Three Beautiful Things

1. Waiting to cross the road and hearing nothing but the gentle rush of falling rain. 2. A towel when I'm feeling cold and wet. 3. In a documentary about the Congo, footage of elephants bullying the other animals at a waterhole. The adult elephants chase buffalo, while the young chase antelope. And then there was footage of a baby elephant running after a sparrow.

1. White bread with sesame seeds, toasted and spread with butter and honey. 2. Two leggy girls in pink rollerskates glide backwards and forwards between the park gate and the crest of the hill. 3. The air is sharpened by the scent of cupressus. From the dark top branches, a robin scatters shards and drops of music.

1. Big sister Ellie and Alan plant a seed for Daniel's naming day. Later, Alan says that Ellie demanded that he pour on 'More water'. Daniel himself sits wide-eyed through the whole ceremony, and bounces joyfully to a song he recognises. 2. Cat gives a speech in the ceremony, and at tea moves in and out of the guests chatting here and greeting there. I tell Nick that I think she looks much more assured and confident than she did when I first met her. He says: 'That's motherhood for you.' 3. Tired out by walking round Brighton, pink Champagne, small talk, fairy cakes, Ellie's ostrich and holding babies, I fall asleep on the train. Nick wakes me up because there's a rainbow.

1. Nicky's poached eggs arrive, gleaming white with the yolks hanging inside. They lie on wilted spinach. 2. Nick hangs a crisp shirt in my wardrobe, ready for tomorrow. 3. A crowd of teenagers walk up the hill carrying twigs of cherry blossom acquired from a tree that overhangs the road.

1. It is not raining, so instead of dashing straight into town for breakfast, I walk all the way to the cross roads with Nick. 2. The man at the table next to me is giggling out loud at items in his newspaper. He sounds like a small child, not a serious man on his way to work. 3. PaulV takes me to the woods when he goes for a run. I spend a happy hour walking round in circles. I naviate mainly by landmarks -- this is a female trait, apparently. It's very effective sometimes, but it's better to combine it with knowing which way you are pointing and a feeling for the lie of the land (that's what men do, as a general rule). A new bit of woodland is good practice.

1. Making a webpage work. 2. The Able and Cole box had five or six tomatoes. I noticed their smell as soon as I cut the string. Today I have one in a sandwich with some super strong Cheddar. 3. Caroline says that Deedee aged 8 months has taken to faking coughing fits to get attention. Sure enough, we are treated to a baby cough, and then when we offer concern and sympathy, a huge grin.

1. It is throwing it down. From the office we watch two pigeons on a flat roof. They are surrounded by rain splashes and trying to shelter under each other. One gets its head under the others body. The other moves, to try and get its head under the first pigeon. 2. I work through lunch to get a 90-page document proof-read. Then, since the weather has improved and I am paid by the hour, I get permission to leave at 4pm. 3. The poor chive plant has been looking very sad because it is covered in greenfly. I have sprayed it liberally with soapy water, which is supposed to be good for such things. Today, the chive stems are covered in tiny corpses.