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 little or big things that made me smile in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures.

Five Happy Things {Week 43/2025}

The last week before half term felt busy. My son went ice skating in London with some of the other Year 11s, this was a reward for his very good mock exam results.

My daughter went hill walking in the Lake District with her Scout group over the weekend. It was a long way to go for a weekend but she had a great time and did a lot of walking with some amazing scenery.

I’ve started reading the latest Dan Brown book, The Secret of Secrets. It’s such a huge book (yes, I bought the hardback copy!), but the story is really good so far.

I finished the first 6 embroideries on my Christmas Countdown embroidery panel. This feels like an achievement, but now I’ve made a start, I know I will be able to finish it and enjoy it this year.

With my daughter away with Scouts we decided to head to Whitstable for the weekend. We love to be by the sea and squeezed in two lovely walks along the sea front. We stayed in the same Fishermans Hut we stayed in before. We came home via Ightham Mote, a beautiful National Trust house and garden. I loved the hand stitched signs they had warning people not to touch the objects on display.