1) Not having to be at work for another 11 hours.
2)Cracking on with my short story tonight after a pleasant run around the Marine Drive.
3)Now about to wind down with the fourth series of Battle Star Galatica, which I picked up for just £10 from HMV at the weekend.
4) My health, good friends and family.
5) And reading this thread of yours, which like a of threads on this site, often cheers and inspires one.

Shouldn't the RSPCA know about this? Don't want tabby lager louts hanging out on street corners.

I don't have, want or need a day job.

I'm starting a new life as a piano teacher, and I've just got my first piano students!

Very exciting.

Also: my little girls are particularly gorgeous and cuddly at the moment. Being a mum is definitely a big pleasure.

And, I'm spending a lot of time playing the piano, which makes me very happy indeed.

but she's tinkling the ivories so much these days I may have to find something else.

I walk to my kitchen and turn on the tap. What's happening in Ethiopia makes my gripes seem unbelievably small.

Despite the occasional hiccup, we're still together after sixteen years. As the last three years has seen the breakup of several of our friends' marriages, I'm utterly thankful that she continues to love me and tolerate my increasing grumpiness.

The kids are happy and asleep and I am learning the joys of a new toy.

The FPO is also asleep.

A rare moment of indulgence!

cheap front bumper and silencer for my camper van, rape seed oil was on offer in Lidl (my camper van runs off it, don't tell the taxman) I paid in cash and got long changed 100 krona (ten quid)and then there was an excellent new Word podcast to listen to.

I've recently become self employed and it's seems to be working so forgive the smugness but today has been the best day I've had for years (divorce etc).

And to cap it all off tomorrow I'm going on a second date with a beautiful woman.

My 5 year old son is the best thing though.

Although still gutted about Collins and Herring splitting up.

finally has the operation to remove his bowel cancer tomorrow after nearly 4 months of NHS procrastination.
It was great to take him and my mum out to the Severn Valley Railway last weekend. Unbeknown to us it was an 'event' weekend recreating the 40's and they had a fantastic day.Whatever the success of the op I am glad I did that for him.

I'm freelance and have had a run of work for a few years which is nice money wise but left me knackered and worn down. So i've taken the summer off so I can go and watch Twang Jr play footy, take him to school, ride my bike, play some music, write some songs, do the ironing, help Mrs T, etc etc. Loafing about feels weird but lovely. Oh and Twang Jr got a great school report and I'm positively swollen with pride.

cliques

Earlier today a friend called me & said "Could you go on a school trip on Sunday? It's to Vietnam, for 4 weeks."

I have managed to find the time.

three weeks vacation resulting in
1) getting lots of writing done
2) getting rid of the constant pain in my shoulders that has tormented me for months
3) reconnecting with friends that I haven't had time for
4) getting much closer to one of my sisters after years of not quite seeing eye to eye
Time can fix a lot of things, three weeks isn't enough but it's a good start.

1. I still have my wife! She had a little (actually quite major) issue with her 38 year old heart a few weeks back that we discovered in the nick of time! I feel blessed!

2. It's the summer holidays and have 2 boys, 10 and 6 to entertain! They are a laugh and have kept my spirits up! For that daddy is going to give them summer holidays to remember!

3. A new dog is on the way! A victory for the rest of the family but hey anything to keep them happy!

4. I've hooked up with some old friends recently and I'm extremely happy about that! Some grounding was required from the people who knew me best!

5. I met Steven C of this parish for a fleeting moment on Thursday night at Bon Jovi! He is, as is apparent in the reviews he posts, a particularly nice guy! Which may prove that we are all mostly good eggs despite all the crap on the blog of late! And that makes me feel good too!

6. Finally, it's sunny! And for anyone who lives or has visited Ireland in the last couple of years, that is a miracle! Hurrah!

to whom I will have been married for 21 years tomorrow.

2. Seeing the said lady getting somewhere close to a return to form after a particularly bad 12 months.

3. Despite wandering around at a bit of a loss after six years of graft I'm coming to realise that barring a catastrophic cock-up I will soon achieve my degree. Albeit 28 years later than it should have been.

4. Friends, music, beer

and the gang in the canteen say they'll do me a hard-boiled egg to go with it for lunch.

but featuring high up the chart would be looking forward to getting married and the unfeasibly normal amount of holidays I'm having this year: the usual week off, plus Glastonbury, plus honeymoon - more than 3 whole weeks!

night in with the wife on Monday which was great. We hardly ever see each other due to work hours.

The other free time has been spent in the company of Bill Hicks, who I have only just got around to listening to.

If the wife could tell jokes like him or if Bill (was still alive) and could cook like her, it'd be a tough choice...

My daughter started writing her first story a couple of weeks ago. She hasn't got very far yet. Looking at it brings a big silly grin on to my face.

On a small cruise ship moored off Patnos. It's the glw's birthday, so after a nice relaxing afternoon we'll have a good meal, share a bottle of red, then - well who knows?

A 20 month old daughter who fills every moment I spend with her with pleasure, and makes me proud of the tiniest things. She counted to 5 the other day and I didn't know what to do with myself.

A gorgeous wife who is due to give birth to our son in the next few weeks.

Other aspects of my life (especially work) seem a little unstable at the moment; when I'm at home with my girls (and bump) I couldn't care less.

Reunited with boyfriend after two years of (semi) estrangement. Still feeling our way at present (fnarr fnarr) and loads of making up for lost time to do .... Keep the faith people.

This thread has made me have a little cry.

Luvverly.

The 2000's (noughties?) were a very difficult decade for me.

Right now is as good a place as I have been in I dont know how long.

My girlfriend moved in 6 weeks ago, & it is fabulous.

11 days ago I got my first ever dog, a 6 week old boxer pup. I have gone from being indifferent about dogs to an absolute convert.

Both give me love, joy, pleasure & pride beyond my wildest dreams.

Prozac - Schmozac.

to enjoy my 2 month old son
to float in my pool
and to , very slowly, build a small rock garden

.......there will be no 'News of the World'.
Not one copy anywhere.
Zip.
Zilch.
Zero.

What a result!