100 Happy Days

There are days when you wake up and before you've even left the house, you've burnt the toast, lost your keys and tripped over the dog. That's when you know it's going to be 'one of those days' and so you carry on your day with a certain grumpiness about you. You get splashed by a bus going through a huge puddle on the way to the station, only to miss your train and then get to work late. So that's it, this is officially a rubbish day - roll on tomorrow!

We're all guilty of writing off a day so early into it just because of how it's started, so when I saw the 100 Happy Days challenge on twitter, I wondered if I could actually go a whole 100 days finding something happy about each and every single one of them, without complaint. What's more, if you sign up on their website here you can get a book at the end as a reminder of what makes you happy on a daily basis, no matter how big or small that might be!

I'm currently on day 23 - pop over to twitter @HayleyGradwell to check out my process or search using #100happydays

Want a sneak preview? Here's today's photo..a visit to Bedford to see the in-laws.

Why don't you join in and see if you can stay happy for 100 days? It's so important to take a positive from everyday to keep your spirits high, and if the day starts badly 100 Happy Days will MAKE you turn it around!! 

Stay happy guys x

What's great where you live?

I'm always up for trying new things and sometimes there are things to do, see & visit that I would have never known about if it hadn't have been for recommendations.

So this little post is an invitation for you to tell me what's great about where you live. 

For example, I live in Prestwich, and there are many great things about this little village, so if you came to visit I would say you have to go for a walk through Prestwich clough, it runs between Bury New Road at St Mary's Flower Park all the way through to drinkwater park and is a lovely circular walk which is child & dog friendly!

Then I would say pop to Cuckoo, a little bar a very short walk from the clough to have some lovely food and drinks.

So if I came to visit your home town, what you recommend i do? Or where do you think I should eat/drink? Is there a MUST see attraction?

Please comment with your local recommendations and let's share the love for our home towns!

Jacks' Tax Appeal...

Do you have a vehicle? 

Then you must have a Tax Disc? 

Brilliant... well then you CAN help.

You may/may not have recently seen a mothers appeal on facebook for old tax discs for her sons' Christmas present? An odd request you might say, I certainly did... until I continued to read. 

 Her 10 year old son Jack has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which causes him to obsess over certain things.. and Jacks' 'thing' is Vehicle Tax Discs. He is fascinated by the dates, colours, stamps, and vehicle details on each disc, and as you will know, no 2 are ever the same! 

Jack replicates his favourite ones to make miniature paper tax discs for his toy cars (how talented?), before putting them into his scrap book.. apart from those he is particularly fond of. Those ones go into tax disc holders (which he also collects) and he carries his favourite ones around with him. 

 When I read this request I immediately wanted to help. I mean, what's an old tax disc to me, other than rubbish? 

 Luckily for Jack, I'm quite lazy, and whenever I get a new tax disc I simply pop it into my windscreen holder in front of the old one, so I actually have a few to add to his collection right away! Does anybody do this?? 

 We live in a time where childrens' Christmas lists are compiled of items such as laptops, mobile phones and designer clothes, yet here we have a boy who's Christmas list simply consists of dates from which he would like a tax disc! He would particularly like one from June 2003, the month he was born...How can you not want help? 

 I believe that if we all work together, we can ALL give Jack a Christmas present he will remember...the more he gets the brighter his eyes will be on Christmas morning... perhaps we can gather enough to fill a bath tub?? So go on, do something good, share this post, RT his request and ask all of your friends too!

 The tax discs can be from any year, and vehicle, and any country... and If you happen to have any Tax Disc Holders too, well that would be fantastic! 

If you do have any discs/holders that you would be willing to give to Jack, please email JacksTaxAppeal@hotmail.com or Tweet @JacksTaxAppeal with how many you have got and which area you are from. It would only cost the price of an envelope & stamp :) 

 ADHD and OCD both have huge impact, not only on the life of those who are affected by them, but on their family members too. If you would like to know more about these disorders please see the links below, and perhaps whilst we make Jacks Christmas Wish come true, we can raise awareness of these disorders too! 

ADHD Institute 

OCD-UK 

 Your help is very much appreciated x

Tiny person...Huge responsibility..

When my mate told me she was pregnant I was obviously over the moon for both her and her husband. They are are great couple and a little bundle of joy would complete them!

I spent the whole of her pregnancy nagging her about everything baby related I could think of, like whether she worried about labour, if they had chosen any names and even all the nitty gritty gorey details too (but I won't go into that here!)

It was March when she arrived.. Baby Mia Grace, after a long agonising and rather complicated labour she was delivered by C section. How exciting!! 

Baby was fine, mother not as fine, but with great support from her husband and excellent care from the doctors and nurses she was out of any danger and soon holding her gorgeous new daughter.

It was from that day that our friendship changed, not in a bad way at all. But where we used to talk about going out to nice restaurants, what dress and shoes we were going to buy or how we were going to take the world by 'Storm' as 'Gayle-force' & 'Hayle-stone' we suddenly had something more grown up to think about!

Now our days out cover Mia's progress. What flavours she likes, how long her legs are getting, how she will smile at anyone for a soft bit of toast or even how active her digestive system is that day! Lol 

But I wouldn't change it for the world. She's great. And what's even more great is that following her Christening on Subday, she's now my Goddaughter too!!

It's amazing how a little baby can change your outlook on life, all of a sudden I have this very important role to play in a child's life who isn't even a blood relative. How bloody scarey is that? But how amazing at the same time! :) 

I'm so proud to be Mia's Godmother, I'm thankful that her parents asked me, and honoured that they see me as someone for Mia to look towards for guidance throughout her life. I promise to do my 'job' well.

Here is a photo of us on that special day, followed by my verse for her.

Do you have any godchildren? 

How do you keep the promises you made to them? 

Do you have any advice for new godparents? 

Please feel free to leave a comment :)

A Lottery Win

A lottery win could change your life,

To luxury and style from trouble and strife.

With a couple of quid & a bit of luck,

You could be the winner of mega bucks.

With all your winnings, what would you do?

Surely it would make your dreams come true!

Quit your job, clear your debt,

Buy a flash car and a private jet.

Gone are the days you made ends meet,

Now the whole world is at your feet,

Share it out with family & friends,

Give them an abundance of spends.

No longer filled with financial woe,

You all have the chance to up & go,

And soon the wish list you once had,

Only filled yesterday's shopping bag. 

The bucket list that took years to do,

Is ticked off within a month or two,

And luxurious things you'd been saving for,

Just don't matter anymore.

It's not long before friendships fail,

The money has sent them off the rails,

Your parents live in Timbuktu,

And all of this is down to you.

Whatever you've got you always want more,

You have a car, but you want four,

There's no limit to your imagination,

You live everyday like it's a special occasion.

All your loved ones drift apart,

It seems the money is breaking your heart,

Yes it bought those diamond rings,

But money can't buy certain things,

The times you share with those close by,

The twinkle in your partners eye,

To dream and hope keeps you alive,

So the goals you hit will give you pride.

No one likes to scrimp & save,

But money won't always bring better days,

You can't buy happiness or your health,

You can't buy love despite your wealth.

So when you wish on a star tonight,

Think about what you'd REALLY like,

Some things are more important than you think,

It's those you can have, even if you're skint.

Manchester is Blue..

It's been a tough season this year for the teams in the Barclays Premier League, whether they've had battles against injury, battles with their manager or just battles with slippy grass in Gerrards case.

It's all been very entertaining and although I do love it when my team wins by multiple goals, I think it's important that the title race is kept alive right until the end. It keeps the passion and excitement alive until the final whistle, and everyone loves it when the teams really have to play their best consistently in order to clinch the title. There are so many great teams now.. Gone are the days that Manchester United can win several times on the trot.. It's just not that easy anymore, is it Moyes?

I love football, and I love a bit of banter too. You're all guilty of it if you're a footy fan.. You just have to be prepared to take it if you're willing to give it :)

I don't have a season ticket nor do I go to many individual games, and many people think that makes me 'less of a supporter' than the person who travels to all home and away games to cheer on their team. I disagree. I don't have the money to go to every game, nor do I have the annual leave entitlement at work - but I try and watch on TV as many games as I can throughout the whole season and it's what's in my heart that counts.

I did however go to see our penultimate game of the season against West Ham a couple of weeks ago... Or should I say we saw the 2nd half. My OH had never been to a premier league match before, so I decided to take her for our anniversary. We went with a few others and were all really excited about the prospect of clinching those vital 3 points to exploit Liverpools loss against Chelsea but we got caught up in a huge massive traffic jam en route!! Someone was threatening to jump off the Mancunian Way bridge, forcing the police to close several of the main roads through the city. What a nightmare!! Although I do appreciate that my nightmare wasn't as bad as his.. And I do hope that he is ok... But I couldn't help feel frustrated that i'd spent so much money on tickets and hadn't been able to get there on time!

Thankfully though after ditching the car, running across the city and picking up the metrolink over to the Etihad, we arrived just in time to see our team put 4 goals passed WH, one of which was a Yaya Toure special so it turned out to be a great evening!

To me, football brings people together. When we watch the game we watch it with company, we chat, we laugh, we shout & scream at the TV, we drink, we eat, we celebrate. Together. 

It's more than a bunch of men kicking a ball around a field, it's about team spirit, competition & spending time with family and friends. When we win, it's a bonus!

I'm going to enjoy next few months of Manchester City being Premier League Champions because next season it all starts over again.. And as Crystal Palace have proved.. In football, anything is possible.

Do you like football? Which team do you support.. And what does football really mean to you? 

(Photo from @MCFC twitter)

Stress!

Regardless of who you are, life can at times be stressful. We as humans are unique to one another and therefore our personal response to stress is too. We must try to understand that what one person takes in thier stride, can be a real stumbling block for someone else.

There are many common causes of stress such as:

Moving House

Relationship Breakdown

Work Demands

Money Worries

......& many more.

Sometimes people can be stressed without even knowing it, common symptoms include: 

Always being on the go

Short temper with those around you

Lack of or too much sleep

Loss of or increased appetite

Feeling hyper

Not knowing what to do first

......& many more.

There are several physical symptoms of stress too:

Headaches

Back ache

Feeling sad and low

Acid reflux

Nausea 

Feeling generally unwell

Cold sores

High blood pressure

Tight chest 

.......& again many more.

Sometimes stress becomes so much a part of our daily life that we just 'manage' and 'get on with it', but it really is important to recognise the signs when your body & mind is telling you that enough is enough. 

If you pick up a cup of water it doesn't feel heavy does it? But if you had to stand and hold it all day long your arm would start to ache. This is the same for the things on your mind... Don't let the weight of your worries wear you down. 

If you think you might be suffering with stress, I really do urge you to visit your GP, but in the meantime there are one or two things you can do that might help ease your mind.

If you are able; go outdoors. The fresh air really does blow cobwebs away. Especially if it's sunny!

Read a book about a topic you enjoy. This is a great way to temporarily distract your mind.

If you like animals, go and spend time with them. Walk your dog, pet your cat or ride your horse. And if you feel like you don't have the energy to even do that, even reading a magazine or watching a TV show about your favorite animal can give you some relief. (Believe it or not, your brain recognises the animal, associates it with previous enjoyment and releases those 'feel good hormones!') 

Take a long soak in the bath. Perhaps get a massage.. Relax those muscles.

Talk to people. I cannot stress (excuse the pun) how beneficial talking to people can be! Friends and family make the best support networks and a little socialisation goes a long way.. They might even make you laugh!! :)

There are so many other things you can do, so please don't suffer silence. Once you've learned how to manage your stress, you will be well on your way to a much better quality of life! Equally, if you know someone who you think might be struggling.. Please take the time to offer them a helping hand. Life can be lonely when you're consumed with worry.

Look after yourself, and each other xx

#nomakeupselfie

We live in a world where, to some, image is everything, so with that I ask what your opinion is on the 'bare faced selfie' craze that has taken social media by storm?

This week I was 'tagged' by a friend who had posted her make-up free face online to raise awareness for Cancer Research. I (perhaps like many others?) wondered how a selfie could raise awareness for cancer so if only for the sake of curiosity, I gave it a go to find out.

I wear make-up pretty much everyday. To work, to socialise and to do the Friday big shop. I wear it because I prefer to look at my make-up covered face than my non make-up covered face, and I assume that the great British people do too. Don't be mislead, I don't have shares in MAC, and I'm more of a slap dash applier than one who actually knows anything about the art of applying makeup properly, but still that fine layer of foundation makes me feel better.

Why? You might ask. Why does the obscuring of my natural face make me feel better? Surely that's an absurd concept? The answer. I don't *really* know. All I know is that when I can no longer see that pimple or those bags under my eyes I have a new found self-confidence. I feel fresh and well presented, ready to take on the day. 

At this point you're ready to diagnose me  with low self-esteem and little self-belief, but those of you who know me better, know that isn't true. There are some beautiful ladies that I know who personify self-belief - but they still wear makeup.

Perhaps some girls who wear make up wear it simply as part of their outfit? And so choosing the colour of their lipstick is just like choosing the colour of their knickers for the day. (And no one is even going to see those!) Perhaps we wear makeup like it's an accessory, simply because we like it? 

I think I put myself in this category, and so for me, taking and posting a #nomakeupselfie wasn't a massively big deal. After all I was (hopefully) raising awareness of Cancer. 

The flipside. Makeup for some people is like a mask. To hide away what they are ashamed of, scared of or what they just don't like. If you look in the mirror and hate what you see, a million people telling you otherwise is not going to change that. If wearing makeup is the difference between you going out and being the best you can be that day or staying home too worried to leave the house... I say get that slap on and get out there! Who are we to judge?

For these people going out without makeup really is a massively big deal, so If this is how you feel and you have 'bared all' this week in support of this great cause, I salute you. 

With that in mind, maybe each time a bare faced selfie is posted, there is another message we are sharing without realising it. Beauty is NOT skin deep. You are loved for the person you are, not the way you look, and I have no doubt that there will be someone out there who would love to look like you. Remember that. And if your selfie has encouraged someone else to whip out the makeup remover or prompted a few nice comments - well then that's just an added bonus!

The critics. Does a bare face selfie have anything to do with cancer research? No it doesn't. Which is why some people out there think the craze is "narcissism masked as charity" and those people who partake are simply looking for compliments on their natural beauty to boost self esteem. Perhaps there is some truth in this? Perhaps some people have no intention of raising awareness and simply want to beat the number of 'likes' their photo can get? Or perhaps the critics are just that. Critics. For no other reason than that's what they do for a living, and no matter how much good the world does, they would still find something to tar it with.

When I saw millions of people posting their #nomakeuselfie with the message 'TEXT BEAT TO 70099 TO DONATE £3 TO CANCER RESEARCH' the curiosity I very first mentioned was quenched. 

#nomakeupselfies whether you think they are a good thing or not, do exactly what they intended to do. They have not only raised awareness of cancer by getting people talking about it, sharing posts of how to check their breasts or testicles, and encouraging others to post a photo too... The #nomakeupselfie has has done more than that. It has raised over £2million pounds in 3 days for Cancer charities who work tirelessly to find a cure for this terifing disease that affects 1 in 3 of us and tears peoples lives apart. 

How can you criticise that??

Please comment below x

Are YOU satisfied?

Is there anyone out there who is totally satisfied? Or are we all as insatiable as one another?

Have you ever been told that not being satisfied is a negative trait you have? Or that at times you come across as ungrateful or greedy because you always seem to want more? 

Are hobbies really good for you?

Some people say hobbies are the key to stress free life....

Growing up I had a couple of different hobbies. My first one being football; as my mum played for the towns' ladies team (and she was really good I might add!) as a kid my weekends would be spent down at the side lines with the other players' kids. We had a great time, running around playing in the fresh air, rarely enough time to get bored before we back in the clubhouse having a drink and some butties! 

When I was a bit older I played for the under 12 girls team, I really enjoyed it but I soon discovered what was to become my real passion... Horse riding!

Perhaps the fresh air of the footy days gave me my love of the outdoors, and I was very lucky to have a few horse riding lessons, but it was a rather expensive hobby to want when you were a child of a single parent!

Lucky for me, a friend of my mums gave me the opportunity to ride her horses and help look after them. I learnt all the basics here and how to ride a 'proper' horse as opsoed to a riding school pony! For this, I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

After leaving school I became emersed in 'growing up' and so I didn't return to riding until I bought my very first horse at the age of 21. After owning various horses over a 6 year period I 'gave it up' due to work and education commitments... That was 2 years ago.

Photo: Me & my last horse Monty - true love, even in the winter!!

I don't have a hobby now, and I think I'm missing out... I miss my horses so much but it's such a time consuming hobby and an expensive one at that! Perhaps I should 'bite the bullet' and go for it? Or try to find something else?

Did you have a hobby as a child that you would like to revisit? Or perhaps you've taken up a new hobby in your older years?

Do you think hobbies are good for you, and really do have an impact on your stress levels?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on hobbies, and whether you think we are better with them or no different without them! 

Run To Remember: 250 Miles, 125 Days!

Could you run 2 miles?

Could you run 2 miles every day a week?

Could you run 2 miles every day for a month?

Could you run 2 miles every single day for 125 days?

You may remember my post 1 Year On.. which was dedicated to PC's Fiona Bone & Nicola Hughes and mentions some of the fundraising events I have been involved in since their tragic deaths ,well this blog post is to introduce another one...

The PC Hughes Run To Remember is a challenge open to all Police Officers, PCSO's & Staff to run 250 miles in 125 days starting on the 1 December 2013. That's an average of 2 miles a day, every single day (yes that includes Christmas & New Year) for 125 days... which is until April 4th 2014.

Call me crazy, but I am a proud member of Team 'Mix and Match' which consists of 2 Police Officers, 2 Police Staff & 1 PCSO, and we are running (along side many others) for GMP!

The name mix and match reflects our 'mini team' members,as  some are runners, some are not, and I am probably somewhere in-between, so this is no 'walk in the park' for us! (And I must admit - I am pretty nervous!!) Our aim is raise £500 towards the PC Hughes Memorial Fund, which supports the following 3 charities: COPS, Victim Support & NW Police Benevolent Fund.

So I am asking you now very nicely indeedy if you PLEASE wouldn't mind sponsoring us? It really doesn't matter how big or small the donation, because pennies make pounds, and pounds make a difference!

If you would like to sponsor Team Mix & Match, please click here for our Just Giving page. I will be keeping you all posted right here on our progress as we undertake the challenge!

Thank You x

What do you go to work for?

The money?

The job satisfaction?

The social aspect?

The hours?

The challenge?

Just recently I've been having a work dilemma. I've been in my current role for 7 years now and I feel like I'm ready for a change. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike my job, but I feel like I'm at the top of my game there and now I feel limited. Trapped almost.

The money is good, but I work ridiculous hours for it.

The job satisfaction is great. When I make a difference at work, I REALLY make a difference.
The social aspect however isn't as great. The people I work with are great, and I've certainly made some friends over the years, but many are older than me and have their own families/children to occupy them on days off.

The hours are crap. 24/7 shifts, 365 days a year. I've worked 6 out of the last 7 Christmas Days, and 5 New Years. I've missed birthdays, weddings and special events. But I knew what I was signing up for when I got the job, so what right do I have to complain?

The challenge... is complete. I've recently trained new staff to do my role and it really opened my eyes to how complex and how important the job actually is. The responsibility, the pressures, the harsh reality of the serious issues we cover. It really is a mentally and emotionally challenging role. I'm not trying to 'big it up' I'm just saying that after 7 years, I rarely feel challenged by it anymore. But nevertheless, I still enjoy it, and I still do it well.

So when is it the right time to move on?

Would you take a significant pay drop to do a job that would challenge you like no other? If the hours were still just as crap, it was coupled with risk, but the job satisfaction and career options were much greater?

Would you aim for the middle road and find a 'different' job that brought 'different' challenges, better hours, and only 'slightly' less pay?

Or do you play it safe? Stay were you know, where the money is, in your comfort zone?

Head vs Heart vs Purse Strings. Tough Battle.

What do YOU go to work for??

1 Year On...

It fills me with sadness to think of the horrific tragedy that unfolded on September 18th 2012. There I was at work on what should have been a regular Tuesday morning, when those tragic set of circumstances unfolded. It still feels like only yesterday.

Everyday I am proud to be a part of the GMP family. Whether you are an Officer, PCSO or Police Staff, or even a family or friend of those who are, I'm you will agree with me when I say that it is a community like no other. A community that spread across the nation and even across the world on that day and ever since. Shoulder to Shoulder hundreds of Police Force's stand united with pride and respect. Very Humbling.

Despite not knowing either of the girls personally, I have a loved one who did, and to see her so hurt by the shocking and very public news on that day and the weeks that followed, still hangs heavy in my heart.

Since then, many people (myself included) have made sure that the loss of PC's Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes was not in vain. To help in any way make their memory live on whilst doing something positive to raise money for some very worthy causes. I hope that these acts of kindness have provided some sort of comfort to the girls' families and shown that we all share a small part of their immense grief.

I personally have taken part in a couple of different charity events for them, and dare I say it, I've had fun doing so! That coupled with a great sense of satisfaction, knowing that the money raised will help other families in their time of need.

The first was a 26 mile bike ride to support the 4 cyclists from Hillingdon Police who rode 190 miles over 3 days from Westminster Cathedral to Greater Manchester Police Headquarters in a Fallen Heroes Charity Cycle Ride. They raised over £5000 for the North West Police Benevolent Fund. There were more than 80 cyclists of various ability (with me probably being the most unfit!!) who joined these amazing cyclists at Buxton Police Station in Derbyshire to support them on their final leg and welcome them to Greater Manchester, to show our support and appreciation as a Police Force. I really take my helmet off to them.. I struggled to complete the 26 miles, but with sheer determination and help from my fellow colleague (and some lucozade!) I finished the ride without walking once! What a great sense of achievement, and what a worthy cause too.

I also took part in a 2 day Charity Car Wash, hosted by Dulux Decorating Centre, Bolton. Organised by the stores' Manager, Pat. We cleaned enough cars to raise over £550 in support of the PC Hughes North Pole Marathon where Bryn (Nicola's Dad) and 2 others aim to raise a substantial amount of money for the North West Police Benevolent Fund, Care Of Police Survivors and Victim Support.

If you can spare a few minutes, I urge you to check out Bryns' website or facebook page to see how the team are getting along with their training. It certainly looks grueling! Better still, if you can spare a few pounds, please donate here - I am sure they will be very grateful! Maybe one day I will pluck up the courage to join them on the infamous Marsden Steps...

So when the clock strikes 10:53 tomorrow on September 18th 2013, please join the GMP Family in observing a 1 minute silence for our Fallen Heroes. Fill it with thoughts of these 2 Police Officers and their family and friends, and perhaps think about what you can do to help their memory live on.

Message From GMP Federation

The best days of your life?

Tonight I was sat watching Sister Act on TV and I can not watch it without it reminding me of my school days..

 I'm not overly musical, or dramatic (although some may disagree) and I'm certainly no Mariah Carey when it comes to singing. But, back in 2000 a group of year 11 friends decided to take part in the school talent show!

All 7 of us choreographed a dance routine based on the actual dances' in this film and put it together with a mega mix of the movie's most popular songs. We sang a part each, dressed in full 'nun outfits' which were each made to measure by my wonderful grandma....and voila! 

It wasn't a competition, but I'm sure we would've won if it was! And what a fantastic memory to keep having flash back every time I watch this 'Joyful Joyful' film!

They say that school days are the best days of your life. I'm not sure I agree with

that..but what I would say is they were 'Oh Happy Days'

Dear Diary...

Being a shift worker means I plan my rest days way way waaaay in advance. Like, I know what I'm working next Christmas nevermind this one!! So my diary gets full quite easily and some months I need to be really on form when it comes to organisation - and I don't even have any children! It must be crazy for the parents who work shifts as well as juggling their children's social commitments and bedtime routines.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not bragging about having loads of friends, or loads of hobbies. The general duties of daily life seem to soak up so much time there is little left for social events!

I like it though, being busy. When your stuck in work in the middle of the night on a Friday and everyone else is out having fun or sleeping safely in their beds; looking at a schedule bursting with activity gives me something to focus on, something to look forward to. 

I wonder if anyone else is as 'diary obsessed' as I am? Or maybe you 'fly by the seat of your trousers'?

Do you have a hobby? What fun & exciting things have you got coming up?

1 foot in front of the other..

After attempting to write a blog a couple of times before and failing miserably, I *almost* gave it up as a 'bad job'. I would overthink & undertype worrying that i would be going off on an irrelvent tangent. (which I'm rather good at!) I have since realised that I don't need to have a blog about something specifc, I can just blog for bloggings' sake, so this is what I'll do.

I recently went on holiday to Benidorm (a story for another day) and since this is one of the rare oppirtunities I get to do some reading; I took a book with me called 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce'. Although I am still only half way through this book it has already been the main inspiration for this blog. The book is a story about a