6:51 AM - Monday 25th, September 2017. Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning…

If yesterday was the last summery day then it was quite a way to sign off. It was such a supremely satisfying day for a number of reasons.

But principally a good night’s sleep, my family and time spent outdoors made it a special day. It's not such a difficult equation in the end and I think I ticked a few boxes from this great article by Bella Zanesco: "Seven Steps to Improving your Mental Health".

After a late breakfast Emma and I agreed to go for a walk. The whole world and their dogs seemed to be strolling in the early autumn sunshine and perhaps this weekend of warmth, which felt like a bit of a bonus, made all whom we met unusually willing to stop, smile and say hello!

“Can we go in the packraft daddy?”

It is hard to express in words the special joy that permeates throughout every fibre of me when I hear such a question. I am delighted my daughter is showing an increasing interest not only in getting on the water but in actually doing some paddling. Today she showed me she understood the basic principles that keep a vessel straight.

Of course my paddle is way to big for a six year old, so I think its time to look into what the options are when it comes to small kayaks, paddles etc. I suppose realistically we will need a two person packraft (or kayak)… which on the one hand fills me with excitement at the thought of more adventuring with my little girl, and on the other hand means I probably should have just bought one of those in the first place! Oops.

Later in the afternoon we walked by the river Ouse, this time picking sloe berries for gin experimentation. Emma, sat on my shoulders to reach the ripest, bestest berries, filling our tupperware before kicking it over moments later and sending a carpet of these deep purple marbles rolling across the footpath.

Between these two outings I also had time to watch Moeen Ali hitting a rapid-fire hundred as England won the cricket*. I guess it was just one of those days!

I certainly came out of it full of energy and motivated for a busy week of work (and play). This is a happy contrast to times gone by when Sunday's were days of totally irrational, but mind consuming, anxiety and dread at the upcoming week.