I got out of work a couple of hours early today. This was handy as I managed to stay up til 1am last night and I'm not sure I'd last a full shift!

I visited the bank on the off-chance the charity account had been set up or refused... And it's been set up! This is a complete result as I wasn't entirely sure if my financial history would count against me. As it turns out, the bank thinks I'm a safe bet and has given me the account I need to start attracting donations and sponsorship. Fantastic!

I posted a couple of doodles on b3ta - here for robots, here for Kitty Raikkonen and here for goldfish, and I hope to do more doodles as b3ta is a great outlet for them. I occasionally get praise, and photoshop tutorials are great fun.

Daughter and I made mac cheese today, but didn't have butter to start the sauce. After a little internet investigation, we used margerine instead of butter for the roux. It wasn't good - the sauce tasted odd at first but better after a few mouthfuls. We'll definitely be using butter next time.

We watched National Lampoon's Vacation too. It was old-fashioned and not incredibly funny, but it was nice to spend time together.

A lovely thing to keep here - I've had the sweetest softest whitest fluffiest cat called Flo sleeping on my bed for the past couple of weeks. I'd forgotten how lovely and comforting it is to fall asleep in the company of a warm, purring animal.

I spent most of the day in a good mood today. I didn't feel any of the anger or frustration I've felt during the past few weeks. This was a really nice feeling!

I emailed an estranged friend back and forth. It was good to talk to her, and it seems we could both do with a bit of company, so I'll make an effort to stay in touch.

I did some more finalising on the charity web site. It's getting very close to launch now. I'm getting nervous waiting for the bank to get back to me about opening the charity account, but it's a 'good' nervousness.

Today was a much needed lazy day, and I took advantage as best I could in the form of lounging on the sofa and dossing on the computer for much of the day.

I boned another chicken. I'm getting quite good at this and really enjoy it. I can identify many parts of the bird now I've got my hands on it and I'm taking the meat off myself. Having pre-packed meat really distances you from the anatomy of the animal and the process of obtaining the meat. I'm constantly amazed how much meat I can get off a five quid bird. I get at least five quid's worth of breast meat off, plus the thighs which I bone, the legs and wings which I cook in with whatever I'm making - usually a curry.

Daughter and I went for a walk this evening. We walked to a local village, went for a pint, stroked a rabbit and was bugged by a young girl. We explored around the village a bit and ate our Subway sandwiches while watching the sunset. Then, as the skies grew dark and the temperature dropped, we elected for a cab home. While I'd have been fine walking back in the dark cool evening, I think daughter was whacked out!

Daughter and I made pancakes this morning - honey, chocolate chips, PBJ and caramel. She kept coming up with lots of happy memories while we were cooking - I think she finds this cooking and eating ritual quite nostalgic. I know I do, and I love the bonding that we get when we do it.

I chilled on the sofa and watched the qualifying. It's nice to be away from the computer for a few hours - it's become my second home this week.

I got fed real Kashmiri food at work. All my colleagues came into the office and shared and laughed. It was very fulfilling to see everyone together and not bitching about something.

I played a couple of new games. Sid Meier's Railroads and Railroad Tycoon 3. Despite loving Civ4, I think Tycoon's considerably better than Railroads in of execution. I also played Rise of Nations, which is your usual build-and-conquer fare, comparable again to Civ4. I found it good going, with much more to discover I'm sure.

I stayed up late. This was nice because I'm usually boring and in bed by 10pm, and it means I'll sleep well the following night.

We got a card from a regular customer at work today. She's just retired from teaching and said 'It makes all the difference when people are polite, friendly and kind.'

It's a shame... I can't think of anything else that made me particularly happy today.

Edit: actually, I've thought of something. I've had a little weed in the cupboard all week - just a couple of joint's worth. The thing that's made me happy is that it's still in the cupboard - I told myself on Monday I'd only have it when I was out walking, and I've stuck to that. It's not like I've not had the opportunity or inclination either. So this is a Good Thing, and definitely worthy of recognition.

I popped in to the tattooist to arrange a re-touch in August.

I did some more work on the web site today. I cropped and adjusted some photos I took during my walk on Monday and added them... This was really pleasing!

Daughter said something lovely and caring about me to one of her helpers, which was nice and warming. One downside is that it reminded me how lonely I am, but that's nothing compared to knowing she cares about me.

I dropped an application form to the bank today, applying for a bank account for the charity. This is a really big step - I just hope they don't refuse the account, as my checkered financial past has been a barrier in the past.

Something to add which covers something I've been proud of recently is that I've been paying some debts off. Instead of my old tactic of burying my head in the sand and ignoring debt collectors until they're banging on my door, I've been using what spare money I have to pay off a debt that's been hanging around for quite a while. This is good news, and it makes me happy that my financial record isn't being tarnished with petty debts any more. Hopefully this will be recognised by the bank when they're processing my application for the charity account.

I walked around seven or eight miles today, in nice bright weather - a refreshing gap between rainy days.

I did some work on the web site, and got a couple of things working that I'd been wanting to do for weeks.

I slept-in today for the first time in ages. Waking up at 9.50am is a great novelty!

Daughter and I played some new games from Popcap together.

Daughter said "Can I put some toast in the breader?"

I had some time to myself on the computer.

I spent some time on the computer today. I downloaded a couple of games, played some flash games online, and updated the blog.

I started playing "Portal". What a great game! Although it crashed on me at one point :(

Daughter, her friend and I made beef lasagne from scratch.

My boss sent some spicy food from the office. Yum!

I won a couple of games of chess against my phone today. I'm gradually increasing the difficulty, but I'm definitely getting better. I guess anyone who plays two or three games a day is going to improve over time.

Daughter and I made Great-Grandma's Cheese and Onion Flan for the first time today. It was pretty good, but could be better seasoned next time.

I've been downloading some new music recently. I've found some absolute gems:

• Hed Kandi: Nu Disco
  
• Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
  
• Fall Out Boy
  
• Hi-Tek
  
• Datarock
  
• 30 Seconds to Mars
  
• Noah and the Whale
  
• Scratch
  
• Taking Back Sunday
  

I had a couple of glasses of cider in the evening and didn't overdo it.

I made pancakes for daughter when she got back from a trip to London today. She was tired and emotional and I whipped up some batter and fed her in the kitchen. She said "Noone's ever made pancakes for me when I'm feeling rubbish before."

The guys at work told me they really need me, and work would be terrible without me there.

I did some writing, trying to find the root of some of the anger I've been feeling recently.

My Happy Book

A friend of mine has often said that a day's happy memories can often be forgotten once the day has passed. A night's sleep or change of mood can cause these positive moments and feelings to disappear forever.

She recommended keeping a book here I could write these happy thoughts for future recollection. A did this for a while a few years ago, and stumbled across it recently. It was good going back over the memories, even the things which might seem trivial, and reliving the joy I felt at the time.

That's the purpose of this blog. I'd like to record the happy memories, even the seemingly inconsequential ones which make me smile, or feel good about the world, for fear that I'll forget them forever.