What little things disproportionately improve your quality of life?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

I know that the big things (secure housing, relationships and finances, good physical and mental health) make all the difference. But I just turned on the car radio and it got me thinking about the small, inexpensive things that make life so much better. Here are mine:

Radio 4
The Sunday Times
Having a lovely coffee shop next to the small office I rent
Cheese from the market
Having a village library
Good footpaths nearby
An open fire
Being able to go swimming each week ( roll on Wednesday!)
Baths
Gardener's World and Call My Agent (French comedy drama)
Being on a good bus route (I'm now down to only one school run, thank God)
Brogues and colourful tights

What are yours'?

Also drinking my coffee every morning from my Emma Bridgewater Sweet Pea mug - that makes me very happy.

Lighting the woodburner of a chilly evening when I’ve watched the cold and wet advancing towards us, and settling down with a bottle of Dornfelder and a round of Baron Bigod and nice crackers of a Saturday night.

Sky box in the kitchen. So I can record all my miss Marples, and midsomers , and watch them in peace whilst family think I’m very busy.

A new coffee maker, with a timer that works. The last one didn’t have one. It’s so great to get up in the morning, to a fresh brewed pot.

My Westie. She’s tons of fun, sweet and cuddly, and great with my DC9. And I love how she barks like a guard dog when the doorbell rings, even though she 14lbs haha. She has the heart of a lion, and we get such a kick from her.

A car. I frequently think - god how brilliant I can go anywhere ( on the daily commute).

Early mornings. Yes shit to have to be up and go somewhere but honestly - best time of the day ever.

Cake. Good texture, taste and no wrongness like cheesecake or fruity stuff that’s too sweet or dour.

Wine. Obviously

Sunshine.

My kids getting along..bliss
Zoom quiz nights with friends
Wine
A good netflix binge
Living by the sea
That first morning coffee
Next day delivery
My dressing gown

Weighted blankets. Everyone should try one.
Underfloor heating. Now my stbxh has gone we can have it on when we like!
Audible.
Nice neighbours who wave

@Grittlelayrabbit do you mind my asking why you recommend weighted blankets? I ask as I'm a terrible sleeper and anything that might help I'm allover it!

Wood burning stove...bliss
Living in the country
Soup at lunchtime
Peace and walking in the countryside
A loving companion after 45 years
My 3 beautiful grandchildren 10 mins away
..my 2 sons and their wives always helping ..we are blessed

National Trust!

Really posh butter. Spending the extra 50p makes all the difference.
Mince pies heated in the oven.
The cat and dog being friends by the fire
Playing board games or cards now it’s too cold for everyone to want to be out

Amazing thread..

Audible
Teddy bear bedding
My book collection
Almond croissants
A bag of ice in the freezer
Having a 2nd freezer (chest)
Lazy Saturday mornings in bed reading
My slow cooker

A dog
Decent footpaths nearby
Being on a decent busroute. It starts at 6am-ish and stops around 10:30pm.

SunshineYello, we got one for one of my children, he has autism and yet when he’s under his, it’s like flicking an off switch nd he calms down immediately. I thought I’d give it a go when they were all at school one day, and I sat on the couch and it was only when I woke up an hour later that I realised how relaxed it made me. You have to make sure that you’ve got one that is heavy enough, but they sort of hold you in place, the weights (ceramic beads) settle all round you and it’s like a giant hug.

They’re not necessarily for sleep, just more for comfort somehow. In the past we would have slept with sheets and blankets which were inevitably heavier, you just don’t get the same sensory feedback from duvet by itself.

This is a lovely idea!

We have a lovely walk to school along a stream and through the woods. It's so pretty all year round and is such a difference from 20 mins up an A road I find it really cheers me up.

It is a bit muddy though, but we collect blackberries on the way home when they're in season and we've been spotting different mushrooms all year, I feel a bit like I'm in The Good Life and it is so different from where I grew up in the middle of a conurbation, I didn't even know you could live by fields until I visited a friend's house as a teen. I really enjoy the school run and that is not something I ever thought I would say!

For an extra knock out a dab of lavender oil helps too.

@Grittlelayrabbit thanks! Off to buy one!!

@Grittlelayrabbit which weighted blankets are they? Do tell!

Clean sheets
New notebook
Coffee
Candles
Radio 4

Schumakker the latest ones we got were off Amazon. I picked the heaviest. There’s a company called Sensory Direct that do them too.

Oh and weighted blanket too.

For extra loveliness putting them on the bed over the electric blanket and then hopping in, is absolute bliss.

@Grittlelayrabbit how heavy is yours? I think mine is 9kg.

There are good offers on Groupon or Wowcher.

My Nespresso coffee machine that I purchased as i couldn't get to my favourite coffee shop for a takeaway as I'm shielding.

Waitrose almond croissant and coffee in bed on a Sunday.

Spotify subscription

Long dog walk then back home for a cuppa and warm sleepy dog on my lap.

It’s 11kg and about as big as a small double. To be honest I might have overdone it a bit, but it’s great to snuggle under and big enough to get the kids under too.

My doggie
Clean sheets
Marmite toast
Granddaughter