Things Which Make Me Smile #1

Since today marks International Happiness day, I have decided to do a few posts over the coming days about things which make me...and hopefully you!...smile. 

I've had my camera a lot longer than Fairy in the Blossom Tree has been around and so through these posts I am going to show you some of the things which I get up to in my life. I really enjoy reading other people's blog posts where you find out what they like, where they've been and what they've been up to...so if you're nosey like me then you might enjoy these next few posts of mine!

Today's things which make me smile are:

1. The Sun
A few years ago I spent a summer in Tanzania in Africa teaching first aid to children in rural schools. During my time away, I saw some of the most amazing things I've ever seen. One of these had to be the sunrises. It still doesn't feel like it was me when I say that I have seen the sun rise over the Ngorongoro crater before going on safari, or that I sat on a deserted beach in Zanzibar at 5.30am watching ladies pick seaweed from the shores, but thankfully I have the photos to prove it!
I think travelling is a very important part of life and whilst going to far flung places like Africa might be a little too extreme for some people, I do think everyone should try at least once to go somewhere that is totally out of their comfort zone. The things you learn about yourself are amazing.
The most poignant lesson I learnt about myself from my 2 months in Africa? That no matter where I go, I WILL lose my mobile phone within 2 days of having it, no matter what!

Sunrise over the Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania

Seaweed pickers, Bwejuu beach, Zanzibar

Pier jumpers in Stonetown, Zanzibar

2. Food

Who doesn't enjoy their food?! I find so much pleasure from what food can bring - obviously the first and foremost is that it's bloomin' yummy, but I love the way food brings friends and family together, whether it be a birthday meal out to a restaurant, a summer BBQ in the park or a big Sunday breakfast in your PJs with your love. 

Breakfast in Gullane, Scotland

Pizza from the Vittoria Van at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Birthday dinner for the boy!

Fresh croissants and coffee in Paris

Currywurst at the German Market in Edinburgh

What makes you smile? Would you like to see more of these kinds of posts?

Dreaming of lands far away

I must say I am looking forward to seeing the back of January! Although it hasn't been too long a month for me and I've been busy getting stuck in to work and the dreaded fitness regime, I'm oh-so ready (probably prematurely, given that I live in Scotland and it could well snow for the next 3 months solid!) for the nights to get lighter, the daffodils to start springing up and for people to start coming out of hibernation.

So! Today I give you an insight in to what is currently keeping me cheerful until spring does finally descend. My boyfriend and I booked our summer holiday for 2014 in December and haven't stopped talking and planning it since. The original plan was to jet off somewhere far, far away like the Dominican Republic, but, upon giving myself a hard reality check and remembering how much I am NOT a creature made for lying on a beach for 14 days on the trot (I salute you who are!), we decided to book a couple of weeks railing it around Eastern Europe!

This is the loosely scheduled agenda of places we are desperate to visit, but so far the only things booked are flights out to Croatia, flights home from Prague 2 weeks later and a 5 star spa hotel in Budapest for the weekend!

"We should all start to live before we get too old"

All I can think about as I sit here in the pouring rain is sitting on a veranda at 8am, sandals and sun dress on, drinking coffee and feeling the morning sun on my face. Not too much to ask is it?!
Here is a pinterest haven of some places penciled in on the map...

Has anyone been travelling around Eastern Europe and have any recommendations?

Happy Monday :-)