What is your idea of 'bliss'?

[mashpotato10]

Mine is walking in the woods in autumn with family. Also watching reality tv whilst eating (too many)custard creams and a cup of tea.

Sitting on my patio with DP, sipping wine under the sunset. Kids and animals safe and sorted behind us in the house, calm and tranquillity stretching out before us.

Going for a walk in the woods behind our house with my dd(13) and dog and her telling me all the adventures her and her friends get up to in the wood (rope swing, jumping becks, pooh sticks - it goes on) on the way to school.

Listening to my DH wrapping my presents, before my birthday, Christmas, and our anniversary. I can hear him wrapping away by my side, and I can see what I'm going to get. That was wishful thinking: the gifts are passing under my nose, inches away from me, and I can't see them because I'm blindfolded. I try to ask him what goodies await me, and he teases me by letting me feel them, especially if they're in boxes. It's a favourite ritual of ours to indulge my childish excitement of receiving presents, and a moment of bliss I get to enjoy a few times a year!

Swimming outside on a hot day. Nothing is better than that!
It's why I loved last summer. I swam in lidos, lakes and the sea. This year it's my ambition to swim in the Serpentine and Hampstead Ponds.

@PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle Oh absolutely, last summer was magnificent. At the Serpentine, you can get into shallow water, try that one first.

Sitting on my own on a secluded a Norfolk beach, Weybourne or Holkham preferably.

Warm sun, waves lapping, kids playing sun lounger and book 👍

The ten minutes of Savasana at the end of Bodybalance on a Friday evening at the gym. I love knowing that after a hot shower I will go home to DH cooking the evening meal, and a glass of wine.

Anything involving long walks in nature with DC picnic&flask of coffee..Watching Seinfeld re-runs withDC ..cold nights in hot jacuzzi with DC(or not😂)-stargazing from jacuzzi or feeling rain coming down is especially'ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh'..the smell of warm, freshly woken cat.

A warm morning sitting on patio everyone at school no neighbours. Bees buzzing in the lavender. Birds singing and coffee and croissants.

Or playing with a kitten.

Turning off the alarm on the first night of school holidays.
Sitting quietly on the banks of a Scottish loch with my family.

Snuggling with my two doggies

Lying in bed reading with a cuppa listening to rain falling

Crisp frosty winter morning dog walks

Dark nights, crackling fires and cuddling up on the couch

Sneaking into my kids rooms to watch them sleep

When the bell rings on the last afternoon of term

Sitting on the Top of the Rock and watching the light show on the Empire State Building

At home - a summer's day on my sunlounger in the garden reading while the noisy kids next door are at school with only the cat for company.

On holiday - sitting in a sunny square in a European city with my DH and a glass of wine people-watching.

Snuggled in a family heap with DH, DC (now 16 & 19) and DDog watching an old film on a Sunday afternoon.

Cuddling my baby
Time spent with my little family
Sleep
Tea and chocolate on the sofa
Candle-lit bath
Walking beside the sea

Lots.

A warm day, an isolated spot with a glade beside the river dart. Swimming and sunbathing with those I love most and the dog. A lovely picnic with delicious food and a little stove to make fresh tea. Then back to a good hotel for a wallowing bath and supper on the terrace.

Or thrashing rain, thunderstorm even, whilst walking the dog over the Downs with my husband and friends. Saturated, skin on face stinging, but real sense of being almost inside the weather. Then home for hot showers for everyone including the dog, before curling up in front of the fire with a supper that’s been simmering away in the Aga and a couple of episodes of Line of Duty or similar.

Or being woken with a cup of tea for breakfast on a plane an hour before we are due to land somewhere I haven’t been before. Knowing my husband will be waiting at the airport and that sense of excitement knowing I’ll soon see whether the planning and research match’s the reality. Stepping out into 29 degrees. Perfect.

Waking for stockings on Christmas morning with all the children squealing. (still)

Sitting outside in the sun with a good book, the sound of nature and a nice drink (tea usually, but other beverages are also good). But completely alone. Just immersed in words.

When the house is clean and tidy and everyone is out. It's very rare that I'm ever completely alone. I'll normally just drink tea and read a book but it recharges me.

Going out just me and DH and getting to focus on each other.

When the kids come over for a cuddle and end up falling asleep on me, all snuggled in.

Being near the sea. I went to Scarborough yesterday and sat near the old, now filled in sea pool. Hardly anyone else was there and it was just the sound of the odd bird and the waves, it was bliss. Anywhere coastal is good for me, I could watch the sea all day.

I also love my own back garden early morning, just birds singing, bees buzzing and no one else yet about.

Being in bed with DS and DH, cuddled up watching telly or reading books or just chatting. Also, I was remembering the feeling the other day of getting home from school in the dark (in winter), with dinner bubbling on the stove and the fire on, chatting with my mum and having a cup of tea. Made me feel all warm and cosy when I thought of it!

Depends who I'm with!
With friends, sitting in the garden, drinking, chatting, drinking....
With dc & dh, sitting on a beach at sunset, the woods on a sunny day or snuggled up watching films, especially at Christmas
With just dh, an empty house and a day in bed

Empty house in the afternoon. Cup of tea and Radio 4.

On my own peanut butter on toast after ten mile run.
With my dc scavenging for sea glass on a sunny empty beach
With with dh, eating Chinese dumplings.

Going down a waterslide, especially when it's fast, and completely dark!