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AIBU?

AIBU to delight in life's silly little pleasures?

102 replies

UnderperformingSeal · 24/06/2020 14:45

It's been a fraught three months. There's been a lot of venting on here about people's inability to understand what isolation is, or what 2m looks like, or whatever other COVID-19-related stress was bothering us at the time. The light at the end of the tunnel might well turn out to be an oncoming train. If we aren't all at the end of our tethers by now, we can't be far away.

However, despite the pandemic and its restrictions on normal life there are always things from which we can still derive joy; obvious ones like clean bedsheets, a leisurely shower or long soak when the house is empty, or biting the chocolate off a *KitKat finger. And then there are the less obvious ones: today I caught myself drumming the teaspoon on the foil lid of a fresh jar of coffee before piercing it (which too is a joy in itself), and I realised I do this every time I open one. It's silly, and serves no purpose, but it's far more pleasing than it should be to a grown adult and I can't help myself. Further introspection revealed that it isn't my only daft little foible, as I am also prone to coiling those wire ties that hold cables tidy in electronics packaging around my finger to form a spring, and tapping my tweezers on my finger and holding them up to my ear like they're a tuning fork. There are probably others.

I may be a tiny bit mental, or perhaps this sort of idiosyncratic nonsense is perfectly normal. So, Mumsnet, which is it?

  • insert the confectionery and dismemberment method of your choice; there was a thread recently on here in which KitKat proved surprisingly divisive.
OP posts:
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Teacaketotty · 24/06/2020 14:56

There is no greater pleasure in life for me than this;

Baby in bed
Shower with a lovely gel
Fresh PJs
Fresh bed sheets
Tea and a Fry’s strawberry cream while watching bad tv

Bliss Grin

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EmmaJR1 · 24/06/2020 15:00

Personally I think if you don't delight in the mundane and silly you are missing out.

There's not many amazing things to look forward to at the moment so find joy in the little everyday things.

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IndieRo · 24/06/2020 15:01

Friday nights are my favourite. I blitz house from top to bottom, change bed sheets etc, get food shop. I have a nice shower, put on my favourite pj's, plonk my arse on the sofa at 6pm and have a few beers, crisps with DH whilst kids have their movie night upstairs. It's my fave.

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mbosnz · 24/06/2020 15:09

I'm enjoying the hot weather to wash and then line dry all the duvets and duvet covers - it's bliss and the smell of summer!

My daughter is making little embroidered lavender sachets and we'll fill them with lavender dried from our garden - I know my Mum will treasure that little gift.

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IAintentDead · 24/06/2020 15:12

Watching the hedgehogs trundle in for their nightly feed. I usually get at least 4 visits although I don't know how many different ones. One is older though - he trundles very slowly and must be deaf as he doesn't move if I open the door.

When the blackbirds had fledglings it was fun watching them shout to the 'grown ups' to be fed - but being quite able to feed themselves when the adults weren't around. It's now back to Daddy rules though and the youngsters and female are chased off whenever he is around.

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UnderperformingSeal · 24/06/2020 15:14

Hmm, all fine and dandy things to be enjoying so far, and you absolutely should, but they're really none of them silly things to love.

Why on earth do I find such amusement in drumming on the coffee jar, makeshift springs and tweezer tuning forks??

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theruffles · 24/06/2020 15:19

The washing drying on the line on a sunny day; the feel of a lovely hot shower; a really good cup of coffee (and being left alone long enough to sit and enjoy it!); picking out a new ball of wool and squeezing it (knitting is my favourite hobby); feeling the sun on your face first thing of a morning in the spring/summer; daffodils coming out after winter; the way my DD says 'bubble' and 'yellow'.

I think life would be really dull without savouring those little moments.

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PinkKind · 24/06/2020 15:19

For me it is starting a new book in a series I am enjoying.
New bed sheets.
New PJs.
Movie nights with popcorn!!

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Sunnydayshereatlast · 24/06/2020 15:23

Yesterday was a smiley day watching ds 5 Ladybird hunting and naming them as he did!! Tinker Bell and Larry maybe not so chuffed!
Seeing our dpuppy experiencing new things and getting better behaved is heartwarming.

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icedaisy · 24/06/2020 15:24

My toddler laughing.

Last night I took her to garden in her pyjamas and bare feet to see her new swing. She ran across the grass shrieking in delight, was just lovely. I smiled all night.

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RuggerHug · 24/06/2020 15:25

I'm finally going to watch the end of a tv series I started years ago and I'm making it an event for myself tonight. Wine, popcorn, lights off the lot. My little joy is I've managed to not know the ending so I'm buzzing.

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MarieIVanArkleStinks · 24/06/2020 15:25

I didn't even know Fry's did a strawberry cream, although I do love their peppermint one. Excited now!

I love relaxing in the garden and the way the big sycamore tree casts a lovely shade on my side patio at 3 pm which prevents me staying in the sun too long and getting burnt.

Sunlight sparkling on water always makes my soul sing.

My child's laughter, ditto.

Fresh bedding is always a huge pleasure. As are some things other people find boring, like poking round antique shops hoping for that special find.

Watching every bird that comes to the bird feeder, squirrels caching in autumn, the swallows going home at night and the bats coming out immediately afterwards, and I'm also a hedgehog lover.

Sitting out in the light evenings with the fire pit and coming in stinking of wood smoke reminds me so much of sitting round the camp fires at rock festivals.

The beauty of the wild, non-commercialised areas of our county's coastline. There are new pleasures and treasures to be discovered every time.

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Honeybadger01 · 24/06/2020 15:26

I like silly things too, pretending our pets are talking to us (rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters), spotting things in the clouds- recently Kermit floated past our garden, making up silly songs to sing to each other, it all makes life just a little more bearable.

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Picklypickles · 24/06/2020 15:29

We've been having a great time with a big sheet of bubble wrap today from a package, its the kind with really big bubbles and me and the kids have been jumping up and down on it!

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icedaisy · 24/06/2020 15:30

Oh the bird feeder. How did I forget.

This is a new thing for me. I love it.

I swear they get cross if I am not out filling it first thing. Absolutely love watching them all.

Dh was laughing and said I'm like Monica with her cookies for the neighbours, I'm coming I'm coming.

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Wolfgirrl · 24/06/2020 15:37

Not at all OP. People that can appreciate the little joys in life are generally so positive and uplifting to be around. My stepmum comes from a much humbler background than my family (not mega rich or anything, just grew up in a nice area and very comfortable). She always used to make barbed comments about us being spoiled etc, but honestly nothing is ever good enough for her - she complains about every hotel she stays in, every restaurant she goes to, every hairdresser that does her hair.

By comparison me and my siblings get really excited by, for example, a good pudding or a cup of posh coffee!

My faves:
A hot cup of tea when you really want one
The sound of DD laughing
Bubble baths
Clean fresh pyjamas
The feeling of taking my work shoes off after a long day
Watching crap TV with a bar of dairy milk
Seeing a whippet when I am out & about (love them and always hope to spot one!)
Cheesy 80s pop on the radio. So feel-good!!!
Those autumn morning that are really fresh and crisp
The smell of cut grass
Strudel and clotted cream in winter

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ultrablue · 24/06/2020 15:38

Love life's little pleasures.. my current one is the summerhouse I hat always wanted. It was delivered Sunday, partially up and in the middle of being painted (too hot to finish painting it today as the sun shines full force on it and I burn easily)but I am loving perching on a chair in it, can't wait until I finish it.

DD2 dyed my hair yesterday, I accidentally bought the wrong dye, it looks nothing like the colour on the box and it's come out the exact colour I've wanted for years but could never find a semi permanent one in the right shade... I LOVE it... Small pleasures...

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CanWeComeIntoTheOutNow · 24/06/2020 15:40

Ooh... Peeling film off electronics items.
The click made when you do up a rucksack catch, you know, the sort where you squeeze the sides to release it.
Cleaning a really dirty sink.
The thunk made when my velux window opens or closes. A really nice remote control that is slightly clicky but not too much. Slamming a heavy book shut....

Lots of noise ones for me. Ooh yes - opening a new bottle of fizzy water. Such fun.

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Sunnydayshereatlast · 24/06/2020 15:41

Listening to my ds 16 chatting to the ddogs like they are joining in the conversation!!
They hang on his every word!!

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TwoZeroTwoZero · 24/06/2020 15:45

My biggest pleasure at the moment is sitting in the summerhouse in the mid to late evening, when it's still warm but not sweltering, and listening to the birds wind down, watching the bats flutter about and being able to hear the hedgehog snuffling about in the garden somewhere. I think there is a female with babies because of the sounds they make.

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SauvignonBlanketyBlank · 24/06/2020 15:47

Friday evening.Crack open the bottle (s) of wine and watch a family film until our Indian Takeaway arrives

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7ofNine · 24/06/2020 15:56

How loudly do hedgehogs snuffle then?

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 24/06/2020 16:00

Fiddling with a velvet throw feeling the nap rub back and forth, sticking and unsticking a sticky label, pulling bits of Velcro apart, and yes to making springs out of wire ties 😁 I don’t think I will ever bea proper grown up.

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Sunnydayshereatlast · 24/06/2020 16:03

Recent thread about hedgehog noise was quite entertaining...
Turned out not to be little spiney critters but 2 people having a bonk in an mner's hedge!! How very disrespectful indeed!!
Shock

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Motoko · 24/06/2020 16:50

I thought it was just me that nibbles the chocolate off the edges of a kitkat! Then I use my teeth to separate the layers of wafer.

I use my thumbnail to pierce the foil on the coffee jar, and then I run my nail around the edge, so it's all neat!

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