31. Amateur Dramatics

There are just no words for those moments that occur during Am Dram, when at the end of 'Oliver' Bill Sykes life is ended, with a gun made out of two whiteboard pens taped together, to the words "Murderer <insert really bad gun noise here>" there are just no words. The whole audience, parents and all couldn't hold it together, half of the actors were bursting up. It was a brilliant preformance as they had no adult help and very little time, but that moment... pure genius, I haven't laughed that much in a long time. Really made my day.

30. Acting like people in an action film when left alone in the cinema

It happens very occasionally you walk into a cinema screen and look around to find it empty. As me and my Best Friend go to the cinema fairly regularly we have done this a couple of times ususally some people walk in late. There is just something about that big empty room full of seats that makes you think, what is the stupidist thing I could do right now. One of the first thing that you do is go and touch the screen, did you know it has loads of tiny holes in? No? Well you do now.
Last year my Best Friend, Best Male Friend and I actually went to a film where it was just us for the entire thing, the film was average at best the funniest parts were in the adverts (the film was Fantastic Mr Fox) but the empty screen was glorious. We stroked the screen, touched the characters faces, walked on the seats from the back of the cinema to the front without touching the floor (we also raced while doing that), made shadow puppets on the screen, switched seats a number of times, lay in the isle, at one point my Best Friend took off her shoe and threw it in the air to see if we could see the shadow on the screen... we could. It was a beautiful moment.
That moment however happened in one of the small screens, the incident that made me smile yesterday (as this post is a day late) happened in a big screen. We walked in and there were already a couple of people (when I say couple I mean literally a couple boy and girl) sat near the back and we sat in our normal seats; nearish the front with the maximum leg room and a bar to rest your feet (I could go into more detail but most cinemas are different so if you dont understand I dont think it would help). My Little Sister and I embarrassed my Best Friend with our loud laughing as the film was brilliant (we went to see 'Tangled' incase you were wondering). When it finished the couple left quite quickly, the boy didn't look impressed, obviously he had been dragged there by his girlfriend. Thats when we realised we were left alone in the cinema, suddenly the bar became an obstacle we had to jump as quickly as possibly, preferably without our feet touching the floor. It was a mission only the best of the best could complete, set especially for our range of talent and skill. Basically we are the coolest kids around and that makes me very happy.

29. Priests who say unexpected things in church

My Practically Sister's Sister (hope that made sense) got married the other day and during a speech about love the priest refered to them as "crazy about each other". Now this wasn't the best thing he said, after marrying them he said "I don't know what the life expectancy of young couples like you is"... social faux par much? Now I think he ment in terms of how long they will live, but the intake of breath in the church was brilliant. He followed pretty quickly saying "I'm sure it's a long time" but the damage was already done. A couple of beautiful moments that really made my day.

28. The energy young children have

I have a regular babysitting job and everytime I go I am astounded by the amout of energy they have. I used to only put one of the children to bed but now I put two which is actually easier as they have someone else to play with. They were running around, jumping on the sofa and asking me to spin them around. It always makes me smile the fact that they just don't stop until they collapse in bed.

27. Radiators

Radiator Love
Oh the humble radiator,
how you keep me warm,
I know that when is comes to you,
heating is the norm

Some days I like to drape my coat,
across your heated plates,
and then I know when I awake,
a warm coat hug awaits.

I sit and bask on cold cold days
in the heat you give my back
and I know you'll be there for me
through the winter cold attack.

When summer comes your services
will no longer be so vital
but I know I'll remember you
in this poetry recital.

So this is for the radiator
you really made my day
a smile comes on so suddenly
when you take the cold away.

Written by: Me

(Sorry about the forced rhyme I am not the best poet and made frequent use of Rhymezone.com, I just felt the need for a poem to express my love for the humble radiator, when I bath in its warm glory my life feel meaningful again)

26. Looking down the row in the cinema to see smiling faces

There are some films that just make you smile. Whats even better is when you look over, just for a moment, at the Friends who came with you and see a row of smiling faces. To share that beautiful moment with all those people is just wonderful. Knowing other people understand the joy you get from a film... there are no words. Really cheered me up.

25. Holding hands

When you're little your parents hold your hand when walking down the street and while crossing the road. Then in junior school you hold hand with your 'Best Friend', to show everyone else they are your 'Best Friend'. After that you hold hands when you start 'going out' with someone.
I still hold hands with my Practically Sister, in scary or exciting scenes in films my Best Friend will hold my hand, my Long Distance Friend when he comes up holds my hand and Best Male Friend occasionally just reaches over and holds my hand. All these are wonderful moments there is something comforting about someones hand in yours, it reassures you that someone is there for you.
This isn't what made me smile though, I am a Rainbows leader (Rainbows are younger than Brownies which are below Guides, who are equivalent of Scouts but for girls), I go every Tuesday to help out and occasionally the Rainbows just reach up and hold my hand. It always makes me smile, the innocence when a child reaches up for that reassurance that you're there it's fantastic. It really made my day.

24. Hot baths

There really is little more relaxing than coming home and taking a nice long soak in the tub. This is made even better by a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. It really cheers me up.
My Best Friend utterly agrees with me (you said you're always dissapointed when you're not mentioned so here you go).

23. Hour long conversations on the phone

The telephone, a marvellous invention I believe, it's one of my favourite methods of communication. When you call someone you can hear there response instantly unlike text, email, facebook or old school letters. They could recieve those messages at any point, they could even read it when it is no longer relevant. The phone however can connect you instantly with a Friend far away. I could also talk on the phone for hours, there is just something about it I really love I never really run out of things to say, I have been told I am very difficult to hang up on.
Anyway I have a Long Distance Friend who lives about 215 miles away (give or take) he moved more than a year ago, the telephone is the reason we are still friends, I call him about once a week for a chat. It's brilliant to just talk to someone about life and all that, calling him always makes me smile. Talking to anyone on the phone for a while with anyone really cheers me up actually, but he is the person I call most regularly and its brilliant.

22. Dancing like nobody's watching (I apologise for the bad cliche)

I have always been a little outrageous in my dancing style, I will be the one getting everyone started on the handjive, people see me dancing and think 'well I might as well dance because I can't make as much of a fool of myself as she is making of herself'. I love to dance it makes me feel free, I have to concentrate entirely on what I am going to do next or I could do someone (most likely myself) quite a bit of damage. What I have also found is that the more ridiculously you dance the more you can get others to dance and let go a little. A few of my Friends came to me yesterday (I was at a party) and asked me to dance so they could as they didn't want to dance alone even though there was a small group of them. When there is someone there completely going for it you can't help but catch a little of their enthusiasm. Dancing just makes me happy.

21. Cake Friday

I know that this is the second reason in a row to contain cake however it is quite different from the last reason (well I think so).
Cake Friday is something that happens during a double lesson I have last thing on a Friday each week someone brings in cake and shares it with the class. This Friday was especially special as 4 people brought in different types of cake, when I was walking into school a friend of mine gave me half of a piece of some cake he had been given and when I went to my Friends house in the evening we polished off the rest of the chocolate cake we had made. Basically I ate a lot of cake, and eating a lot of cake makes one very happy indeed. Cake Friday should be a national thing if it was the world would be a better place.

20. Making a beautiful chocolate cake and then eating it

There are so many things about today I could have chosen as it has been quite a nice day really, but this was the most recent and glorious part. My Best Friend came over after school as we stayed late to guide prospective students to their interviews and we decided to spontaneously bake. We scoured my collection of cookbooks (well we looked in two) and came across what looked to be the most divine of puddings... Devils Food Cake. There are many variations of this cake (a little section before the recipe said that some use fruit, nuts and mashed potato... we did a double take two, mashed potato in a cake? It's just not right) but this one is basically just a rich chocolate cake with a meringue-esq icing (just boiled sugar and egg whites not cooked no mashed potatoe this time). It was beautiful, a masterpiece, if I do say so myself, there is still more than half left so tomorrow should be a good day too.
Cake is one of those glorious things in life that makes an unhappy person smile, as Marie Antoinette would say 'Let them eat cake'.

19. Being protected at the cinema during 'scary' scenes

Now the natural assumption would be that of a girl acting scared so her love interest would hold her hands during the film. This is not the case (for one I have no 'Man' currently).
I am a wuss during films, I am not ashamed of it, it's just who I am. I dont like gory scenes where people are brutally killed, I do not apologise for this as it is who I am. My Friends (and Family) know this.
Today we went to see The Season Of the Witch (for once I agree with the reviews, it wasn't very good, although Robert Sheehan was, well it had it's moments but I'm glad I didn't pay to see it). Anyway I was sat next to my Little Sister and my Best Friend, this was particularly amusing as whenever a scary bit came up my Little Sister would reach to hold my hand- and not because she was scared -and my Best Friend would cover my eyes and put her arm around my shoulder (at one point during a rather gruesome death she covered my ears as well). Those who know me have this almost instinctive urge to protect me from horrific scenes, this is not the first time it has happened, in fact it happens all the time, even once during the viewing of a Bjork music video (Pagen Poetry if you were wondering watch at your own discression, I don't know what happens in it as my eyes were covered). Some people would see this as patronising but I think it's lovely that I have friends who would like to protect my mind from this harm, and it always makes me smile when they do.

18. Having red nails.

This really applies to any good colour nail varnish and also toe nails as well as fingers. But currently I am sporting red nails and there is something cheering about that thought. I look at them, and although now they are slightly chipped, there is still a joy in the bright redness of them that lifts the corners of my mouth.

17. Finishing a good book

There is also something a little sad in this but the satisfaction of finishing the book over-rides this for me. For christmas I got bought 'Dear Fatty', Dawn French's autobiography (I would definately recommend it). Now I have never read autobiographies, not because I didn't want to, I just never got round to it, but I thought as I had been bought it I would give it a go. It suprised me, I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It is written in a series of letters to people throughout her life, and I just loved the honesty. Sometimes she would talk about the laughs, the good times and sometimes she would talk about the bad times, all in her own style. When reading it I felt like she was letting me into her life a little, some of the letters are fan letters written when she was younger, some are fan letters written now, theres a couple which mearly contain a long joke (theres one near the end which had me in stitches), there are a few to her Dad who is no longer with us and many others but they are all very Dawn. I decided I was going to take it slowly just a few chapters a night (I'm a fast reader I can read a book a night but at the moment I dont have many books I want to read) and so I have been reading it for a few days now. It's nice to have finished it, to know my mental bookshelf now has another book on it. Thats what cheered me up today.

16. Cornflake tart (I didn't think the title needed any elaboration)

Cornflake tart in my opinion is one of the best puddings in existance, it's definately in the top 10. What is even better is when you have half a tray left over that your Good Friend made and a saucepan with custard in it. Nothing surpasses the comfort in knowing I can go downstairs and get a bowl of brilliance. Thats what made my day today.

15. An evening with the girls (and honorary girl).

After a week of stress (or mild stress) the weekend is a time of relaxation and what better way or relaxation than a nice meal, some cornflake tart, mudmasks, nail varnish and wine. Sometimes just an evening with the girls (and honorary girl, my Best Male Friend who is practically one of the girls) is all you need. We had planned to watch a load of films but then we got caught up in mud masks and conversation so we'll just have to save those for next time.
Just knowing these evenings exist is enough to lift the heart and it was definately what made my day.

14. Seeing a rainbow in the sky

It's a glorious moment when you're walking down the road, it starts to rain a little, then you look up to see how far away your destination is. There is is the end across the road from your house, an arc of colour across the blue sky. It is one of those natural beuties I had almost forgotten about while being in the depth of winter, I haven't seen a rainbow in a long time and my memories did not do it justice. There are a few things in life that just lifts the soul and it made my day. I walked home with a huge grin on my face watching the rainbow slowly fade away.

13. Laughing more than you should at something really silly

We all have those moments when someone says something or you see something and it's suddenly hysterical and you're not quite sure why. Unless your Friends are in on this joke you get some very funny looks, I get them quite frequently as my sense of humour is a little... unique so to speak. But having an odd sense of humour is the best because you make other people laugh just by finding something that really shouldn't be funny, funny. I can't remember what it is I was laughing at today but I know I laughed a little more than would be considered normal. Anyway laughing at anytime cheers you up, as you have to be cheery to laugh, but the thought that there are silly things out there you will laugh at and thinking about the odd things you laughed at before is a happy thought.

12. That huge comfy jumper that you bring out in cold weather

Today I bought a new hoody, I have been mulling over this purchace for a while now as I do have hoodies, but they are female hoodies and clothing companies seem to think womens arms end just past their elbows. So I have never really worn them as a comfort item, just a last resort to keep warm. The hoody I bought today is a male medium and its the softest thing, with an added bonus of long enough sleaves, also if I pull it down it covers my bottom a little bit. I put it on as soon as I got back from the cinema this evening and I won't be taking it off for a while thats for sure (well not this evening). I am also planning a creative project to customise it but I won't spoil the suprise yet. Anyway just wearing it makes me feel more cheerful (an added bonus is that its bright blue).

11. Planning something exciting for the future.

Today I woke up with a huge headache (which is still lingering a little) and didn't think today was going to turn out well so I spent most of it in bed at about 4 my Best Friend called me up and asked if I would like to go see Much Ado About Nothing... in London(it gets better that this), starring... David Tennent... and Catherine Tate... I was so excited, there was a bit of a panic about those going and who was buying tickets but eventually we sorted it out and this May I am going to be going down to London to see this dazzling duo in one of my favourite Shakespeare plays. This knowledge just made my day, truly. It's always nice to have something exciting to look forward to even if I will have to wait a few months.

10. Someone spontaneously telling you they love you and giving you a hug.

I missed a movie night this weekend as I was away at Centerparks and my Best Male Friend came up to me today and said that on Saturday he was talking to my Best Friend and had told her "Next time I see Rosalind I am going to tell her I love her and give her a hug", and that is what he proceeded to do. It is a beautiful moment, knowing that you have been thought of when you weren't there, that your absense made a difference.
I was also walking home with my Best Friend and she was talking about how she like this blog and the idea behind it. She asked what my reason for being cheerful today was going to be, I naturally replied that I wasn't sure yet and she said "It should be that I love you" and then hugged me.
Its always nice to be told you are loved especially by those closest to your heart (did that just sound cheesy to me?). Two declarations of love in one day... definately made my day.

9. The embarrassed look on someones face when they are serenaded in public.

I'm sure everyone has seen this occuring it usually happens on birthdays, in school one 'Friend' tells the teacher and soon the whole class is singing along, or at a restaurant when the waiters turn out the light, bring out the cake and soon they have people they have never met before at different tables turning to sing, just to be a part of that moment.
This weekend I went on a hen weekend for my Practically Sister's sister, and this morning we went to a Jazz Brunch with a live Jazz band (they were quite good I thought) and my Practically Sister's in a sisterly act of kindness even though she had been specifically told not to went up unseen by the soon-to-be-bride and informed him of her upcoming wedding. I'm sure you can see where this is leading she was innocently getting up for a cup of tea when the band walks over and starts serenading her with a wonderful rendition of 'I'm getting married in the morning', her face was a picture (well actually I think it was a video that will probably be shown around for years to come), I also enjoyed the fact that the main singer then informed her that it wasn't too late.
The embarrassment of others is always something to be enjoyed and it certainly made my day.

8. Doing something so exciting it makes you feel 5 years old again.

This weekend I went on a hen weekend for my Practically Sister's sister to Centerparks. One of the wonderful things about Centerparks is the swimming pool which is where we spent a majority of the day yesterday (when this should have been written but wasn't due to lack of internet access). My Practically Sister's sister is somewhere in her mid 20's and apart from me and my Practically Sister's so was everyone else there. Now you would think in terms of maturity this would make us young immature and niave, this however was not the case they were just as excited about the rapids, the grand cascade and put just as much effort into waiting for the waves (we left in the end before they started as we were cold and had to be back, but we did catch them today and boy did we have a blast) as we did.
Normally I am not to keen on the prospect of swimming, as I once said to a Friend of mine 'Swimming is just a dissapointing bath', this however does not apply to the centerparks pool as there is so much to do you are not just wallowing in the lukewarm water.
Anyway our day at the pool was brilliant as I love feeling like a child again, and knowing that the amount of joy simple things like that bring does not change when you 'grow up', is a wonderful thought.

7. Knowing that under your trousers there is a pair of bright red tights.

Its even better when these are on show of course but as I am still in school and they do not allow coloured tights it's wonderful thinking that your legs are bright red (it also adds some toasty warmness to your legs).

6. That kid in class who insists on putting on an accent any time he reads anything out loud.

I have this one Friend (my Literary Friend) who is... how shall I say it...? Eccentric to say the least. From being young he has always been a little bit of an oddball (we have been in the same school since we were infants), he used to get bullied for it quite a bit. I think that when he was young he used to force his eccentric personality on people as he was insecure but now he has grown he accepts it comfortable and revels in his individuality. If you are wondering what category his eccentricity falls into just think about the kind of people you would find a Cambridge he loves poetry, makes his own Jam (I got a jar of it for christmas, divine I made him monogrammed hankerchiefs in exchange), talks the Queens English... I think you get the picture.
Anyway I have gone compleately off topic. Today we were started Macbeth in English lit and our teacher asked who would like to play Macbeth, all eyes turned to said fellow, he accepted the role. If you have read or seen the play you will know Macbeth does not make an appearence until a little way into the action. Everyone else was just reading in their normal tone and then enters Macbeth, the class almost held their breath (he has a reputation his attempted southen american accent was legendary), and he did not dissapoint, I don't think words could do his accent justice. One of the brilliant things was in any scene which he was a part of the other people reading also started putting on a slight accent to contend. It really cheered up my day I must say.

5. New Shoes and the sounds they make.

As mentioned on my previous post yesterday I recieved a late birthday present from my Best Friend, what I didnt mention was the fact that it was also paid for partially by some other friends of mine as their christmas present to me, and it was a pair of the most beautiful purple shoes. I had been wanting these shoes for a while now (if you are interested in what they look like here you go http://www.schuh.co.uk/purple-hush-puppies-noella-patent/1152013640/) but I dont have that kind of money to spend on shoes so had to stick to looking at them on the internet slowley pining and watching as they went out of stock and were brought back into stock.
Anywat today I wore these shoes out and about. I must say they are some of the most comfortable shoes I own (and I dont own uncomfortable shoes). Also as I mentioned in the title they make a great sound, one of the most important things to me when choosing shoes with a heel is that that make a good noise, and these ones do. Wearing good shoes always brings a little joy to my day and as I very rarely get new shoes its very special when I do. Another thing I like to do when wearing my new shoes, (well the first thing I did the last two times) is to play the song New Shoes by Paolo Nutini as loud as the situation permits me and dance in my shoes, this may make me look silly but the people that mind don't matter and the people that matter dont mind (if they did they would have left a long time ago).
Today looking down at my new shoes and hearing the sound they made just brought happiness to my very soul I hope that you share my joys when you get New Shoes (well if they are none sound making shoes just the joy that they are new is good enough, infact sometimes just the fact they are shoes and listen to the song New Shoes, it's so happy).

4. Late presents.

This one applies to birthdays, christmas and any other day you get presents (obviously this one is because of christmas looking at the time of year). My Best Friend returned from New Zealand yesterday after three weeks of being away, this ment we had not exchanged gifts yet. It was almost like it was christmas all over again. It was especially nice as sometimes theres almost a slight dissapointment when you have finished giving and recieving presents, that there are no more till next year. Whereas I knew that in a week or so I would take part in another exchanging of presents, and that was today, and it was brilliant.

3. Hot chocolate, with a spoon in it.

If you have access to the necessary equipment, (a mug, milk, hot chocolate powder, a spoon and some kind of heating device) go make yourself one (unless you do not like them or are allergic), because no matter how bad things get, things seem less difficult with a hot chocolate in hand (at least they do for me). It's like the world is put on hold my brain says, "hold on troubles, back off a little, lets concentrate on the important stuff, for example that glorious liquid being stirred right infront of your eyes". It is also a nice way to relax, just drinking a hot chocolate. I have had two today, what a reason to smile.

2. Seperating the layers in Jaffa Cakes; the glorious feeling when you put the circle of jam (marmalade?) on you're tongue.

I know this one is not something everyone appreciates, I have been told off many a time by various people who think the act of taking food apart is a sin. However that has not changed my view that in the case of the humble Jaffa Cake I will always eat the chocolate and slightly stale tasting cake part first and savour the glorious moment when I place that circle of sunshine on my tongue and the orange taste overwhelms my tastebuds.
Basically I got given some Jaffa Cakes today and what is better than food? Free food. They really made me smile.

1. It's the first day of a new year.

As this is my first post I should probably explain my reasons for this, well here goes:

 I was thinking about New Year’s resolutions, and for Christmas my friend got me a book called “1000 reasons to be happy”, this to me sounded like a fantastic title for a book. However upon starting to read some of these reasons, I found them lacking in substance and explanation, some of them were not even reasons just observations on life or quotes. I thought this to be quite a cop out and so developed an idea; I decided one of my New Year’s resolutions would be to see if I could find a reason why I smiled every day of 2011. I thought I would spread the love by publishing this list to the internet as I think of these reasons; it doesn’t really matter if nobody reads it as it’s something I’m mainly doing for myself. It also means I will have something to look back on so I can truly say 2011 was a good year.

My personal rules for this:

-Some of the reasons I may explain with a long post some just with a few lines depending on how I feel.

-Sometimes I may not get to post exactly on the day if access to the internet is lacking but I will catch myself up.

-They all need to make sense.

-They don’t have to be reasons other people would necessarily share.

-… I think that’s it

Now to explain today’s reason:

Well a New Year is almost like a clean slate, all the mistakes you made last year don’t apply to this year. I’m not saying they are not still their lingering in your mind, dictating your moves, but they happened last year. If anyone brings it up you can apply the phrase “yes, but that was last year I won’t let it happen this year” this is especially brilliant if you have actually done something yesterday which you can pass off as last year, it gives it a gap of time which means people are more understanding. With the New Year also comes new possibilities there are so many things waiting to happen for me 364 more days of cheerfulness and it being a New Year this is the start of it all. So let’s sit back, relax and let 2011 roll in. That’s the reason I have smiled today.