• Alice is a woman I went to school with who now happens to live opposite me. She has recently married her partner and adopted two adorable young girls. They happened to be heading out at the same time as me earlier, and the girls started waving at me frantically (I haven’t met them properly yet, so they just know me as a neighbour). It made me smile for two reasons – firstly, their waving was really sweet and made me feel quite warm, but secondly, and perhaps more importantly, once I had gotten into my car and driven off, it occurred to me how lucky we are to live in a country where a white woman can marry a black woman, and provide a loving home for two wonderful girls. 
• A little dog in a car started yapping at Forest as we walked past, but Forest just stared at it blankly and then walked off. I smiled because that’s my boy
• A cute dog fast asleep on the floor of the pub whilst its owners have a cheeky pint 
• In the changing room of the gym, one of the of the PTs was asking a guy loads of questions about himself, but they were really thoughtful and offered this guy the opportunity to tell his story, and I smiled because I thought that’s a really nice & sweet thing to do
• A middle aged man riding a scooter through Burton town centre. Excellent vibes 
• Both of the people sat opposite me on the train were reading books, and it made me smile because it’s a nice change to not see people glued to their phones 
• A young lad standing on a bridge in the rain with his Dad, signalling for the lorries driving past to honk their horn. I smiled because it was cute 
• Donna leaves me a note on the side most mornings to let me know if she has fed the dogs or not, and it makes me smile that she does that rather than just text me
• Walking from New Street Station to the office, skinny latte in hand, Smile by Lily Allen in my ears, I smiled because I’m so happy with life at the moment 
• A guy got off of the train at the stop before mine and the guard beamed at him, shouting “Matt! I need to see some pictures of your first day”, and it made me smile because there was so much genuine joy in his face to see this young chap disembarking the train 
• I smiled because I was thinking about how much I can’t stop smiling at the moment 
• As I was walking Forest, I walked past three elderly ladies that were sat on a bench, chatting and giggling to each other, and I smiled and said hello because I don’t think I’ve ever seen something as lovely and wholesome as that 
• Two elderly women sat at the table next to us and tipped their waitress, saying “we’ve decided you’re very good”
• I smiled as I walked through Birmingham New Street Station because I’m so much better looking than most of the general public 
• An elderly chap sat opposite me on the plane was reading through football betting slips from Ladbrokes and I smiled because you have to admire the dedication there 
• I bumped into my old friend James Douglas as I was walking home from the chemist, and I smiled because it’s quite nice to bump into friends you don’t see very often any more 
• I’ve bought some noise cancelling headphones and they’re absolutely fantastic. I smiled because despite hearing almost nothing else, I can still hear my Mum laugh 
• There was a stray cat chilling by the harbour as I sat for dinner with Mum. As I watched lots of different couples & families play with it as they walked past, it made me smile 
• I’m on the train. I’ve just put my book down and put my headphones on. A song I really like has come on. The sun is fluttering through the window. I smile. Life is good. 
• A man is playing his television show out loud on his phone on the train, and I caught the eye of a woman who was giving him a disgusted look at the same time I was, and I smiled because I love being English, knowing that neither of us will say anything to the man but will probably slag him off to our work colleagues later 
• Alice’s kids have now learnt my name. They were leaving their house as I left my house earlier, and they both shouted “Hi Harry” and waved at me. It was very sweet, and I smiled

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