I'VE lost count of the times I've had to pinch myself over the last five and a half years.

From covering breaking news to interviewing the First Minister and playing at T in the Park - I really can't believe how lucky I've been.

With my time at the Evening Times coming to an end I've been thinking about what the paper has meant to me and the role it's had in my life.

I still remember my first day when I was sent out with one of our photographers to do 'vox pops' in Paisley, asking locals what they thought about the town centre's regeneration.

At that time I still embarrassingly thought Milngavie was pronounced Miln-gav-ee and I'd never even heard of a munchy box.

I'd come down the road from Aberdeen for the trainee reporter role and everything was new.

How things have changed. I quickly learned the geography of the area, my East Kilbrides from my West Kilbrides, and my Govans from my Govanhills.

After I started finishing my sentences with "but" and saying: "am umnae" I realised the process was complete and I was an adopted Glaswegian.

It was through the ET that I was given the chance to do my favourite thing: listening to people's stories.

Interviewing women about their experiences of domestic abuse and rape is something I'll always remember. I thought it was brave and important that they were willing to share their stories with readers about the harrowing things they had gone through and were dealing with.

Similarly, I have enjoyed sharing stories from refugees in Glasgow, about their journeys from countries torn apart by war or brutal regimes and about their time in and around the city.

I'd have never predicted chatting about pigeons and rain with a Syrian family who arrived in Paisley late last year as part of the vulnerable persons relocation scheme.

Good or bad, positive or negative, it's great to have as many stories as possible out there.

I was lucky to be at the ET during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - watching teenager Erraid Davies win a medal in Tollcross was a highlight - and the independence referendum.

Working at a German newspaper in Berlin was another brilliant opportunity and starting a band for our sister paper the Sunday Herald was a dream come true for a music super-fan.

One of the best things about this job has been working with my colleagues - from the other reporters to the photographers, subs, designers and admin team. I've never met such a talented and hardworking bunch.

So in my last week at the ET I can look back and say it's been amazing. There have been ups and downs but luckily I've not even had to endure a munchy box.