Story, music, exercise

1. In The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, Kvothe tells a story around a campfire. Condensed: A boy is born with a gold screw in his belly button. No one knows what it is for -- not his parents or grandparents or the wise folk of the town or anyone he meets in his travels. Eventually he meets with the most powerful king in the world and asks him about the gold screw in his belly button. The king opens a gold box on a gold platter and behold, there is a gold screwdriver. He takes it out and turns the gold screw in the boy's belly button. Once, twice, three times. And the boy's ass falls off.

2. Mopping the floor while my old vinyl Alison Durban record plays "Thank God I'm a Country Girl." Well I got me a fine life, I got my old fiddle; when the sun's coming up I've got cakes on the griddle. Life ain't nothing but a funny riddle ... Thank God I'm a country girl!

3. I worked-out really hard at the gym both days of the weekend and could barely stand afterwards, I am very grateful for the day off exercise today.

Whoop whoop, fruit salad, alone

1. I dismiss the group of people standing outside the doors as smokers having a break and stride into the shopping centre. As I step through the sliding doors, a loud WHOOP WHOOP alarm sends me scuttling back outside. Someone comments that it is a practice emergency evacuation, the second in two weeks, but when I go around to my car there is a fire engine standing outside the other doors. I am glad that I wasn't caught by the evactuation half-way through shopping, wasting my morning. This way, I can just shop when I pick Aiden up from childcare instead.

2. Orange and kiwi fruit salad for breakfast.

3. The first day of term three. I can finally get stuck into my urgent work with no interruptions.

Warm toes, folding, peacock

1. Getting home after being out in near-freezing sleet for over an hour, pulling on an extra pair of socks, and finally feeling my toes starting to thaw.

2. Getting three baskets of laundry folded and put away.

3. Clearing a little display shelf in the kitchen for my beautiful peacock teacup - for when it is not in use.

Curl, weekend, holidays over

1. My freshly-washed hair has a lovely wave in it.

2. It's the weekend! Time with my husband.

3. School holidays are over at last. I've run out of ways to entertain the kids while at the same time trying to get some work done.

Muffins, gym, extension

1. Baking banana raspberry choc-chip muffins with the kids.

2. Going to the gym and keeping my heart-rate up.

3. Another client just gave me an unasked-for extension. The juggling just got a little easier.

Heart rate, weight, soup

1. I remembered to take my heart-rate monitor to the gym for the first time. Exciting new toy, and it made me push myself a bit harder.

2. I lost a little bit of weight since I last weighed myself 2 days ago. Probably just a fluctuation, but still very nice to see.

3. Spicy Thai soup with noodles for lunch.

Popcorn, Clash of Kings, lemony

1. I see the movie Kung Fu Panda 2 with my daughter, and when she gets up her seat is covered in spilled popcorn.

2. Being enthralled by A Clash of Kings and knowing there are lots more books in the series to buy and enjoy.

3. Lemony garlicy chicken and rice for dinner.

Beanie, tidy, teacup

1. I buy Aiden a new beanie and he wears it as we walk to pick up his big sister from school. He has never even seen a Ben 10 episode but he loves the character anyway - his beanie is green, grey and black with a spiky wool tuft on top and a picture of Ben 10. The flaps keep his cheeks warm, but his nose is rosy pink.

2. A friend brings her kids over after school for a playdate and I rush around first tidying up. I enjoy both the visit and having a clean kitchen.

3. My beautiful new peacock teacup - bought in China - gets its second public airing. I have been using it nearly every day, but it is great to show it off.