Saturday 12th - Eugen is back from his holiday, and I am dying to see him - just how long ago was it that he departed these shores - a month? Six months? What - only ten days? It seems like a lifetime - and I have to wait until Sunday before I can see him again!

Brrr - it's too cold to go out, so on with the knitting, think I'm cracking the cable code at last, I've unpicked it so many times. The trouble is, I'm impatient, I like to go like the clappers (pretty much like the typing really, oh the mistakes - thank goodness for technology!) I suppose I should stick to simple patterns, but I thought I would enjoy something more challenging...

Silly, I know, but felt a bit awkward seeing Eugen again, it's very busy and we barely have time to say more than a brief hello, and the porters are not helping the situation with their constant teasing. It seems that his landlord has told Eugen that he has to be out by the end of the week, as the flats are being refurbished. Knowing how difficult it is to find accommodation, especially at such short notice, I have told him that he might be able to get a room in Ashley Court, but he is not showing much interest. I feel snubbed, and my attitude is well, suit yourself, mate - you won't get any better for the rent we pay, and it's such a great place to live, I find it hard to understand his attitude.

(Of course, looking back, I can see his point of view all too clearly. You need to be quite a gregarious sort of person to live in what is pretty much a goldfish bowl, and Eugen is such a private person, Ashley Court would not have suited him at all!)

But as luck would have it, Mr. Casolani, the Head Receptionist, knows of a room to let, and it is in Addison Road, which is just off Kensington High Street, this means that Eugen and I will now be taking the same route to and from work!!

Monday 14th - Rang Craig to finalise arrangements for tomorrow. Eugen came in at 9.45pm to tell me that he is leaving early - which leaves me less than pleased, he starts to suggest that we should meet up later for coffee, then changes his mind saying I need my beauty sleep - this man will drive me cra-azeeee!!

Tuesday 15th - On early shift with Eugen, he showed me that he is wearing the tiny gold St Christopher I bought him for Christmas on a silver chain around his neck, so after work, I popped into the jewellers to buy a matching gold chain before catching the train to Westcliffe.

I arrived in plenty of time for the show, so went in a tiny café called The Beacon, for a snack, and find the walls covered in lots of lovely photographs of Craig. I can't help but get chatting to the owner of the café, and she tells me that Craig has been in a few times, and what a lovely person he is. Finally I decide to find my way to the theatre, to my surprise, I hear someone call my name, and there right behind me is the man himself! We walk along to the theatre together; he asks me how I am and if I'd had a good journey. As we enter the theatre together he invites me to wait in his dressing room until the show starts. I hear the band starting up, so go to find my seat, Craig tells me to come back during the interval for a drink. It was a great show, (but a pity that I did not note in my diary who else was on the bill with him!) Due to all the teenagers crowding around the stage door, getting to see Craig again seemed an impossibility, but somehow I managed to blag my way through.

Craig gave me lots of lovely photos, including some personal snaps, I told him about Eugen, and how much alike they look, so he signed a photo to Eugen as well. It was time for the second half to start, but Craig made me promise to go back after the show and say goodbye.
(According to my diary, this is a true account of what happened, and I can only say that Craig must have been a glutton for punishment after all the years I had spent haunting him!)

In the second half, Craig came to the front of the stage and looked down at where I am sitting on the front row, and sang Winter Wonderland to me, it's a lovely moment, but I am conscious of the stares of the fans sitting near me, and wonder if they are thinking "wow, lucky girl" or " right, we're gonna get you for that"!

By this time, the stage doorman had begun to recognise me, and the only trouble I had getting back stage, was pushing my way through the hoards of teenagers, who rushed the stage door every time it opened, I managed to squeeze through the merest crack, whilst the doorman fought off the screaming hoard. Brave man!

Craig welcomed me back with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, he seemed in great spirits, he said he did not have his car with him, otherwise he would have run me to the station to catch my train home. Hmmm, wouldn't have minded a ride in your posh jag, Craig!

Wednesday 16th - On late shift with Eugen, seemed very pleased with signed photo of Craig, but said I was mad, when I gave him the gold chain for his St Christopher! He took the silver one off and gave it to me in exchange for the gold one. I fixed them together and fastened it around his neck, I could feel the warmth of his skin against my fingers and the temptation to put my arms around his neck and hug him, was enormous, but somehow I managed to restrain myself!

We talked at length about Craig and Richards Beymer, Eugen says he would like to see Craig in a show...Was on the tip of my tongue to invite him out for a coffee, but then he said he was having dinner with his landlord, so that saved me from what was probably another disappointment. But said he might pop in to the Company party which is being held at Ashley Court on Friday - just my luck then, that I'm working!!

Thursday 17th - Wonderful, Wonderful day! (Ah, it doesn't take much to brighten up this girl's life!) I'm happy to find that me'n Eugen are on the same shift, we didn't manage to have breakfast together, but he came in the canteen whilst I was having lunch, unfortunately Udo and I were fooling around just as he came in the door. We didn't have much to say to each other then, but later he rang me from where he was working in the restaurant to ask what I time I finished, but wouldn't tell me why - infuriating man!

Met him on the way up to the canteen, asked me to wait there for him (!!) Finally came in canteen with presents for me that he'd brought back from Switzerland! I'm so surprised and delighted that I quite forget my inhibitions and throw my arms around him! As we are both off duty now, we decide to go for a walk. It's jolly cold and Eugen tucks my arm in his and we cuddle up close, giggling like a pair of teenagers.

We decide to warm ourselves up with a cup of hot coffee, after which, Eugen says he has to deliver a parcel to a Mr. and Mrs. Newbury who live in the very posh Albion Court block of flats, but there is no one in, so we leave a message to say we have been.

As we approach the News Theatre at Marble Arch, Eugen suggests we go in; we had a good giggle feeding each other chocolate Poppets. (Romantic, huh?) Afterwards we decide to go back to Ashley Court, we played records and danced - he's actually quite good at doing the twist! Shared best part of a bottle of gin, showed him how my portable tape recorder works by recording our somewhat inebriated banter... Then I put on my George Shearing LP, we do a little bit of smoochy dancing - and wow! (No! Not that kind of wow!)

It was late evening before I showed Eugen off the premises, and just as I opened the main door to let him out, Ann was coming in - I don't know who was the most surprised! We went up to her room for a chat, she's pleased that things are progressing between me'n Eugen, but I'm sorry to learn that she is leaving on Saturday - things just won't be the same without the ebullient Ann around!

Friday 18th - On late shift, but went in early, Eugen already on duty, so rang him to come up to the canteen and to my surprise he appeared almost immediately! He says he feels peculiar...
Trying to persuade him to come to the party at Ashley Court tonight, but he's most reluctant. Mr. Newbury rang to speak to Eugen about the note we had left him, I tell him that Eugen is not on duty, but as I went with him to deliver the parcel, I could pass on a message. He says would we both like to go over tomorrow night for drinks? Mmmmm, being invited out as a couple, now that does sound like a nice idea! As it happens, Mr. Casolani had reason to ring Eugen, but he was in the bath. When he rang back later, I told him about the phone call and the invitation from Mr. Newberry. Says he can't make it for tomorrow night and not sure about tonight... (Oh Eugen - just give me a straight no!)
I managed to get off at 10.30pm, great party, but my eyes were constantly on the look out for Eugen, hoping he might come...
(Oh silly, silly girl!)

Saturday 19th - Eugen rang just before I went off duty to say that we wouldn't be able to go round to the Newbury's tonight, but perhaps Monday. I'm pretty peeved about this, because it is such an excellent opportunity for us to go out together, and I rather like the idea of visiting people
(go on, admit it, in a posh block of flats - you snob!)
as a couple, and we can't keep putting it off, it's looks as though we don't really care about taking up their kind invitation.

Sunday 20th - Working til 5.0pm today and the morning stretches interminably, waiting for Eugen to come on duty, but he came in early and popped into the switchroom to chat for a while, then we went up to the canteen for a cuppa. It was nice being on our own for a while, then others started coming in and teasing us.

It seems that Eugen didn't ring Mr. Newbury - so I did. (Don't give up easily, do you, gal?) Spoke to Mrs. Newbury, she says she will have a word with her husband and ring back tomorrow. It's not at all busy this evening, so as soon as Eugen is up to date with his work, he spends most of the evening chatting with me in the switchroom. If that wasn't enough, we both managed to have supper together, whilst the porters looked after both reception and the switchboard - they really can be quite accommodating at times!! In fact so besotted am I with the man, that I stay over until almost 9.0pm! He tells me that they are expecting a party of guests arriving in the early hours of the morning, so he has to stay in the hotel overnight - well I wouldn't mind lending a hand...

Monday 21st - Room 812 is the smallest hotel room at Stratters, and is always the last one to be let, mostly, it's used by the assistant manager when he's on weekend duty, or if any of the receptionists have to stay overnight, I rang just to see if Eugen had indeed stayed over, he was there ok, arranged to meet in the canteen for breakfast. He seems to be in such good spirits that even Paul, the steward, noticed, Eugen said it was because I was there!
(Can you believe this man?)
He wanted to know if Mr. Newbury had rung (as if he cared!) I said he hadn't, and personally I have given up totally on this situation. (Consequently, we never did get to meet the Newbury's)

We finished pretty much at the same time today, so we went round to his old flat in Marylebone High Street to pick up his mail, then in and out of shops. Don't know what Eugen is looking for, but he likes the small exclusive men's boutiques, highlighting the difference between us - Eugen goes for quality whereas I go for quantity! It has to be said that he has excellent taste in clothes, and although he earns little more than I do, his clothes appear to be expensive, whereas mine have very much the high street look to them! We came back together on the bus, cuddling up on the upstairs backseat. He asked me for my phone number, don't know why - cos he never used it!