Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for the last few years. It’s my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures.

Five Happy Things {Week 19/2025}

I finished reading Miss Pettigrew Lives For a Day by Winifred Watson. I loved the story of the middle-aged governess who discovers the world of 1930s London with its drinking in the daytime, casual sex and nightclubs. It had me laughing and crying and it’s one of those novels I wish I had read a long time ago. (11 books out of the 35 I set myself to read in the 2025 Goodreads Reading Challenge).

My son did three days of work experience with his Dad. My husband works in cyber security and this is something my son might be interested in, definitely more than the job I currently do. I think they survived quite well together for the three days.

Last week my daughter was awarded Scout badges from the previous year. There were so many different badges as they have an active Scout group. So I spent some time stitching a lot of badges on her Scouts uniform. I should probably teach her to do this herself, but it’s something I actually love to do for her.

I enjoyed all the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day. I wish we had been able to do something ourselves but we had to make do with watching all the commemorations in London on tv.

Our weekend consisted on trying to collect all the outstanding Lego F1 collectible race cars (we have nine of them now) and then going to watch Thunderbolts* at the cinema. I love going to the cinema and it looks like there are some more good films coming out over the next few months.

What has made you smile this week?