I've just been sent another followup from a previous client - my first project on early army records, she's sent like new names - and then hot on it's heels came three - yes three! - offers for magazine work bang in a row. They're American case studies and I'm the Yank so... What a morning my head is spinning!

I can't concentrate today. I'm supposed to be writing a lengthy client report for work. And I just can't do it, too much on my mind that's not a Georgian villa in Blackheath. This is the trouble with going freelance, it's easier to confine your thoughts to work when you're chained to a desk. I think I'm gonna go help my friend dig up her garden this afternoon instead. I need air and space. And gardens are a great place to think.

The report is my first house history project and it's definitely something I'd like to do a lot more of. And I have a repeat client. He was happy with my report on an ancestor's naval career, so now he wants us to do some follow up research. That's five projects now that I've done - a house history, a merchant seaman, an excise officer, a sailor and a soldier who fought at the Battle of Waterloo.

Wow, driving in London is certainly an adventure

Clouds of mist were rising from the fields - just visible in the twilight - as I rode home on the train tonight. Beautiful.

I got to do something really cool today. A friend of my mine who actually works with genealogists but who thinks family history is a bit of a snore, recently fessed up that there was one person in his family who intrigued him. It all revolved around his military service in WWI. I'd been digging around in military records at The National Archives all the previous week so I said I'd check it out for him. Well, I got a result, and not at all what we were expecting. We met up this evening and I got to talk him through what I found. I set the scene with some census records, established some background and worked up a bit of anticipation, and then I hit him with the big discovery. It was so much fun. And the dude was super pleased. It turned out gt-granddad was rougher, tougher and more cantankerous than he'd ever hoped. It was great to share something that made an impact. I completely FREAKIN' LOVE THIS!

Got my first Oyster card today. Terribly, terribly exciting!

I was on my way back from Windsor with my friends John and Sara from NYC.
They're on the last stop of a round the world tour. I'm really enjoying entertaining friends in London and it's nice to be able to great them with good news of how I'm getting on since leaving NYC. Sara is having a great time in the city, and I may have talked her into moving here. Although she needs to get her skates on before our idiot government slams the door on visas for people with brains who heaven forbid might just contribute to our economy and prosperity. Anyway, she'd be a fab roommate so I laid it on really thick and we just might have a winner!

Rev is awesome! Gets better every episode. If you have access to BBC you've got to watch it.

I love that British men wear proper shoes.

I found a new part of London that I love. Hampstead Heath and Highgate Hill. I guess that's two. You're high up looking down over the city. The houses are grand and graceful. You can go swimming in the lake on the Heath. Well not the big lake because apparently the fish will eat you. But there's a bathing lake. One for boys and one for girls. They're very modest up there on the hill. I like driving up hills, I have amazing clutch control. I could definitely live there. Does anyone have 5 million quid they wouldn't mind lending me?

Michael is 25 today! Happy birthday, my dear.

My friends in England remember you and ask how you are. Can you believe it's been three years since we were here.