This is... well, this is for those who might not've heard already. If you've been looking for me around the Ministry, well, I've resigned. A couple of weeks ago, actually. Came to realise I couldn't do all I was trying to do, and that rather than doing a good thing as a Hit Wizard, I was just becoming a bad Hit Wizard.

It's been a terribly long time since I've said anything here, I know. It's been a terrifying, horrible, scary few months, and to be honest, it will continue to be so for a long time. I can't turn around without missing Pads and Vati and Lynx.

But I've good news, and I thought that in the darkness, a bit of light is always welcome, so I thought to share it.

Papa has approved a new line of hotels. They won't be a member of the Brown chain of hotels, but rather a subsidiary with me in charge. My own line of hotels! And these won't be just any hotels, but very special ones. Every hotel will be associated with one of the Dragon Reserves, and half the proceeds from the hotel will go to helping that Reserve.

These hotels will be dragon themed. Colours, artwork, and even classes and information all about the dragons they support. So many people are terrified of dragons, and because of that we are losing these wonderful creatures to extinction. I hope that through these new programmes, we'll be able to help the wizarding world understand how we can live side by side with the dragons rather than destroying them for our purposes. That people can see the beauty in them, as well as the danger.

I'll be starting with the first in Wales, and now that Papa has approved my business plan, I am finishing up negotiations with the Reserve and searching for a place to build my new site. I'm very excited about this, and I'm glad to have something positive to do.

Hello all! Thanks to Molly, you all know that I gave birth to my little girl on Wednesday. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who wished us well. As you can see, I finally managed to get enough rest to feel well enough to pick up my journal! Today is my our last day at the hospital before going home for the first time, and I thought the occasion merited something special.

So, I'd like you all to see the first picture of my adorable little girl, Rhiannon Cara Jones. Here she is being held in my arms (thanks to Bill for bringing over my hospital bag, which had my camera in it!)

( And here she is... )

Isn't she adorable? She's got my blue eyes and her father's ears (I swear!) and she already grabs my finger when I put it in her hand. We'll be settling in at home tomorrow morning, so if anyone wants to come by and see us, later in the day would probably be best, after we've had a chance to get settled. We both look forward to seeing anyone who wants to come by.

I've just returned from St Mungo's and have a very large and happy announcement to make.

Hestia gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this afternoon. Rhiannon Cara Jones joined the world at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 19 inches long.

Mother and daughter will be at Mungo's for a few days and she asked me to tell everyone that she'd love visitors.

Did you know Quality Quidditch Supplies has a new Assistant Manager?

Well they do.

And it's me!! I'm an assistant manager! No more seven day work weeks and I might even have time to work on my own brooms now!

I couldn't believe it when Enid told me this afternoon. Dickey has decided to retire and if I take care of things well enough.. I can be full manager by Christmas!

Good things happen to good people who wait. I've been a little lax on finding new employment under the guise that I'm resetting my schedule into something less vampiric and reevaluating my CV, but it looks like there's no need.

In a move that ranks in the Top 5 of the Best Birthday Presents Ever list, my mate Lucas from Summer Arts School just took a director position at Whitechapel.

He gave me space AND FOUNDATION MONEY. For an installation.

I've got three weeks to come up with a dozen or so pieces and I've already got a theme (and no I'm not telling). If I'm less than social, well. Now you know why.

I stopped into the Nine Ploughs earlier and was told he's not been in today. The woman behind the bar said she thought he was ill, something about his evening coffee, and might be in hospital. She didn't know which, said all the one's she'd rang didn't list him as admitted. Not that she'd be able to ring St Mungo's at all.

So, Zach, you skiving off work or should I be worrying?

Summer is nearly upon us. I love the summer. Something about the way the air smells is just... very nice.

Course, nearing the end of the season, I suppose I'll take any comfort I can get now that I'm wired something fierce. One match left until the Cup Rounds start. We've got a cup to defend.

No rest for the wicked.

I feel the great need to post a blanket apology to every teacher or professor I've ever sat an exam for. Here I always thought we, the students, were under pressure. OWLs? NEWTs? That pressure is nothing, nothing to the stress of having to set four different exams, for four different class levels while at the same time preparing two classes for their mandatory exams of which I only have a general idea (read my own recollections) of the test questions.

I can't remember ever having been this exhausted or mentally drained in my life. I do believe there's a nap with my name on it when I get home. If the copious amounts of coffee I've consumed in the last week don't preclude me from it, that is.

Of course, the constant nattering of the Ravenclaws asking me for extra practice papers doesn't help, either. But as I was one of them a few years ago, I can't rightly complain.

Well, Moody accepted my resignation today. I think he was just as keen on keeping me from Umbridge as I was. Although, that is certainly not for lack of trying on her part. I could tell you where we held the meeting, but I'm not actually sure which part of the Ministry it was...

So, good news Tonks. No need to get bust me out of the clink.

Another unemployed Ministry agent- we're a knut a dozen these days. Can't throw a stone. Insert comic statement here.

I think now is a good time to be artistic.

... I'm turning to the journals to make a small announcement. Or a rather large announcement, according to my horribly excited wonderful husband. Bill and I had an appointment with my healer this morning since I've entered my second trimester.

While the healer was casting a spell to amplify the heartbeat, he discovered something we certainly were not expecting.

There are two heartbeats. Bill and I are having twins.

To: Marcus Flint, Abertawe Chapel, Wales
From: Sgt. E. Tarrington, DMLE, Hit Wizard Division

Marcus,

Seamus got into it with Umbridge. He's in lock up #3. Wally says come through the back.

We're taking good care of him. He's our hero.

Eddie

Would you believe that my house burnt to the ground this morning?

Turns out that old muggle houses have old muggle electricity and old muggle houses with old muggle electricity tend to have what the officer from the fire brigade called "faulty wiring" and that it started somewhere in the wall of the kitchen.

So.

While Andie and I were at the park after breakfast, our house burnt to the ground. Alright. So it didn't burn completely to the ground. But the only thing that's really left is the living room and half of the upstairs.



Everything is either charred, smells like smoke or is waterlogged beyond repair. Luckily, this damn journal was sitting at the shop. Andie and I are staying with a friend of a friend in London for the time being. She's tucked in for the evening and doesn't really get that we've done anything different tonight than we've done any other night.

I'm just glad it happened when it did. And not while we were there.

If you happen to have a copy of the Standard lying around go get it right now.
If you don’t have a copy... what the hell is wrong with you? Go to the newsstand and get a copy. Seriously. Right this second.

Why?

That article right there on the front page? The investigative piece about flat hunting in London? Go ahead and take a look at the byline.

That’s right! Me! I wrote it! The put my bloody article on the front fucking page.

Mum’s called me three times today and is in the process of having it framed to hang up in the living room. It’s my first front page article at any paper. Take that, Daily Prophet.

Anti-Holt wards round my office--worth the trouble of dealing with the Ministry's inevitable paperwork, or not worth it?

In other, just possibly related news, I will be at the office till late tonight, while I clean up the remains of a parchment hurricane some bloody stupid idiot started in my office as he was trying to shove his bloody wand in his bloody pocket, the stupid bloody git.

In other, equally possibly related news, no. I don't know where he is. And even if I did, I wouldn't bother telling anyone who might be tempted to let him out.

In four days Terry and I are going to be in Greece. Can't wait. We're going to take a side trip to Delphi, but most of our time is going to be spent at this resort place where we won a free stay.

We only won three free nights of accomodation, but because we never did splurge on any sort of Honeymoon, we decided to book one extra night to make it four. So we're going to be there from Thursday lunchtime until Monday morning, which is alright by me.

My squad is so leniant over me taking a few days away. All I had to do was pick up a couple extra Sundays worth of work.

Greetings from Eygpt, everyone! For the first time since we've arrived, I have a moment to put quill to paper and record a bit of our trip. ( Even though Bill keeps trying to steal my journal... )

I should have arranged for someone to pick up my owls. They were all sitting in my kitchen, pooping on everything when I got back.

Bloody birds.




And we have "Da"

Possibly "ah"

But I'm sure I heard "Da"

Wotcher!

I just spoke with Dean's mum -- very lovely woman, by the way; I see where Dean gets his cheek -- and she wanted me to let all of Dean's mates know that he's now allowed to receive visitors.

Though, before you lot start throwing yourselves in droves at him, just remember, it's one visitor at a time, yeah?

I'm sure he'd be happy to see all of you.