1. Watching the enthusiasm of older children as they independently take on a project.

2. A long catch-up on the phone with my mum.

3. Starting out on my run when it's still daylight.

1. Listening to a podcast in which the person speaking uses words and phrases such as 'staunch' and 'hither thither'.

2. Using a map of the UK to show young children where they live. They find it very difficult to grasp, and ask questions such as "So where does my grandma live?" When I explain that she lives in the same place on the map, I'm met with cries of "But she lives further down the road from me than that!"

3. Warming my cold feet by the fire.

1. Ian buys me a new pair of hair straighteners after mine unexpectedly broke this morning. Superficial maybe, but I was touched by the gesture.

2. Our cockatiel yawning late at night.

3. Being observed at school, and being told that I've coped well and made great progress.

1. Spotting a couple of Canada geese on the still waters of the canal, and a group of ducks quacking at each other. It sounds as if some kind of debate may be going on!

2. Taking my headphones off during my run and taking in the sounds of my surroundings.

3. As it's Shrove Tuesday, I attempt to make pancakes from scratch for the first time. The end products don't look perfect by any means, but I'm proud of my efforts :)

Apologies for the lack of posts, I have just spent a blissful three days away in London :)

Here are some beautiful things from the last few days.

1. The excitement of a train journey and leaving our cares behind, even if only for a couple of days.

2. Squirrels in the park eating out of people's hands, reaching up for the nuts being offered to them.

3. Herons and swans by the side of the boating lake at Regent's Park.

4. Seeing so many sights and walking so far that our legs feel as if they could drop off, and falling asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

5. Seeing a real West End play and being in complete awe of the acting skill displayed.

6. Walking the streets of a city that never sleeps, feeling comforted by the presence of others.

7. The gorgeous pinky-orange colours of the sky as the sun sets at the end of the day.

8. The sun beating down on me as I run by the canal.

1. I wake up with nowhere I need to be, the day stretching ahead of me.

2. I feel a sense of achievement when I manage to get a good amount of work completed throughout the course of the day.

3. I tire quickly while I'm out running, but I push through it and manage to complete a satisfying 4 miles.

1. The smell of freshly-cleaned clothes as I open the door of the washing machine.

2. Spotting a lone moorhen in the reeds as I run along the path beside the canal.

3. A flame-haired young girl walking her dog and a man fishing at the side of the canal share smiles and friendly greetings with me.

4. The power of the blue afternoon sky.

1. It's daylight when I wake up.

2. Ian has a long lie-in, and mid-morning I decide to get back in bed and snuggle up next to him.

3. I walk through my dad's door and my little sister tells me that she's so glad to see me :)

1. A beautiful sunrise.

2. The delightful and inquisitive nature of children on their first school trip.

3. The feeling of relief that comes with knowing I've got the next week off for half-term and I can have a few lie-ins! Teaching is more tiring than I'd ever imagined it could be.

1. The pitter patter of our cockatiel's feet on the bottom of his cage.

2. A teddy bears' picnic at school.

3. The coral colour of the sky on the way to school in the morning.

1. A flock of crows gathers on a white, snow-covered field early in the morning.

2. A run in the rain clears my head of the day's stresses.

3. Ian offers to help me cook the evening meal.

1. Waking up with Ian and laying in bed for an extra half an hour, drifting in and out of sleep.

2. Hearing about the early life of a fascinating lady.

3. Looking out of the window at the dark night as snow falls lightly.

1. The glow of the morning sunlight on the bedroom wall.

2. A street sweeper warns us to be careful because the pavement is slippery. A second later, he seems surprised to be rewarded for his work with a free cup of coffee from a local cafe owner.

3. Treating myself to a slice of decadent chocolate fudge cake in a quaint tea shop down a cobbled street.

4. Coming across a street entertainer/escape artist grabbing the crowd's attention on the streets of York.

5. A friend replies to a message I'd forgotten I'd sent.

1. A beautiful clear blue sky provides the perfect contrast against the snowy white landscape.

2. Listening to a class of 4-6 year olds enjoying their music lesson.

3. Chatting on the phone to my grandad.

1. Spotting a bushy-tailed squirrel bouncing through the snow.

2. Successfully making turkey burgers for the first time.

3. Sinking into a wonderfully warm bath.

1. Snowball fights in the playground.

2. Waiting with gleeful anticipation all day for our evening meal at a lovely local pub.

3. Parking the car at the side of the road to take photos of the snow.

1. Finding out that school is closed for another day.

2. Icicles hanging from the telephone wires.

3. The window steams up as the kitchen fills with the warmth of vegetables bubbling on the hob.

1. Crunching my way through fresh snow.

2. A tiny bird (not sure what it was) hopping along beside me at the other side of a fence.

3. A call from my grandad telling me to be careful in the car because the roads were likely to be icy.

4. A night in with a feel-good film.

1. Waking up to the sounds of my sister pestering dad to get out of bed.

2. Dad's dog Harvey (a lurcher) sitting next to me and resting his head on my knee.

3. The first flurries of snow in the bright sunshine as we drive home.

1. Spotting a pine cone on the road.

2. Drawing pictures with my little sister.

3. Laughing with my sister at silly TV.