Spelling - local dictionary

When I first start Abiword it does not know how to spell my name 
“Stedman”. If I do a spell check and tell Abi to add “Stedman” to the 
dictionary it writes “Stedman” to ~/.hunspell_en_GB

When I next start Abiword sets .hunspell_en_GB to zero length, and marks 
“Stedman" as an error when it is used in the text.

This overwriting of the local dictionary occurs after AbiWord has loads 
and a key has been pressed.

This is not the behaviour that I expect or desire. Is there a cure?

I am using Abiword 2.8.6 under Linux Fedora 12


Cllr. Leon Stedman
78 Bantocks Road
Great Waldingfield
SUDBURY CO10 0XT
01787 370087

UKIP: The key which will unlock scores of domestic policies.