Wednesday 19 May 2010

1. My little stray, Son of Bruce, is waiting for me under my car. I spy his nose as I look out of the window. He enjoys three pouches of food and wanders off. I often wonder where he lives. He's getting old now.

2. There's something strange going on with VW Beetles in Leeds. I pass one that, I swear, is dressed as a rabbit, actually furry, with ears, eyes and teeth. Later I pass one with every section painted a bright primary colour.

3. I realise I'm growing up. A tense meeting doesn't upset me. Instead it makes me resolve to do the next meeting differently and makes me feel I can do this, I can change things.

4. Two of my other bosses are nice to me today, with advice and smiles. The meeting with them in wasn't all that, but separately, I get further with them.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

1. The cats don't want to be in this evening - they want to be outside catching the last of the sun.

2. I realise some days how much I love my job.

3. Seeing Favourite Boss again and having a nice chat about things.

Monday 17 May 2010

1. I see Favourite Boss briefly. He sweetly apologises for not bringing the book he promised to lend me.

2. The cats are enjoying the sunshine. They come in smelling hot and grassy.

3. Sometimes I love the waiting for a programme to start. Anticipation can be great.

Sunday 16 May 2010

1. A new candle fills the house with vanilla scents.

2. A pink cupcake with a heart on top.

3. The exciting middle section of the new Tunnels book - I'm gripped.

Saturday 15 May 2010

1. A long and luxurious afternoon nap that lasts from 12-5pm!

2. A brushing session for the cats in the sunshine. Fur floats around the back yard and April is in a frenzy of delight as moulting fur comes off.

3. The scent of washing powder as the washing dries in the sun.

Friday 14 May 2010

1. I see a friend today. Last time I saw her she was stressed and unhappy and today, after giving up the job that was making her unhappy, she is bright and back to her old self.

2. We whip out our mobiles to compare cat pictures.

3. A pretty plant as a present makes the office smell lovely.

Thursday 13 May 2010

1. Fish and chips for tea

2. Bath bombs fizz and pop in the bath, leaving petals on the surface of the water.

3. I join the modern age as my work blackberry turns up at home. Or blueberry as my friend calls it.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

1. A tiny wrinkled old lady with the most elaborate blonde updo I've ever seen, plus bright red lipstick!

2. It's nice to have the colleague who makes me cups of tea all the time back at work.

3. A friend's birthday - she likes my carefully chosen presents. She doesn't know one was "carefully chosen" only half an hour before I got to her house!

Tuesday 11 May 2010

1. A night of routine TV viewing turns into a historical moment as a new Government is formed.

2. I remember English GCSE and Mrs Hayes leaping into the room to tell us that Thatcher had resigned. I wonder where Mrs Hayes is now - she was a fantastic teacher.

3. I like how Dave Cameron seems to treat his wife in a sweet protective fashion.

Sunday 9 May 2010

1. I misjudge the gym opening times so go for a walk instead. In Bramley Park, high above the City, I sit and admire the beautiful view across Leeds. I don't sit and watch and think often enough.

2. The dogs in Bramley Park are ultra-excited and freaking out about all the other dogs off their leads and chasing balls, sticks and each other. Amazingly there's no conflict.

3. A lovely warm bath with bubbles after an energetic walk.

Saturday 8 May 2010

1. Driving to a course, a beautiful mini-wildflower meadow on a grass verge. Bright red poppies catch the sunshine.

2. Cuddling up with the cats - is there anything better in life?

3. Receiving sage advice from a friend. I like that all my friends are old enough and experienced enough these days to be able to give real advice. I remember when we were all young and didn't know anything. We're growing up...

Thursday 6 May 2010

1. Another day seeing Favourite Boss!

2. A cunning plan pulled off at work - suddenly after a day of struggles I see that I'm on the right track after all.

3. Realising, in the middle of a slightly confrontational meeting, that the person I was a bit scared of has a shaking hand gripping her pen. She's not as tough as I thought. I realise there's vulnerability there.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

1. A tense staff session gets better as soon as Favourite Boss walks in to support me.

2. My little stray feral is waiting for me as I pull in to the drive. He looks a bit tatty, but has a full tummy after three sachets of Felix.

3. Getting home after a long day and feeling OK even though the day's had its ups and downs.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

1. I find out that my favourite boss trained as an artist and art teacher and have a lovely talk about favourite artists.

2. A fussy cat on my knee, calming down after her worries when I got home late

3. Thumbs up from the boss for all my plotting and planning at work.

Monday 3 May 2010

1. News of a new Fever Crumb novel being written!

2. My latest Waterstones order is on the way to fill up the few remaining spaces on my bookshelves.

3. Bank Holiday Monday gives me the opportunity to see a few friends I don't see often enough and analyse our respective work situations. Sharing is so good.

Sunday 2 May 2010

1. A happy afternoon putting bookcases together and moving all the books onto them leads to many discoveries...books I'd forgotten I had, a few duplicates, some unread, some favourites and many bits and bobs of paper ephemera used as bookmarks and stored between books.

2. A Blue Peter letter from 1984 from a competition I'd entered. Original sticker and photo of Simon Groom, Janet Ellis and Peter Duncan inside (though sadly not the Blue Peter badge, wonder where that went?)

3. A lovely letter from my old piano teacher, now sadly passed away, on the occasion of my 18th birthday. I love this letter so much. The final paragraph is worth transcribing in full.

"I wish you a long and happy life and the realisation of all our dreams, whatever they may be. The world can be a hard and cruel place, and adult life in it may at times prove harder than you anticipate. There will be people who seek out your weaknesses and try to exploit them. Don't let them. There will be others who, with only your interests at heart, and not their own, will seek to enfold you with friendship, affection and love. Be true to yourself at all times, but welcome these into your life, for this, I am sure is what adult human life is all about."

4. A few tears of sadness for this lovely man who I knew from the age of 11 and who is no longer in the world with this wise counsel.

Saturday 1 May 2010

1. A small act of kindness touches my heart. I love to look after people but also love being looked after.

2. Brushing the cats in the sunshine.

3. Analysing how the cats would vote - we have a Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and unfortunately our rather less than tolerant cat is a clear BNP voter.

Friday 30 April 2010

1. A beaming smile from my favourite boss

2. The cats enjoy the excitement of a new cat food.

3. My once snug trousers now need hitching up every few minutes from where they settle past my hips. The weight is coming off as I feel happier about my life and my new job.

Thursday 29 April 2010

1. Smiling encouragingly at a child as they read from the whiteboard.

2. An unexpected beautiful view as we leave a classroom to walk across the school grounds. I'd forgotten there was beauty in Leeds after 4 years working in a built-up and deprived urban area.

3. Unloading my worries onto a work colleague and getting understanding and support in return.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

1. Idling in traffic, lots of us are watching a large dog with a pannier full of leaflets over his back patiently helping his owner with her door to door posting! Everyone smiles at the novelty.

2. The squirrel and the fox at work - how lucky I am to work where I can see wildlife every day.

3. Waking up to find one of the cats tucked up happily under my arm.