On Tuesday morning, the forecast predicted sun for a few hours in the morning. This would be my only chance. The persistent cloud and rain of the last week would swiftly return that afternoon. So I took action, as living in Wales has taught me to do. I scrapped my plans to arrive at my desk early, donned my running shoes, and ascended into the hills.

I ran up, up, up, until I reached the crest of Hay Common. There I stopped and stood in awe of the simple beauty: green grass, blue sky, peaceful sheep – all revealed by the sun's ephemeral golden rays, warming both my skin and my heart.