Pictures show we have much to be grateful for in Whitchurch

We are more than halfway through the year and what a strange few months it has proved to be.

From emerging from more than two years of lockdown misery and straight into the largest war on European soil in almost 80 years - it is fair to say that the years we are enduring will be taught in the history classes of the future.

While misery and suffering will be what the past few years will be remembered for we must also play the 'Glad game.'

For anyone unaware of the 'Glad game' allow me to point you in the direction of the 1960 film Pollyanna starring Hayley Mills.

The premise is simple enough and based on the 1913 novel by Eleanor Porter.

Simply whenever things seems bad then try your hardest to find a silver lining. If you feel sick today then take solace in the fact you may feel better tomorrow or perhaps, more fittingly for the times, if you are flat broke today then tomorrow is one day closer to pay day.

The Pollyanna principle is the tendency for people to remember pleasant items more accurately than unpleasant ones.

Research indicates that at the subconscious level, the mind tends to focus on the optimistic while at the conscious level, it tends to focus on the negative.

We are indeed fortunate that the 'Glad game' is something we do not have too need to deploy compared to many others across the world who are suffering so much at the moment.

After all, we live in a peaceful part of the country and while things are far from perfect at least we have the solace of the countryside and knowledge we are part of a community.

So, let's all be Pollyanna for a moment and be glad about that.

A sunset to remember. Picture by Laura Butler.

A young water vole. Picture by Kate Long.

When you have to sleep, you have to sleep. Picture by Steve Beech.

A marbled white butterfly. Picture by Kate Long.

A magpie enjoys a rest. Picture by Steve Beech.

Two for tea. Picture by Jan Rescorla.

Sunset over Shropshire. Picture by Brian Roberts.