the sunshine list

"Oh that was a cute little smile" - overheard after I smiled at a woman on the stairs coming out of stepney green station, and we both moved to avoid each other but then had to move aside again as we had both moved in the same direction. The man she was with said it to her after I passed in a kind, slightly surprised, non-patronising way

Theorising with James about alternative ways of structuring a society, and feeling lost and hopeful in equal measure. The intensity of his desire to understand and impact humanity is inspiring, and speaking with him is always interesting

Lying on the croquet lawn with Brendan in the sunshine IN FEBRUARY 

That in my graduate mentor meeting with Ben, when I started crying, he acted unfazed and said I could walk around the room as I spoke to collect my thoughts

Being photographed with Gemma for the Oxford Women Speak Out project, finally knowing what I wanted to be said. Going to the event on my own, and chatting to Helena there, and feeling a sense of connection with all the other women there, whilst also feeling as if I was watching the world through a fairy light induced haze. Solidarity for all sisters, especially those struggling <3

Lucy Aplin agreeing to meet me so last minute to briefly discuss my ideas for the oral presentation

Buying the blue bathbomb with seaweed in it from Lush for Henry

‘Seigfried’ by Frank Ocean

The one-on-one tute with Alex Rogers talking about primary production and species richness patterns in the deep ocean. SO interesting, and left me feeling more enthused about Biology than I have been since coming back to Oxford this year

Brendan coming round as soon as I texted him to apologise for flaking on him and not going to the library because I was feeling shit about myself and making me feel so much better, and for making me feel loved

Emma messaging me asking to go to lunch

That Charlie was quick to forgive me - in fact, quick to make light of the situation and use it as material for jokes, rather than as a source of shame or embarrassment

That I had run out of milk, but when I went downstairs, someone had left a pint of milk there with ‘take me’ on it, so I could have cereal this morning

That there are so many more than one thing a day to be grateful for 

That Grace feels she can call me up/ I am her go to person to talk to over the phone when she is feeling anxious and/ or lonely

That Charlie always jumps over the barrier into the Rose Lane car park