As I'm currently on holiday in Dubai, my Mum asked me to go through a file of my old paperwork... from cringey but cute passport photos, old passports showing I was much more of a jet-setter in my early years,  children frequent flyer booklets (LOL - expat kid for you), my medical records from school (if only I was as skinny as I was at 16!) to the dreaded school reports from Year 7 - Year 13, my  lovely Mum had kept it all.

At school, there were subjects which I liked and tried hard in, and ones that I liked a lot less and therefore, tried a lot less hard in. English, Drama and History were all favourites, whilst the more academic Sciences and Maths trailed behind, dismissed by my 15 year old self. Reading back on these reports with comments with teachers like, 'Zara is a little inconsistent', 'Zara just needs to retain the facts to be able to answer the questions', 'The summer holiday will be a key time for Zara to turn things around' - OUCH! I can't help be hard offended by these stinging comments, but on the other hand nod along to them - slightly embarrassed that my Mum kept the reports regardless that they were anything but shining.

So how would I be doing school report wise now, if there was one for the life of a 26 year old? I'd get below average marks for PE (all exercise has gone out the window for the last three months since starting my new job), food tech is on the up with batch cooking being my new thing to survive walking in the door too late to get creative in the kitchen, English is suffering slightly due to my neglect to this blog and drama get's full marks for my many hours committed to Netflix.

Let's just say I'm glad that school reports don't continue past school.

Hello Spring

We've had some sunny days already. Glorious blue skies, people spilling out of pubs onto the pavement, cold beverages in hand, laughing and rowdy, white legs on show. Spring days have a smell - the smell of heat bouncing off pavements, new blooms waving in the warm breeze. They have a sound - children laughing and chasing each other, the buzz of groups gossiping as you walk past restaurants that have dusted off their iron tables and chairs outside, flip flops slapping and car radios turned up.

With Sun, comes an increase of Instagram and Facebook posts. Hands holding ice lollies towards a blue sky, smiling selfies lying back on a picnic blanket, feet splish splashing in a paddling pool. Everyone is in unison for once - celebrating that winter is finally behind us and we have days and months of longer days and sunny weekends to look forward to.

This time of year always makes me feel optimistic and rejuvenated, excited to make plans and to see friends before it all goes away once again, too soon. I'm keen to organise and round up those people I haven't seen in too long, to bring them together to enjoy everything that these two beautiful seasons bring.

Growing up surrounded by sun every single day of the year, none of the above mattered. I longed to wear boots and coats and thought the English summers a time to pull out my 'winter wardrobe'. Though I wouldn't change my childhood, I am so grateful that as an adult I now know how to appreciate a change in season.

Appreciating something you took for granted before - what else do we have that we don't think twice about? Good friends, food in the fridge, a safe existence. Things we always say we appreciate - but how can we really, when we know no different? So when it's a sunny day and I'm struggling to take a picture of my Fab ice lolly in front of that perfectly blue sky and green grass before it trickles down my arm in a sticky mess - I vow to think about the other things I'm so totally grateful for.