thursday, there was another delay but Dawn's train was late, and on Friday I left ten minutes early and got out just before the traffic built up. Hopefully next week won't be so bad.

Sun, Aug 12th

We had another successful day working on the Scotland diary and our future best seller, Our Story.

Dawn sat on one chair with the laptop reading aloud while I called out the changes to the travel diary. Occasionally, we would be in fits of laughter, like when I fell down the stairs. However, you'll have to wait until we finish it before reading how that happened.

As for our story, I passed one hundred pages. I've now written in excess of 50,000 words and averaging 20,000 a week. It's got to the point where I'd rather be writing than going to work. Which is what I'd rather be doing anyway. Oh yea, as with the Scotland diary, you'll have to wait until it's completed and a bestseller. Which it will be. Just mark my words. I've always wanted to write and always wanted to be a writer, and for the first time in my life I actually believe it will happen.

Sat, Aug 11th

Bet won, bet lost. However, even the loser had something to celebrate this time. Dawn, after three months abstinence, finally gave in and went to a hairdresser and got her hair cut. She couldn't cope with spending quarter of an hour every morning fighting a battle with her hair that she felt she could never win.

So, with tail between her legs, she apologised for being so weak before dancing up and down having lost her curly waves.

Thu, Aug 9th

More fun at work for me. For the umpteenth time our systems were down again. No one could send or receive emails all day. The accounts department couldn't access Sage, so no invoices were posted or payments made. The Adeo system kept on disappearing as did the fileservers, so no one could access their documents. No one keeps their work on their desktops. All in all it was a waste. It's nice to know that in the 21st century we have advanced from books, ledgers and typewriters powered by finger tips instead of electricity.

Mon, Aug 6th

More fun at the White household. Over the weekend the sight of a few wasps in the kitchen had progressed to a dozen in the ceiling light fitting. A nice nest had formed in the brick vent that allowed ventilation to the loft and the wasps were being drawn into the kitchen by the light. I called around in an effort to find someone who could come out before Tiny caught one of them and got stung.

Luck was on our side as I found someone who could be at the house by noon. Unfortunately, he didn't arrive until half one. Then, once he had pumped poison into the brick, he informed me that he would have to smoke the pests out to guarantee success. Which by the way would cost twice what I was quoted at around £100. Left with no choice, I told him to go ahead and just do it. Thankfully we can report that the smoke did work.

Sun, Aug 5th

Today was even better than yesterday because, not only did we not have to go to work, we also spent the whole day at home. That is except for my trips to the Post Office down the road for the The Sunday Times, and Tesco in town for some baking soda.

The rest of the day was tied up with doing things we both love to do. Well, except for Dawn vacuuming and ironing that is. Dawn spent almost all her spare time reviewing and editing our Scotland diary. By the time she quit for the evening she had only a few pages left and would be able to complete it in the morning. I spent virtually all day on the laptop writing 'Our Story.' After finishing the Scotland diary, I finally settled into writing the book about how Dawn and I met eleven years ago. It's painstakingly slow, but I am getting there.

I also spent some time in the kitchen boiling pasta twirls to make tuna salad for my lunches this week, baking oatmeal muffins for Dawn, and prepped some fajita mix for this week. I also got some breaded turkey steaks ready for dinner, too.

Sat, Aug 4th

It's been a long time since we've looked forward to a weekend as much as this. Both of us had a rough week at work again. Although Dawn had a good review meeting, as I'd had a few weeks back, other issues at the work place made us both look forward to the sanctuary of each other's company and our home.

Even running up to the grocery store wasn't as bad for Dawn as normal. Especially as she drove the car to help her in her goal towards passing the second part of her driving test. Although she turned down the opportunity to drive to Dad's this afternoon. She hates the drive into London; thankfully she can tolerate being a passenger. As usual we enjoyed Dad and George's company before heading back to Hertford and steamed mussels and French bread for dinner.

Sun, Jul 29th

Following a wonderful meal last night, some may think I might have had a little to much to drink and had been suffering from the after effects of the night before. Especially when I allowed Dawn to use the gadgets she had picked up yesterday in John Lewis labeled, 'Haircutting for Dummies.' It was the plural of dummy that I didn't understand. If I was sitting in the chair while Dawn had the hair trimmer in her hand behind my back, who was the other dummy? I hoped to God it wasn't Dawn.

All joking aside, she did a pretty good job on me. And I didn't mean for that to sound the way that it came out. She did a good job cutting my hair, I should say.

The rest of the day was spent doing the usual weekend chores before settling down to watch the 'Da Vinci Code' on Sky Movies.

Just for the record, Dawn said she won't let me try out the trimmer on her hair as she ain't no DUMMY!

Sat, Jul 28th

What a long day. First we had to ride into Welwyn Garden City so we could do some shopping at the Howard Centre. I needed some new trousers and shoes for work. Dawn also needed a curling iron for her hair. She said that it's getting totally out of control and needs something to get it back in order. While we were there we also picked up some tops in M&S using the money Dad and George gave her for her birthday. After a quick bite at ASK (they had a pretty good Salad Nicoise), we dropped into Morrisons on the way back.

We then spent a couple of hours with Tiny before popping into town to celebrate our anniversary. Monday will be 11 years since Dawn responded to my email looking for penpals on an MSN bulletin board. (Which by the way, having finished the first draft of the Scotland diary, is the subject for my first book to be published called 'Our Story.' Well that's what it's called at the moment.).

Anyway, we had a nice Chinese meal at Peking House and talked about all the things we had done over the last 11 years. It was amazing how many things we covered. It certainly proved that "Nothing is as certain as the unforeseen. " No one could have predicted that a simple email from Dawn saying "Write back and we'll chat some more" would lead us to where we are now.

Mon, Jul 23rd

All weekend she had been leaning over the keyboard and mouse on our computer at home taking mock test after mock test in preparation for the theory part of her driving test. And, to be honest, she wasn't that confident that she'd pass. But we all knew Dawn better than that. I dropped Dawn off at Hertford North on the way to work this morning and spent the next couple of hours anxiously waiting for a text message on my cell phone to tell me how she'd done at the Driving Centre in Stevenage. I didn't have to wait too long though. Shortly before 10.30am I received a brief message saying "I passed."

I called Dawn as soon as I got a chance and not only did she pass, she did excellent. She got 100% (35 out of 35) on the multiple choice section and 84% (63 out of 75) on the more difficult hazard perception test. Now for the practical part. Well done, Dawn!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sun, Jul 22nd

Today we both continued where we left off yesterday. I got my nose stuck into Harry Potter while Dawn continued to read the highway code, and take some mock tests on the computer using a CD that I had bought her six months ago.

After lunch we took a little break and had a ride up Holloway to see Dad and George for a couple of hours before returning home to continue where we'd left off earlier in the day.

Around 6pm, with my eyes a little moist from reading the penultimate chapter of Deathly Hallows, I finished my marathon weekend reading session. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and best of all I did not have it spoiled by reading something in the media.

Over the next 40 minutes I then rushed around the kitchen making the evening dinner, and putting together a tuna bean salad for our week's lunches. Dawn had a telephone appointment with Brady so I was up against the gun to get it done in time.

Oh yea, when we went to bed Dawn was again reading her highway code. As for me, I picked up another book. This time I was reading Bill Bryson's autobiography Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.

Sat, Jul 21st

Today was Harry Potter Day. My copy of the much eagerly awaited final book in the Hogwarts series arrived at 7.50am. The postman, whose face was void of smiles, could have been Servius Snape himself. But, then again, his job for the day was delivering copies of the book. Another postman delivered our regular mail an hour later.

Needless to say, my whole day was devoted to reading the book. Apart from doing our weekly grocery shopping at Morrions in Welwyn Garden City. Dawn, on the other hand, did some of the weekend chores and called he sister Kelly in Greenville, SC, before she got stuck into learning the highway code. Monday she has the theory part of her driving test so she was doing her usual eleventh hour cramming.

Mon, Jul 16th

Today was Dawn's birthday and despite her having to go to work I tried to make it a memorable one.

When we got up she opened her gifts and cards. Brady and Jim gave Dawn a book and a couple of CDs. One was a Bruce Springstein double album, the other Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. I too gave Dawn a couple of books, a blouse, a pair of pyjamas, and a small Hertford plate to put on our bookshelf alongside the anniversary ones from Cambridge and Scotland.

However, Dawn's biggest surprise welcomed her when she got home. I'd left work early today so I could make this evening a little more special. First I picked up some more rounded pebbles for the front yard, then I fixed her Daddy's picture frame (The Pink Lady) and touched up the woodwork before hanging it on the wall again. Then I touched up the paint work around the light fitting in the bedroom that Dawn had been waiting for me to finish.

In the kitchen I placed a nice bunch of flowers in a vase on the counter, and on the stove were some fresh mussels for dinner. I'd never cooked them before. But they're one of Dawn's favourites so I thought I'd give it a try. Last but not least I'd bought her a brownie for dessert.

Oh yea, I also printed out the Scotland diary. I had promised her I'd finish it by today, so it wasn't right that she couldn't read this too.

Happy Birthday, Dawn.

Sun, Jul 15th

Today was a red letter. And not because Dawn called Jim Kerr to wish him a happy "Zimmer Frame" birthday. No, today, as I had promised Dawn a week ago, I finished our Scotland diary. Well I should qualify that by saying the first draft of the Scotland diary. All 47 pages, 28735 words. It's a mini book. But at least it'll mean we'll never forget the great time we had.

I also found time to get into the kitchen to make a pot of Spaghetti Bolognese and some oatmeal muffins. Then it was up to the bedroom to wrap Dawn's presents for tomorrow. But, you'll have to wait until then to see what she got.

Oh yea, we also hung our wedding photo back up in the bedroom. It looks so much better now that we've have the room plastered and painted. Notice the white shirt on the corner of the bed? That's for Tiny. Every night when I come home from work I lay my work shirt there so Tiny can lay on it. Not only does she lay on it then, but it's where she lays when we go to sleep at night, too.

We also loaded some more photos to the Flickr website if you want to check them out. See link to the right.