Today I am grateful for...

Winter Sun

I love it this time of year (when it's not raining!) and the sun is out.
The air is fresh and crisp and it makes me want to be outdoors wandering amongst the fallen leaves...
On days like this I truly marvel at the world we live in.

Today I am grateful for...

Books.

I had the luxury of 90 minutes to wander around on my own this morning in Oxford, and I spent 87 minutes of that in Waterstones. It was bliss and reminded me how much I love books and bookshops. It is a pure sensory indulgence for me. From the colourful aesthetics gracing the different covers (Cookbooks! Oh My God, how gorgeous are some of these...) to that undeniable scent of books. The floors of knowledge and imaginative journeys between the pages...

I left today with no books, but a list of over 20 must reads, and head full of new ideas. Yes, today I am grateful for the joy that is books.

Today I am grateful for...

Living in Britain.

Despite it's problems (and there are plenty!) Britain is an inclusive, compassionate and beautiful country.
I feel lucky to be living here.

Today I am grateful for...

Good friends.

I remember once hearing Oprah talk about how a gratitude journal changed her life because each day she was consciously looking for reasons to be thankful.  This deliberate act of focussing on the present and being aware of the things which bring her joy had a transformative affect on her, and I can see why.

Since signing up to Lisa's 30 days of gratitude, it has been at the forefront of my mind, and I find myself paying a lot more attention to the details of my life.  For example, today I am grateful for good friends.  I could leave it at that, and it's no less significant or valid.  But the reason I chose to acknowledge the blessing of friendships today is because Cam and I had the most delightful evening with a couple of our dear friends last night.   One of those nights where you leave with your heart as full as your belly (Michelle seriously cooks the most delicious roast...) In fact, sometimes its only after being in the company of people who you feel totally comfortable with, do you realise how rare and precious that gift actually is. 

Then today, one of my oldest and dearest friends called me to tell me she has just been offered this amazing job.  After two years of literal hell, suddenly something good and wonderful was happening for her, and I felt my eyes well up with happiness for her.  I was grateful in that moment for having a friendship so deep and so full of love in my life.  I truly am blessed.

Most of the time, I try not to take the good things in my life for granted, and I like to think that I practice gratitude on a daily level (I genuinely feel thankful every time I look at Cam), but it's only Day 3 and I can already see how much deeper this practice can go.  So thank you Lisa, for making me sit up and pay attention to the reasons why I am grateful.

Today I am grateful for...

Good food!

Cam and I spent the morning in Oxford today, and we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at my most favourite cafe.

The Vaults and Gardens cooks up the most delicious dishes which taste as fresh as they look.
Priding themselves on using natural, seasonal, organic and local produce wherever possible, the food here has never disappointed us.

It's also only one of a few places I know where I can get a delicious free-range chicken meal, and today was no exception, with the most scrumptious chicken massaman curry.  Yum.

My belly is full of happy gratitude :)

Come join Lisa's 30 days of gratitude!

Today I am grateful for...

Holidays!

Cam is on annual leave, and we spent the day in London meeting with a lovely prospective bride and groom, eating unhealthy food, and being culture vultures at the V&A.

As a photographer I am ashamed to say I don't have a photo to accompany my post today -
but I promise to make up for it tomorrow.

I am joining Lisa in a gratitude bonanza for the month of November, care to join us?

*** updated to add a photograph, as I've decided to illustrate each day with an image from my most used iphone app.