Hi everyone,

What is going on with New York this week?? It is HOT!!! It is darn HOT!!!! HOT AND BOTHERED!!!! Apparently we are smack bang in the middle of the hottest July in the lifetime of New York. Can you believe how lucky we feel to be a part of this historical event??? Rest assured, I'm counting my blessings daily.

As walking the streets in a string bikini is not a viable option (for obvious reasons), I've found that I'm spending my days flopping from one air conditioned room to another, seeking out a cool corner. What I LOVE THE MOST about stinking hot weather is walking around the streets with Darren. He really is so much fun to be with in these sort of conditions! (hint... he HATES heat and humidity) By the end of the day he has usually shared all seven of his personalities with me. (Trust me.. you DON'T want to meet 'Elton'!).

I am currently sitting in the Sony Music studios. We are here all week as Darren is doing international press/tv for the release of AFFIRMATION.

He is currently in the other room doing a television interview with a South African show. Sony have flown in media from all over the world for a press junket and they have done an amazing job at putting the entire thing together. Jim Sabey, their international product manager, has been entertaining us beautifully, and ensuring that we don't make the fatal mistake of being seen in the wrong restaurant or bar!.. "Oh no.. you CANNOT go there... it is SO OVER!!!" (..but Jim, isn't tonight the grand opening???)

Our social life has picked up since we've been in New York.... (of course my social life all depends on whether or not I can get Darren to come to the latest greatest party with me.. because.. let's face it... my invite is obsolete if I can't piggy back on his!!). Last week we went to the premiere of the new Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy film, BOWFINGER and I must say... Darren was looking RATHER sexy in an outfit from the new Jean Paul Gaultier collection that hits the stores around February, 2000. He also managed to pop up at a few other parties throughout the week...... at least for a few minutes, but the REAL event that we missed out on was the launch of TALK magazine at the Statue of Liberty. Now, usually, I would be completely up for just such an affair, but I generally have to beg and plead Darren to take me to these things ("can we go can we go can we please go to the really exclusive party.???" ... you get the picture, I generally carry on like this until he relents and lets me go). You may or may not realise this, but both Darren and Daniel would prefer to be doing anything else in the world than hanging out at celebrity filled parties. I am trying so DESPERATELY hard to change this!!! Anyway.... the night of the TALK launch we both decided we were just a little tired and thought we'd just stay in and eat room service. So, I'm sitting there watching television.. when suddenly this party flashed onto the screen. Yep.. you can imagine!! It looked like it was the social event of the year... everyone was there.. fireworks were happening.. people were partying and having fun.. and what were we doing??? Lying around in bathrobes eating room service!! I, of course picked up the phone and rang Darren straight away and told him to turn on the television to see what we were missing out on!!! He couldn't understand the fuss I was making!!! I am really going to have to start giving that boy some SERIOUS party training!

Anyway.. I'm over it now.

As you know, Daniel is still in Australia.. and not only is he rehearsing the band.. but he has also done a remix of 'I KNEW I LOVED YOU'.... the first single from AFFIRMATION. (ha ha.. don't you just love the way I slipped that in!). I'm sure quite a few of you have heard what the song is by now.. but it is time to make it official on the site (plus all the BEGGING really started to get to me!!) So... what is it about? I KNEW I LOVED YOU is a pure, sweet, simple ballad about the soulmate you are yet to meet. You know they are out there, and you know that sort of love exists... but you are yet to find it (and you are happy to wait for it.. ). I can TOTALLY relate to this song... I'm SURE he is out there somewhere and he's wearing a 'Where the heck is Leonie, I've been looking for her everywhere, badge'... Here I am!! Here... over here!!! I can't believe you can't see me!! Look harder ... you fool!!!

Anyway, as I was saying, Daniel (or as we now refer to him... DJ Danny Dan) has just done a dance remix of I KNEW I LOVED YOU and he played it to me down the phone. I have to tell you... it is pretty darn good! I had no idea that buried amongst all of his musical talents lay the heart of a club remixer! No doubt you will get to hear it as well when the single comes out (but don't hold me to that one!!).

So... the single release. I still can't give you a confirmed date.. but I do know that it will be going to radio worldwide the first week of September, with a commercial date to be announced . The worldwide album release date has looks to be November 2nd, but it is looking as though it will be released in Australia & Japan at least a week earlier. I will keep you posted on this one as more news comes to hand.

I haven't spoken to Daniel a lot this week, so I can't really update you on anything else that is happening in Australia. We do miss him over here, and we are looking forward to seeing him when he comes to America to shoot the video clip in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Darren is being such an interview trooper. I don't think I could do it! Imagine sitting in a room for ten hours a day, talking about the same thing over and over again! I think I'd go crazy, but he is doing a beautiful job. He's just so excited to be talking about the record.

Well.. guys.... I think that is it from me this week. You'll notice the new pics we have on the site. This is due to the fabulous new digital camera that Sony gave me this week. I have deposited it into a fireproof bag.. so it should remain safe and secure and fire free!

Oh.. by the way... I noticed on the bulletin board that there are a couple of posts from DanielJonesSG and DarrenHayesSG. Sorry to say this.. but these are complete imposters. Myself, Darren and Daniel NEVER post messages on the bulletin board. If they ever post a message to you, it will be on this update. Sorry to all of you that believed whoever it was that posed as the guys. And, CaednHayes... good luck on your new position as moderator of the board!

Speak to you all next week.

Leonie