I came to Coventry to take up this position from the Isle of Wight. I love natural beauty, and the Island has it in abundance; wonderful beaches, rivers, downs. Our house there had amazing sea views, and we could watch the movement of the day from sunrise to sunset.

Coventry is very different. It was a wrench, not only for me, but for my husband and children to leave behind this beauty. But the natural world is still there, even in an urban, concrete city such as this; you just have to look a bit harder for it. I walk into work, 12 minutes from home to the Cathedral, where I begin my day. This morning I tried to pay particular attention to the signs of colour, and the sounds of nature. They were there – a robin, a blackbird singing, a squirrel, and flowers in the hedges. I sat on the steps of the Cathedral for a few minutes and closed my eyes; just feeling the breeze and the warmth of the sun is nourishing. Perhaps we spend so much time rushing to get to wherever we are going that we forget to make the most of the journey itself. I know I am planning to run, but I hope that I can be mindful or the world around me as I do so. There’s not much chance of me running fast, so it shouldn’t be too much or a problem!

I remember someone sent me a card once which said
In your haste along the way, take time to see the flowers.

Rosie