Contacts, cool, bath

1. Making a list of useful contacts for my freelance business and finding it runs to six pages. I know more people than I thought.

2. Handing out invitations to my son's 4th birthday party. "Cool!" says his best friend Finn.

3. I leave the bath tap running too long and it nearly overflows. The kids are delighted that it is so deep and completely fail to call me - I catch it just in time.

Roast lamb, a freelance job, engagement present

1. Roast lamb. Tender meat, crunchy skin. All my secret herbs and spices that I disclose to no-one. Mmmmm.

2. A freelance job! I have my ongoing independent contractor work, but this is only my second freelance job since I started by own business 4 months ago. And it is a fantasy romance novel - my absolute favourite. We are negotiating the price now. She probably can't afford what my time is worth, but tell you a secret ... I'll probably do it anyway!

3. We went shopping to get my brother-in-law and his fiancee an engagment present and chose some lovely light-blue towels. Traditional perhaps, but nice. They were in a gift box: 2 towels, 2 hand towels, 2 face washers. And they even turned out to be on sale, which we didn't know until we got to the check-out. My husband is now worried that we didn't spend enough! But it's only the engagement, we'll get something big for the wedding.

Reading, helping a friend, planning my novel.

1. Finishing a book of short stories I am judging, I have struggled to find the time.

2. Being able to help a friend by picking up her daughter from school (along with my own) when her appointment runs overtime.

3. Finding solutions to all the little issues coming up as I plan my own novel. How does the magic work? Who are Aran's parents? What do I call the inn? It is all coming together.

Grapes, helping, toilets

1. The first really good seedless green grapes of the season, possibly my favourite food in the whole world. Sweet and tart and firm.

2. Staying up late last night to help my husband write a job application. As I am an editor by profession, I really feel like I made a contribution. His current job is stressful and has given him dangerously high blood pressure, so he is looking for a change.

3. Making it to the public toilets while out shopping today when my digestive system decided to rebel. Doesn't sound like a 'beautiful thing'? It's a lot more beautiful than if I didn't make it!

Gardening: spring, strawberries, slaters

1. Leaving the chilly house to do some gardening in the warm spring sun. I am feeling well enough to pull some weeds from the lawn while my husband does the much more strenous job of clearing the would-be vegetable bed.

2. One of our new strawberry plants has half a dozen tiny white flowers.

3. The kids' delight as they find a swarm of slaters under a pot that I move. They 'rescue' the little bugs and put them in a bucket to watch, then later release them to a pile of dead leaves.

Cold water, bed, movie

I have been struggling a bit due to illness, but there is still beauty in the world!

1) The feeling of ice-cold water washing over an inflamed sore throat.

2) The temptress, the seductress: bed. Lying down at the end of the day and just relaxing into the mattress.

3) Mr & Mrs Smith. A great movie, which I watched again rugged up on the lounge.

A day off, cheese Doritos, the Commonwealth Games

Thanks to other 3BT bloggers for the inspiration. I may not write on this one every day, but my intention is to write on one of my three blogs each day.

It's time to start practising gratitude and thankfulness.

1. I have had the 'flu (one or several in a row) for four whole weeks now, which is a bummer, BUT I am so lucky to be in my current circumstances. I work freelance, so I can take days off without inconveniencing anyone, and my husband earns a good wage so me not working as much does not have a devestating impact. I have two young children, but a combination of childcare and visiting parents has meant I have plenty of time to just sit around and look after myself. Although I have had plenty of grumpy moments (ahem days) about being unwell for so long, when I compare myself to people who have much more serious aliments and/or still have to drag themselves to work anyway, I am very very grateful. Today I am home alone, and I can choose to do some paid work, try to catch up on the neglected housework, watch TV or read, or even go back to bed if I want. I think a combination of all of those.

2. The taste of cheese supreme Doritos. Yes I need to get back on the healthy eating plan one of these days - but not today! Love that salty cheesy crunch.

3. The Commonwealth Games (like the Olympics, but only for countries which are part of the British Commonwealth; like England, India, and my own Australia) are on at the moment, and the afternoon session will include more swimming. The Aussies win nearly all the swimming! I hardly ever watch sport, but I do enjoy the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, even stuff like weight-lifting and curling.