"It is very vexatious to honourable feelings, when we go into society at home and abroad, to meet foreigners of all nations covered with medals and orders, when we, who have had the pleasure of licking them in every part of the world, have neither orders nor medals." - a Wellington-era British officer argues discretion is NOT the better part of valour.

I love my work! I go to London all day, and I work on the train on the way, and on the way back (although occasionally I read a book that's not work related although they're historical in some way). And then as I walk down the steps at Luton station on my way home I start to get excited, because soon I'll be home and I can get my computer out and do some MORE WORK. Not like direct work, that's what I do in the archives, but some background reading, maybe a little tinkering around on familysearch, trawling through the National Archives online catalogues. Today, I picked up a couple more small projects. I finished my first magazine piece this week which should be running in the next issue but one, and I've got two more on the go.

Don't worry, I haven't become some kind of workaholic. I still have time for tinkering with other stuff, tending my garden, and watching all those awesome new programs on the BBC about Normans and Saxons. In fact, it seems I've spent an awful lot of time lately watching middle aged men wandering around damp fields and tripping over ruined buildings. Although the Norman series went to Sicily and Jerusalem this week which are not damp and completely amazing. And I did have some play time tonight. I met up with Dad and went to dinner in Chinatown. We ate spicy beef and I chattered about...err, work.

I love being in an unfamiliar train station and looking at a board filled with destinations I never see at home...

I was in Manchester this weekend. It looks like it was a grand city once, but now I thought if felt like Boston, but without the history. I don't know if that makes sense. Anyway, it was just still light when we left Manchester Piccadilly on the train journey home, and I could look out the window and read all the station signs and everything written on the sides of old buildings. I wanted to see everything and remember it all. I want to know everything about everywhere. That's why I love my job, I'm learning things all the time. Obscure, perculiar things about obscure, peculiar people and places, and I'm trying to remember it all.

Oh and they have trams in Manchester. I LOVE trams.

I'm in Lancashire

First time ever. It's pretty exciting.

At three months, little Jacob is really starting to come to life.

Looking ahead to my birthday (wow, only two months to go) I'm thinking about birthday treats for myself. How about a trip to Bayeux to see the tapestry, something I've wanted to do since I was quite small. And if I'm going to northern France, perhaps I should take in Beauvais as well.

Any other bright ideas?

I totally smoked the boys on University Challenge trying to identify lego representations of British musicians. I rock!

I couldn't quite beat them to the answers on many of the others questions, but we know what counts here.

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.

World Cup update

Me and Dave are supporting the Netherlands. We dig the orange!

This is funny

New crush

I have a new crush. Move over Dan Snow, you couldn't make me happy like this little beauty:

I pass her on my near daily pilgrimage to the National Archives. She sits there on Burlington Avenue, taunting me with her perfect proportions. And that colour! Some girls dream of a knight in shining armour to come carry them off. I dream of a smart little audi, and I'll drive myself thank you very much.