Well correspondents, I confess that I have not had the time I'd like to have had to update this page more frequently. Nor have I had access to the proper technology. But dash it all, since I had my new job at ABN AMRO, work's been busier and the firewall's been thicker.

"What's this," I hear you ask, "a new job?" Yes indeed friends, me and Susan both have spanking new jobs. Well, not entirely spanking new, but hey, this seems like it's been a pretty long year already.

Is it my imagination, but are English winters more depressing than Canadian ones? At least in Canada you've got snow and cold to battle against, let know you're still alive. But this gray London perma-sky is like a crust through which the sun rarely peeks. If it does, it's only in the early morning. You look outside, the sun is streaming down for what feels like the first time in ages, you feel revived just looking at it strike the leaves on trees (that never fell in autumn, never even changed colour) and you put on short-sleeves and throw on a light jacket and...

--the sucker punch!--

... you step outside and the sun is gone like it was never there and it's that same dull overcast for the rest of the day as you pull your light windbreaker just that little bit closer to your shivering flesh.

As I said, so far, 1998's been a bit of a downer.

On the plus side, for the first time in our lives, Susan and I both have well-paying jobs. Suddenly, 10 years of Mexico-like finances may actually be set in order. The new jobs? I, as I have already stated, am working at ABN AMRO, a very large Dutch bank, in the library. Title? Information Officer. Great! When I'm not at work that makes me an off-duty Information Officer. Ever once in a while, I intervene in an situation where people on the street need information and they need it fast! Offf-duty Information Officer Leavy to the rescue! "Actually, Ladies, Sadler's Well is located near the Angel, but while it's being rebuilt, they're presenting shows near Holborn." "Thank you." "No problem, just doing my job, ma'am." Off into the sunset.

Susan has left the existential hell that was Bankers Trust (super name for a bank, like Lawyer's Generosity or Executioner's Forgiveness) and is now working at Nomura. Nomura is a Japanese financial house. We're not actually sure what they do, apart from get involved in the odd scandal in Tokyo (you're considered a bit naff if you haven't, though) and have a go a buying very large things, like ex-army housing tracts. All of them. My recommendation in this instance is Just Have Fun With The Name. I like to say it like I'm Toshira Mifune speaking Japanese in an American Movie; really fast in that Mifune-stern/angry manner. Nomura! No-Mu-ra! hai!

That baby's shaping up, let me tell you, mister! Susan has retiled the back passage (ooh, er!) and bathroom floors. With a little help from myself, of course. In the former instance, I revealed my obsessive perfectionistic streak by taking over from Susan (who obviously wasn't doing it right) and then throwing serial temper tantrums becasue "Damn, damn, damn, dammit, crap, arse, arse, arse! This is awful! It's not right! Piss piss piss!" As you do. With the latter case, I quite rightly stayed out of the matter and let Susan do a perfectly fine job of laying down the tiles in the bathroom. They both look equally great, with the difference being in the amount energy put into drama. Although, it must be said, I did have to take thethe bathroom door off the hinges so I could saw the bottom off it. Only so we could close it, you understand, what with the floor being just that little smidgen higher. Not just informative, dear readers, but handy around the house, too!

Well friends, time for me to say "adios," or as they say at Nomura - "Sayanora!"

Drew.