Three Beautiful Things

1. I make myself feel better by drawing rude pictures on sticky notes of villains in the ridiculousness at work. 2. At lunchtime, we go out. Away from the office and into the woods and fields, where we would rather have been right from the start. 3. Coming home -- the door is open to get some air circulating round our abandoned flat -- stripping off my boots and coat, washing my hands and starting on supper.

1. The sun, a magician, draws a shadow off the hedge, and the dew vanishes in a puff of steam. 2. Tunnock's Caramel wafers in their red and gold wrappers. 3. Waiting for me at home is a parcel containing the proofs of Three Beautiful Things .

It'll be Three Beautiful Things' fifth birthday on Monday May 18. I'm thinking about an evening drinks celebration somewhere in TWells, to which everyone is welcome. It would be good to have an idea of numbers, though -- any takers? I'd like to re-post a few favourite things -- suggestions always welcome. Drop me a line: i am five at three beautiful things dot co dot uk (take out the spaces and replace ats and dots with symbols to make the address work). 1. Cherry blossom in the grass. A fall of pink snow. 2. Her ginger-gold hair is short and still baby-feathery. From the top of the wall she watches me coming up the street, shaking out my umbrella. We both smile. She has such tiny teeth. 3. Nick comes out of the bathroom with no beard. His chin is so soft that I keep wanting to touch it; and his unfamiliar face surprises me.

1. Someone has shouted 'GO' and turned the whole town green. 2. The rocket burgeons on my plate, the colour of wild, tangled May grass; and the tomatoes are the red of heroes. In this, the prawns are a bit lost, but they are so sweet and juicy. 3. New moon -- near-the-horizon-huge -- not enough silver to shine up the whole ring.

1. This garden has black tulips; that one has red and white ragged ones that look like strawberry ripple icecream. 2. Nick has a new game, and the maps are spread out over the floor. 3. A kohlrabi came in our vegetable box. It looks like a Martian thing (it in shape size like a flattened tennis ball, white green, cool and smooth with long waxy stems growing out of its flanks and top) but was crisp and sweet sliced into matchsticks and laced with oil and vinegar.

1. I like WoodburyPark Cemetery because on a bright blue sky day with a stiff breeze, it is restful to take some thoughts for a walk under the yew trees' light and shadows. 2. Katie-who-I-used-to-live-with shows me her engagement ring . I'm so glad to have her along on the bridal ride -- ever since school, I've always felt a lot better having her around at important milestones. 3. Tiny Tin Lady * came to Tunbridge Wells. Katie and I go down to The Forum to hear their girly folk music that manages to be both sweet and splendidly earthy at the same time. We loved the closing song -- which was inspired by a keg of beer and a rhyming dictionary. I think one reason I like them so much (apart from their magical harmonies) is that I'm aiming for that same spot between beautiful and not saccharine. It must be a very fine line for a bunch of very young women playing a genre mostly associated with beardy men. * I first heard them back in August 2004 , and I can't BELIEVE I ...

1. Leaving for work with no coat on. 2. Finding a prize coupon in a box of hundreds-and-thousands -- it was only 50p off another box of hundreds-and-thousands, but I still felt a thrill as I opened the tiny envelope. 3. The sticky sound of a brayer rolling on ink. And then rolling the ink on to a piece of paper to see the print appear.