LisasMiles 32:365

8.5 miles with an average pace 9.49 min/mile - that's worth a big smile, especially as it felt very hard work for the first 2 miles. 

And I saw the beautiful ponies, managing to capture a picture before my phone inexplicably decided to 'run out of battery' with 49% battery left... Quite annoying as there were other sights I wanted to capture, including more ponies and the sun going down over the lake. 

The battery on my iPod Shuffle ran out with 3 miles to go and I quite enjoyed listening to myself breathing and the park sounds. It was quite soothing but no sure I'd have enjoyed it as much if I'd be struggling at that point. 

Nice to see Bob Alex and Harry this morning accompanying 'Uncle' Charlie to church. Worship group were particularly appreciative of Bob clapping our rehearsal! 

In other news, I think I'm becoming addicted to Wasabi peas!

LisasMiles 4:365

The first LisasMiles post! When I'm running this year I've decided to make an effort to enjoy my surroundings more, and to pause to take photographs. I made a start yesterday, but that was before the run not during it. Today I stopped whilst out running, not because I was tired or needed a break, but because I wanted to capture the view. The park is so lovely, even on a cold misty day!

In other smiley news, Jude correctly counted the number of times that the word 'follow' appeared on the screen at church during the service this morning, and won a banana. He was pleased to win but not so pleased with the prize as the 'advertised' prize was Smarties! Love his face! 

MoreSmiles 117:365

I am a smiley person, it's true. But I can be a grumpy person too sometimes and this morning I was feeling very grumpy. And cross. And fed up. 

And things didn't improve much when Liverpool were beaten, Johnny Brownlee was beaten and Dan Martin fell with 100m to go in Liege-Baston-Liege. 

What made me smile again? 

We sang "Crown him with many crowns" at church, we sang the proper words and we sang my favourite verse about God being creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime. Anyone who knows me well knows that this is very important to me. And that includes our minister Donald who commented in it as I left church. 

Secondly I discovered the picture at the top in a post about iPad apps, made especially for me. Thanks Erzsi! Sorry it took me so long to see it!

Then I couldn't fail to smile at the prize Mark Cavendish received for wining the stage in the Tour of Turkey. He'll get very bunged up if he eats all of those...

And then there was this picture someone tweeted earlier. 

Most of all though it was realising, prompted by some tweets, that I have two lovely sons and a wonderful husband, and that means I'm very lucky. 

MoreSmiles 66:365

Playing an Egyptian university student made me smile today. A very mature one although I did feel rather young looking at the congregation...

Loved looking up at the huge round stained glass window at St Peters too. And the children's pew bags are a brilliant idea. 

Then this evening Jude thought that Laurence Llewelyn Bowen was Laurence Olivier. That amused me!

And he also "obtained luxury balls." That made us all titter!

MoreSmiles 54:365

My neighbour in Winti told me "you puzzle people because the Swiss don't walk around smiling for no apparent reason." Perhaps she had a point given the quotation above. 

Being 'starred' person in worship group usually means you have to get out and put away the music, but today I was "preacher's pet" as I came in on time for all the songs in pre-church rehearsals. That made me smile :)

A run with (so far!) no ill effects. 

Liverpool won 4-3 against Swansea. 

Dinner was delicious although we need more duck next time!

MoreSmiles 33:365

Good to be back in worship group, even if I did get hit over the head by an exuberant worshipping Barbara. Soon solved by removing my microphone from the stand and moving closer to Phil. Also meant I could read his large words ;)

And a very pleasing run on a sunny albeit cold afternoon. Having trouble breathing in the cold so I was very pleased with my average pace. Picture is the edge of the Country Valley Park as I sped past; that's flooding not a lake!

I knew Jude had a plan at lunchtime when he approached me with a smile on his face and eyelashes fluttering... sharing bags of crisps is not a problem for me, unlike John who ate an entire bag of M&S cheesy tasters all by himself.

Isaac's ability to balance his entire body in something akin to the lotus position on the tiny saddle of his bike is quite impressive and certainly causes a smile as I pass and wonder where the rest of his body has gone.

And John in cycling gear is always worth a smile ;)

Finally - this song is by someone I knew in youth group and last saw about 25 years ago! I like it - listen to the words (and they're below the video on Youtube too)

Smiles 307:365

Smiles today started early as we had to leave Lancashire at 730 to be back for 945 and Jude's final performance as "Bob the apprentice" at Holiday Club. 

He was finally hired today having been squirted with a water pistol and had a foam pie in the face. (Pictures will follow when he's sent them!)

Then Agnes (stripey top on left) posted this picture on her FB page. More big smiles!

Back to school tomorrow. Hopeful of more smiles as I meet two new classes and try out something new!

Smiles 272:365

Things that made me smile today -

Looking through photos of Switzerland in 2003 - "Jude and the apple" is an all time classic
Showing Jude how to make a Wordle  - was worth the persuasion as he liked it as did his French teacher although she wasn't sure about his inclusion of Klingon as a language!
Isaac and Jude volunteering to help at Holiday Club without any prompting.
Another run - in the sunshine - longer than the last and still no ill effects.
A wave of people offering to vouch for my speaking skills - made me feel all warm inside!
And John's picture of me at Library of Birmingham - I don't look too bad!

Smiles 257:365

First rehearsal for Christmas Cabaret today - hurrah! So pleased to be back home so I can take part, although the WPS staff do means I can only sing on Saturday :(
Still, I'm very very excited. Whilst I am far less talented than many of my Cabaret colleagues, I love singing and will give it my all. And that includes choking on fake snow whilst trying to sing ;)

Also enjoyed a trip to the garden centre (although I swear I have never been there with John as he insists!) and smiled as my little boy kept me up to date on the women's triathlon only to realise later that it had happened this morning so I could have googled the result!

Thought for the day:

Smiles 237:365

I'm all alone this afternoon so I've taken advantage and lain on the sofa with the remote control and a Tunnocks (dark chocolate) Caramel Wafer. I may move soon to make some dinner...

The wisdom of Winnie the Pooh was featured in the sermon at church this morning - how I love that bear! So here's one of my favourite Pooh-isms which makes me smile!

Smiles 215/216 :365

The post for today (and yesterday!) come to you courtesy of someone else's wifi.

Yesterday was a day on which I started smiling and then had to laugh else I'd cry! And today has continued on the same theme thanks to a broken foot.

Following in the footsteps of my Mum who broke her foot (with help from Mano the dog) the week before we moved from Berkhamstead to Sutton Coldfield in 1981, I have joined the list of numpties that hurt themselves at stupid inconvenient times and broken a bone in my foot. Or, as I have started saying, 'done a Beckham' and broken a metatarsal.

This has thrown all plans awry and made me rather cross with life.

However, I WILL smile for the following reasons:

• I made it to the library with the boys after the incident and everyone was pleased to see us after 2 years.
• Whilst I may have been seen more quickly in Spital Winterthur and may well have come away with some painkillers, I didn't have to wait too long at Good Hope, there were no drunks and I was straight into Xray and out again.
• The girl that plastered me said 'bet you're glad you waxed your legs!'
• I went to SCBC this morning and it was good to be back
• I have the best family ever - my boys are being so helpful and John is an angel who needs to sit down and have a rest but won't until the house is sorted as he knows it's stressing me. 
• My Mum said 'well, it makes your sun tan look good at least!'
• How could you not smile when your son lies curled up on the floor behind a box and uncurls himself like a hydraulic lift to move a box across the floor to you, or carries your girly cardigan for you as you can't use your crutches and carry it?
• 
  

Smiles 160:365

In spite of waking up deaf in one ear and having a headache that has been lingering for days, I have smiled pretty much all day. A fine day, a long run and time with my boys have kept me happy. And the words "From the mountains to the valleys, Hear our praises rise to you" were given new meaning as we sang them at church in Switzerland, land of majestic mountains and beautiful valleys.

Smiles 13:365

I'm in the worship group at church and during rehearsal today I popped downstairs. On my return journey, I spotted this drum kit case at the top of the stairs with a little face peeking out. And then I heard a little voice. Ben's big brother had zipped him into the case and was filming his efforts to get out. I told him to try and get his arm out and unzip it.
Made me laugh to see the case wiggle around the landing!
He did manage to escape shortly afterwards!

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