The sermon at church last week ended with giving thanks for what you actually have. I think noting any tiny bit of joy, be it something that made you laugh, something you ate that was tasty, something you found comfortable as well as the gratitude for all you have, own and have, is really important. Others may think a happy life is only about having the big things and yes, gratitude for these is super important, but actively thinking of those things that helped or made your life easier in any way is a good way of helping make a time which is difficult a bit better. It might not make a huge difficult situation any easier but it still helps in its own little way. I also love recording little moments and incidents that made me happy.
1. I joined my inlaw's 'Wordle Nerdles' whatsapp group when on holiday in France. It's fun having a little group and doing that challenge with them each day. They are really good at it. I am ok but sometimes take more guesses than them. Today, My MiL got the word in 5, then BiL got it in 4, then SiL got it in 3. They said I should try to get it in 2 as the last player to go. With a very lucky 1st guess, I did INDEED get it in 2 guesses!!! This made me feel happy!
2. I had to go cover 1st flute at my local orchestra today as my friend, who plays 1st, was ill. I was a bit grouchy about going because I had had a busy day yesterday and really wanted to be at home (particularly as I had work to do). CBC was even grouchier about going and HE is doing the concert (I am not). My old singing teacher from childhood plays 1st oboe and we were just really silly together and had a really fun time being generally naughty and chatty together (but not loud enough to disturb the rehearsal) and it was great fun!
3. Yesterday's concert with Kensington Chamber orchestra went really well in the end. The rehearsals had been a bit hardgoing (with different conductor) but the concert went really successfully and I felt really well-rehearsed on my part and felt I, and the orchestra, did a good job.
4. My MiL (CBC's Mum) came on the train from Northumberland to watch our concert. It was so lovely to have her in the audience. She's a musician so it's really nice to have her opinion on the concerts.
5. Some difficult classes were not SO difficult as they could have been on Thursday last week.
6. Year 6's were sweet in their music lesson on Friday.
7. I enjoyed having a slight lie-in yesterday morning and today.
8. Really enjoyed rereading a good book I read in 2020!
9. Still getting ripe tomatoes from the garden
10. Since CBC changed my Brompton's flat inner tube (and we have given her a clean), my Brompton has been really lovely to ride again.
11. Had a really lovely 1st session with my new drumming club on Monday. I remembered a game I learnt when working at the Royal Academy of music and I tried it with the kids which worked out really fun.
12. With exception of 1 child, most of my Year 3-4 choir children tried very hard in our 2nd session on Tuesday including 2 who I thought were going to be difficult.
13. Year 5-6 choir working well so far and after a lot of prompting and messages, I've managed to get it up to 25 children. I'm using a different space this year as the upstairs corridor (where the piano is) has so much extra furniture in it to move (and we know I'm rather tired of moving things...) I really would like the piano but a keyboard will have to do.
14. I actually remembered to sort TARDIS Tuesday a bit earlier!
15. I have a work colleague who makes dried flower arrangements and I've been taking her prunings from the garden and she's really liked them!
And in addition to all those little trivial things, I am grateful for my family, food, home and that my cold is going away.
What are you grateful for?
xxx
Image borrowed from 
