1. The alarm wakes me at 7.30am on a Saturday. I love getting up early, making the most of the morning and getting things done.

2. In town I buy myself a new pencil case. I love that 'back to school' feeling brought on by the purchase of new stationery.

3. I watch Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' for the first time and I'm captivated by the understated elegance and class the characters exude. I would love to have lived during that era.

My week

I'm starting to become quite forgetful when it comes to this site! So much for writing something every day. Instead, here are some of the things which I remember made me smile this week.

1. A 4-mile run seems to end so quickly when I spend the majority of it talking to a new friend.

2. At nursery, I receive two hand-painted cards from the staff and children, thanking me for my work with them over the summer.

3. At university, a controversial and interesting discussion ensues when we are introduced to the topic of our first assignment this year. It feels wonderful to engage my brain and sink my teeth into something fascinating after a summer of mindless 9-5's.

4. I've got into the habit of reading a couple of chapters of a book in bed every night before I go to sleep. At the moment I'm reading 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which reminds me of times of childhood curiosity and innocence. I also love the fact that after a while, my eyelids will start to droop unconsciously. Reading in bed makes me so tired some nights that I have no difficulties getting to sleep.

5. I turn on my phone after a day at work to find five missed calls from my brother. I worry that something's wrong, but it turns out he was just bored and wanted to see how I was and what I was doing.

6. I've taken up photography as a hobby in the last few months after receiving a camera as a 21st birthday gift, and I love looking back at all the photos I've taken so far and being able to see my progress. This week, I posted a picture on a photography forum, and it was really well-received. The compliments gave me so much more confidence in my abilities.

7. I sit and look out of the living room window in the evening, watching the sky turn pink.

8. I take the bus to work when my car isn't feeling well, which means I can't drive home for dinner. Instead I walk to the local park, sit at a picnic table eating tuna salad and listening to music, then go for a stroll through unknown areas, exploring the locality.

1. Feeling like I'm finally starting to get to grips with some aspects of Photoshop and produce some good pictures as a result of my recently-acquired photography hobby.

2. Building houses out of stickle bricks with my little sister.

3. Wearing my sunglasses because the sun is shining brightly for the first time in what feels like ages!

1. At nursery, we take the children who aren't napping out into the small playground. One little girl is mesmerised by a brightly-coloured paper windmill, and tries to make it move by blowing it gently.

2. I had a couple of errands to run after work tonight and was worrying about arriving home later than I'd like, but the owner of the nursery came in at 5.30pm and told me I could leave early because all the babies had gone home.

3. My boyfriend cooks tea for me and makes some beautiful potato wedges. For dessert, I savour a slice of a new lemon and ginger cake that was on offer at the supermarket.

Highlights of my week so far

1. Feeling like an accomplished domestic goddess as I complete chores at home.

2. Going for a short walk with my camera and stumbling upon a hidden graveyard just down the road from our flat. It's deserted on a sunny afternoon and there are some really interesting shapes and sights for my camera to devour. I also love reading the names on the headstones and imagining what people's lives might have been like.

3. At the nursery where I work part-time, I arrive in the morning to be greeted by six or seven smiling faces. The baby room is so friendly, and it's a pleasure and a privilege to have seen so many of these babies grow and develop over the last three months.

4. Going for a run with the club, I discover yet another part of this new town I hadn't yet visited. We run up a hill which feels as if it'll never end, and we are greeted at the top by a stunning view over the brightly-lit town.

1. Waking up to the sound of my sister in the next room pestering my dad to get out of bed. A typical Sunday morning when small children are involved.

2. Visiting my boyfriend's nanna and being given a bath tidy, as well as a box of beautiful chocolate chip cookies and butter biscuits.

3. Settling down for a night of good TV. The new BBC adaptation of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' is just what dark, autumnal Sunday nights were made for.

1. Being followed briefly by a curious kitten while out running this morning.

2. Having my hair washed, dried and cut at the hairdressers... heaven.

3. Looking back at baby photos of my little sister while sitting with her 3-year-old self, both of us marvelling at how tiny she used to be.

4. Spontaneously receiving two tubes of expensive toothpaste from my lovely grandad, who's always more than happy to help anyone in any way he can.

Right, it's time to get back to this site and start documenting the good things that happen to me every day. I need something tangible in front of me to remind me how lucky I am and how good my life really is.

A quick update first - I finally started running again. I joined a running club in the town I recently moved to and have so far found the people to be really friendly and welcoming. I've surprised myself with the fitness level I've managed to retain since I stopped running last year, and I'm so motivated and invigorated this time round. I really think I'll be a runner for life :)

So here are some of the things that made me smile today:

1. Rolling over in bed, I pull the curtains open to reveal a small sliver of a lovely view over the valley. Trees and fields are practically all I see. It really sets me up for the day. I love our new flat.

2. I find out that Billy Ocean is touring the UK next month and I make my boyfriend smile by suggesting I buy tickets for his birthday.

3. I walk for about 25 minutes to meet my boyfriend in town on his lunch break. We make an impromptu stop at a furniture store and buy a new bed. It arrives tomorrow. Finally we can get rid of the airbed we've been sleeping on since we moved in last week.

4. Speaking to my brother and mum on the phone from Scotland for over an hour.