1. Going out for a run in the early morning light, feeling like one of the only people alive.

2. Being astounded by the amazing talents of the cast of 'West Side Story'. The voices were stunning and I could have watched the dancing all day.

3. Catching up with a very good friend who I don't see often enough.

4. My little sister willingly giving my a goodbye kiss.

5. Spotting a lone tree with beautiful pink blossom among a row of bare branches.

Rainy days

1. I have time to pop back inside and change my shoes after I step outside and realise the ground is wetter than I thought it might be.

2. I hear the wind howling down the chimney and I see the rain pelting the window, but I'm snug and warm in my living room.

3. I imitate falling rain using a twinkling xylophone.

1. We walk to a nearby town and take in the traditional, bohemian culture. Independent boutiques, quaint coffee shops, cobbled streets and unique fashion tastes surround us as we sit by the canal eating fish and chips.

2. As we walk home, we stop to feed some horses in a field. They appreciatively gobble up the apples and grass.

3. I spontaneously decide to stay on the bus and get off in town, meeting Ian during his lunch hour.

4. He buys me some chocolates that he knows I liked when I was younger.

5. As I walk home from town, the wind whips the leaves into a mini whirlwind in front of me.

6. The bright blue sky catches my eye, and I appreciate it despite the wind.

1. I decide to leave the car behind and walk to the shop in the sunshine.

2. We finish our task and are allowed to leave early to enjoy the rest of the day.

3. A lovely soak in a warm bath to end the working week.

1. Sometimes the best thing about a run is the end. Today was one of those days. It's good to know that the next two days are rest days :) Gives me chance to recuperate and regain motivation.

2. It restores my enthusiasm when we are taught about some fun ideas and activities for primary music by a woman who is obviously very passionate about her job as a teacher.

3. I receive two compliments on my summer dress (even though the sun decided to stay in today).

1. Families playing football in the sunshine.

2. A misty haze on the horizon.

3. Walking alongside the canal without a jacket.

1. I spot a family feeding bread to a beautiful white goose on the canal.

2. I'm starting to get more positive comments on my photos, which makes me feel so proud.

3. He tells me I'm pretty :)

1. As I open the curtains a little bit wider to let in more of the glorious sunlight, 'Here Comes The Sun' by the Beatles comes on the radio. Very fitting!

2. Catching up with some work. I've spent too much time procrastinating over the past few days, and it's good to get things done.

3. A friend tells me she's proud of me for my 10 mile run yesterday, and then tells me that my description of myself as 'shiny' and 'happy' couldn't be more exact :)

Weekend notes

1. Playing with my little sister in my dad's back garden. She pretends to make me an egg sandwich, and we travel back and forth to the 'beach' at the other side of the garden many times during the course of the afternoon :)

2. Eating out and having my meal brought to me on a loudly sizzling plate.

3. A glorious morning, and the sun shining brightly through the kitchen blind.

4. I run 10 miles this morning, my longest run so far. Afterwards I feel tired but invigorated.

5. Running past a man polishing his shoes in his front garden.

6. I smell freshly-cut grass for the first time this year as people take to their gardens at the first sign of the sun.

7. A friendly greeting from a neighbour.

8. Families and dogs playing at the park, and people queuing up for an ice-cream.

1. I can't help but smile at all the supermarket staff who've made such an effort for Red Nose Day. I see Batman stacking shelves and Little Miss Muffet serving customers at the checkout. Other people in the shop smile too, and for a brief few moments it feels as if everyone is united and all is right in the world.

2. Whistling with our cockatiel, and watching him 'talking' to himself in his little mirror.

3. Walking through the park as the sky turns dark around us.

1. Afternoon tea and biscuits :)

2. As I get off the bus, I catch sight of a little girl dancing around at the bus stop. She's wearing beautiful pink heart-shaped sunglasses.

3. I find my afternoon run easier than normal and end up shaving over two minutes off my previous time for this distance.

1. I spend a relaxing morning catching up with some reading and some interesting TV. Monty Halls' Great Escape allows me to lose myself in a simpler existence for an hour.

2. I meet Ian from work at lunchtime and we find an empty bench to sit on and chat, before I run some errands.

3. Beautiful flowers.

1. For the first time this year, I feel the need to remove my jacket as I'm running so I end up wearing only one layer.

2. The moon behind the trees paints a pretty picture in the evening sky.

3. The senses of peace and relief which come from having a lovely soak in the bath and not having any work to do are immense!

1. Despite the chill in the air, the sunshine is warm and it feels like spring. I see a rainbow through the window on the bus, and it looks as if it's shooting out of someone's back garden.

2. Pink and white mini marshmallows remind me of being little and eating Flumps.

3. An invitation from my oldest friend.

1. Waking up slowly as sunlight fights its way through the curtains, rather than jumping up at the sound of my alarm clock.

2. Running in refreshing light rain, and getting home just as I hear low rumbles of thunder in the distance.

3. Reading the Sunday papers.

This week has been a bit of a whirlwind. On the one hand I've been busier and working harder than I ever have before, but I've also had a couple of lovely days which I'll always remember :) Yesterday was my last day at my placement school, while today me and Ian visited a falconry centre to learn how to handle some of the birds.
Apologies for the dire lack of updates, but here are some beautiful things from the last two days.

1. Gifts from the children at school, a word of thanks from a 4-year-old girl and a vote of confidence from one of the mums.

2. Lambs being protected by their mothers.

3. A bunch of snowdrops growing by the side of the road.

4. The smile on Ian's face lasts all day.

5. Horses galloping together through a field.

6. Knowledge being imparted by an enthusiastic expert.

1. A good lesson observation.

2. An early night.

3. A hug from Ian.

1. Taking my sister to the park. She asks me to chase her, then reverses our roles by telling me to sit on the swing so she can push me :)

2. Coming out of the hairdressers with a different style and a spring in my step.

3. Watching a squirrel eating from a bird table from the window at Ian's nanna's.

4. Being given a freshly-made loaf of bread by my grandad.

5. Filling up the pages in my diary.

6. Waking up with sunlight streaming in through the window.

7. Walking by the canal with spare slices of bread, looking for ducks.

8. Listening to forgotten songs.