What small things in life make you happy?

[unknownn]

.. just that really. Last night i had a cheap bottle of wine and indulged in crappy telly for the eve and i were happy as a clam. What little things do you do, or buy yourself as a treat, for a cheeky burst of happy?

Watching the squirrels bouncing around in the garden.
DS climbing in with me for a cuddle at night (he’s 6, it doesn’t happen much anymore).
The smell of rain, and the sound it makes on the windows.
My peaceful cup of tea when I get in from taking the kids to school and before I have to leave for work. Those 10 minutes are perfect!

New stationary!

a nice sky, clouds, a bit of red, sun rise, sun set.

Starbucks coffee on my own, browsing Oliver Bonas, ASOS vouchers, smoked salmon canapés, going to festivals, fresh bedding, when my husband surprises me, visiting my best friend in London.

A madeleine with my freshly brewed morning coffee.

Making a proper tray of tea with tea pot and milk jug, and time to drink it slowly by the fire.

Shoes that make a good clip clop sound. I wore some lace ups today that make a great sound. Walked around for ages enjoying the noise.

Under a blanket on the couch watching something good on Netflix/prime usually with coffee or wine depending ( and my partner)
Lazing in bed even though I'm awake.
Glass of wine in a pub following a nice local walk
Crisps
Yoga and exercise
Catch ups with friends/family
Sunny days
Clean bedding
Music
Going to bed the night before a day off and NOT having to set the alarm!
Time with my man even just at home, we are busy at work etc so I value my time with him.

I could go on and on actually but I'll stop. Apparently I really appreciate the simple things in life!

The gorgeous large cup of coffee my husband brings me when at home.

Fresh flowers that I buy for myself every week.

Getting to sit down with a glass of something with my husband.

Sitting in my garden, which is really lovely, and my husband's pride and joy.

My children all play the piano beautifully.

It gives me enormous pleasure to hear them play.
(However, the many, many years of getting them to practice and do exams, to get to this point, was absolute torture at times!)

Seeing my children's interaction with each other.

Diet coke, my cat pepper purring next to me.

Ah lovely thread.

Coming home to my beautifully painted bright front door and my pots of pink geraniums
Feeding the birds and learning all the different species and their habits
Watching the bumblebees and butterflies in the garden and learning those too
My kindle and a kitkat dark
Mini bottle of Prosecco, blanket, salt lamp, lava lamp, Nettflix and DH.

Clean bedlinen
My dogs when I go downstairs 1st thing in the morning
The sun on your face
Wind in your hair
My grandchildren running towards me shouting "nanny"
That first cup of tea when you get home from work and go aaahhhh

Other people being on time.

A smile from my three month old grandson

My pony when she is having a real character moment
The cat
Seeing animals like badgers, foxes and hedgehogs
Being by the sea
Cuddles
Post exercise high and a cold drink
Getting on a bus or train
Any snatched 5 minutes to myself
A song I haven't heard in ages which just captures a mood or a memory
That moment when you get into a really good book

Puttering around the cycle paths on my bike, listening to bird song, seeing people foraging for berries. Clocking the dogs being walked. Simple pleasure.

The ritual of my skincare routine in the evening. I light a candle in our bathroom, have quiet music playing, and then really indulge and pamper my skin. It's so soothing and the perfect way to end the day.

A crisp new hardback book with a fancy, tasseled bookmark.

The big mug of coffee that DH brings me in bed on a Saturday morning, knowing we have the whole weekend ahead.

My cat. When my kids come home from school and college. A nice bottle of Merlot. Seeing my parents. Sitting on the internet of an evening planning a holiday. Watching Friends. I could go on.

@TeenPlusTwenties Do you remember the big mechanical station clocks, which clicked with every change of digit? The really big clicks were rare: at 10:00:00 all six digits would change, each one slightly behind the other.

I love using public transport, when it works at it's meant to.

I'm always happy after playing a good game of netball - preferably when my team wins, but also when we play well!

The ritual that my DH and I always perform when he wraps my presents, or makes my birthday cake, which we love because it's silly: while he does these things, I'm in the room with him, blindfolded. Everyone thinks it's weird but we both love it!

The other afternoon it was tipping down with rain and I had an hour before going out to collect kids. I went to bed with a good book while listening to the rain through a half open window - it was lovely!

When it's bad weather, Shutting the big old shutters in my living room, lighting the fire and the lamps, putting a record on and reading a book under a blanket. Perhaps with a sleepy dog or two lolling about.
My house is very old and the lounge has battered wood panelling. It's perfect for being cosy on an autumn or winters night.

Also I live above a coffee bar in Italy. Popping down for a cappuccino and a chat with our lovely barista whenver I am working from home really improves my mood!

Sunshine
Putting laundry out on the line
Lighting the fire
Fresh bed linen
Listening to my girls all laughing together

Not having to set my alarm clock for early the next morning (rare bliss!)

Feeding the squirrels in my local park (not as easy as it sounds as people walking their dogs or children screaming scare them off so the timing has to be right for it to be successful)

Spending time with our lovely fox patients when I volunteer at The Fox Project

The sound of waves
Crisps
Cuddling my cats
Seeing my teenage DD and DH having a laugh together

Rain and wind outside when you are snuggled in bed and know you don't have to get up.