1. The sticky humidity eases slightly after a relieving rain shower.

2. I feel a guilty smugness as I run past a heavy traffic jam.

3. I use up lots of vegetables which need eating by throwing them all together in a pan and making soup, which bubbles away happily under the lid.

1. I have a sudden craving for pancakes. As I'm preparing the mixture, I gaze at the flour turning from a lumpy substance to a fine powder as it passes through a sieve. The end result hits the spot beautifully :)

2. Rather than coming straight home, I feel like popping in my earphones and walking aimlessly. I end up wandering round the park in the sunshine, listening to some beautiful music.

3. As we walk past a house on a fairly busy road, we spot a squirrel scurrying along a fence. He spots us and freezes, maybe thinking that we won't be able to see him if he doesn't move.

1. We walk along woodland paths and past rippling streams, until we finally come out into the open and see members of a local sailing club whiling away the afternoon on Scammonden Water.




2. Memories of childhood come flooding back as I tuck into a plate of gypsy toast and grilled tomatoes :)

3. The tower on Castle Hill looms over me and makes me feel small and insignificant.

1. We have fun making a mess as we try to fill bags with water. Later, we take the bags outside to see which one makes the biggest splash when it hits the ground.

2. A BBC documentary about the experience of homeless people strikes a chord with me and makes me think about people and things to which I'd never really given a second thought.

2. The clouds in the evening sky are tinged with pink from the setting sun.

3. I snuggle up in bed, ready to read a few pages of an intriguing book.

1. Soaking up the sunshine and listening to the sound of crickets in the grass.

2. Seeing two children shaking hands after a disagreement.

3. Getting into bed with freshly-cleaned sheets.

1. The ducks scrabble for pieces of bread as we feed them in the evening sunshine.

2. We learn the Makaton signs to 'Human' by The Killers and make fools of ourselves together as we sign and sing.

3. I treat myself to a scrumptious chunk of chocolate swiss roll after my sandwich :)

4. I hear a story on the radio about a father and daughter collecting mini apples from the trees in their garden. The girl used the hood on her jacket as storage for the picked fruit.

1. Spotting the reflections of the clouds in the canal water.

2. Giggling as I struggle to hold a yoga pose.

3. Approaching a new experience with trepidation, and meeting some of the happiest and most inquisitive children I've ever encountered.

1. A cup of tea, a plate of biscuits and a catch-up with my grandad.

2. An appreciative smile from my dad.

3. A game of doctors and nurses with my excitable little sister.

1. I love driving along open country roads, twisting and turning past fields and hedgerows, imagining what my life could be like if I lived in one of the picturesque cottages.

2. I start feeding a beautiful, greedy swan, and soon we're joined by a whole family, as well as some ducks and a small group of cheeky black-headed gulls who want to see what's on offer.

3. We successfully sneak up on an amazing herd of deer. A couple of the fawns stare at us inquisitively, wondering if we are friends or enemies.

1. On our evening walk we pass a boy and his grandfather tossing a rugby ball back and forth and laughing.

2. We agree that the setting sun really is one of the most beautiful kinds of light as we walk hand in hand, our long shadows following us.

3. The unexpected kind words of a stranger truly make my day.

1. Listening to the rain hitting the pavement outside the open window.

2. Discovering new songs and unashamedly dancing alone :)

3. Unexpectedly having a free afternoon to do as I please.

1. I tentatively click on the 'My Results' link on the university website, and I'm so pleased to see that all my hard work this year has paid off :)

2. My thirst for learning continues to be satisfied when I'm taught some basic Makaton signs. I come away wanting to know more.

3. Rummaging through a bag of bits and bobs that I recently brought away from my grandad's, I uncover a beautiful tin and immediately try to find a use for it.

1. Sitting in a deck chair on a warm evening, devouring barbecued food and chatting easily with old and new friends.

2. Wandering around a cemetery and imagining the lives of the people whose names I see.

3. Receiving a compliment about a dress I decided to wear on such a beautiful day.

4. Going for a run on a sunny Sunday morning and wearing my souvenir marathon t-shirt with pride.