day 7: a photo that makes me happy

I know it's probably cheating but - to hell with it - nothing makes me happier:

twenty of the best

I'm finding this 30-day blog journal tougher than I anticipated. Nevertheless, onwards with day 6: in no particular order - twenty of my favourite things.

1. Chocolate. 'Nuff said.
2. Coffee, especially the lovely, aromatic grounds with cinnamon from the old-fashioned grocer-shop near where I live.
3. Rose and geranium body lotion from Ne@l's Y@rd Remedies. Bonkers expensive but oh, such a lovely treat a couple of times a year.
4. D@unt Books on Maryleb0ne High Street. I can't count the hours I have lost myself in there.
5. "0n the S@nds" by Har0ld H@rvey - I love this painting and I have a print of it hanging above the desk. My friend Too bought it for me 15 years ago, after we spent a summer week in Wales, reading on the beach.
6. Reading. Again, 'nuff said
7. This ALI blogging community. I've said it before and I will say it again but - I don't know how I would have got through this past year or so without you.
8. Diet c0ke. It's a guilty pleasure.
9. My MP3 player. I never leave the house without it.
10. My camera. I never leave the house without that either.
11. My 10-year-old pink zip-up hoodie. It is soft, warm, comfortable and unexpectedly flattering - what more can a woman want from an item of clothing?
12. Hot chocolate with marshmallows - heaven in a mug.
13. C@mden L0ck Market. It has changed so much since I used to spend happy Saturdays there with friends as a teenager in the 80s but I still love it (though better in the winter when there are fewer tourists).
14. Not setting the alarm clock at the weekend. I'm not really one for long lie-ins but not getting out of bed until 8.00am on Saturday and Sunday mornings is just delicious.
15. Scr@bble. I love it, although Significant Other won't play the board game with me, so I play on In Yer F@ceb00k with - well, anyone who offers really.
16. My hair straighteners. Without them I have a barnet that resembles M0nica in "Fr1ends" when she goes to Barbad0s.
17. The power shower in the bathroom. I had it put in 2 days after moving in, it cost so much money especially after just buying the flat, that I had to live off scrambled eggs and bananas (not on the same plate) for 6 weeks just to help pay for it. But even now, 12 years later, worth every penny.
18. The fluffy red blanket we keep on the sofa. Snuggled under that, watching tv on a winter's evening everything seems right.
19. Significant Other. Despite the horrible and painful times we are going through right now, whatever happens he will always be the father of my children.
20. My darling little cat.

and I quote

30-day blog journal, day 5: my favourite quote.

I don't know who said this first (it's attributed to a few people if you G0ogle it) but I still love it:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming holy sh1t - what a ride!"

(This photo is from my birthday celebration with some friends. There's gold leaf in them there cocktails. Seriously. Gold leaf!)

my favourite book

There is no way I can pick one favourite book.

Or five favourite books.

Or fifty.

So I'm cheating (again) and listing the three books I've re-read most often.

The H@ppy Pris0ner by M0nica Dicken.s
The Br0ntes Went to W0olw0rths by Rachel Fergus0n
Persuasi0n by J@ne Aust.en

I'm not a very modern girl, me...

30-day blog journal, day 3

My favourite television programme.

This is an easy one because I don't really watch that much TV. I used to love "The W£st Wing" and "B@ttlestar G@lactica" when they were on but have been a bit bereft since they finished. So the winner of this category is easily "M0ck the Wee.k", a panel show on BBC2. I have been known to cry with laughter over it (and I also have a bit of a soft spot for host Dar@ O Bri@in...)

my favourite movie

I have tried and tried but I can't narrow this down to just one. I mean, sometimes different moods need different films.

So I've (grudgingly) narrowed it down to 5:
"Ice Cold in Alex" (classic war film complete with stiff upper lips, sporting behaviour and heroism)
"Now, Voyager" (Sunday afternoon weepfest meets feel-good, what's not to like?)

"Mama Mia" (because sometimes we all need a little Abba)

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" (even though I've seen this a hundred times, I always but always cry at the end)
"Fight Club" (sometimes I love me a little blood and violence)

me, me, me

I have been taken by this idea of the 30 Day Blog Journal and, never one to leave a bandwagon unjumped-upon, I thought I would give it a go.

Day 1 - my favourite song.
"Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello. It never fails to cheer me up, although I am at a loss to explain why. And watching him perform it live at a festival a few years ago was one of the best musical experiences of my life.

What's your favourite song (if you can narrow it down to one?)