This is the diary of Melanie, 40, and Tim who is 39. They have been married for six years and despite three IVF attempts have been unable to have children naturally.

Tim and Melanie were approved for adoption for one child up to the age of three in June 2002.

The diary begins after the couple were approved.

Week seven diary

Well, we're all set for Christmas. The last few presents have been brought, everything has been wrapped, and now we can settle down to enjoy a break from work, a few tipples and no doubt plenty of food (guess who'll be on a diet in January!)

This will be a short diary entry, as we have absolutely nothing to report, as we'd expected. There's nothing even to report on our "adopted" cat, except that she continues to improve, and her paw is now nearly fully healed (at least the vets will have a good Christmas with the money we've spent down there of late!).

Adoption seems to be in the news a lot at the moment, and it does cross our minds every now and again, but good old Christmas on the horizon has meant that we've had other things to think about.

Anyway, Tim and I won't bore you too much with details of shopping trips and credit card bills (!) and how much we're looking forward to seeing The Two Towers at the cinema (although we amuse ourselves with ideas as to how we would tackle seeing the last instalment of the trilogy next Christmas if we'd got a "little 'un" by then!)

To everyone who may visit this little corner of the site, Tim and I wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year - lets hope 2003 brings us all what we hope for.