At the age of 56 I am still ridiculously excited by a....

[Catname]

Travelator at the airport.

Especially when, as happened this morning, there is no one else on it because I love walking as fast I can and feeling like some kind of superhero striding out.

Conversely, I am most disappointed when there are lots of people and my childish glee has to be contained - and when someone has the temerity to block both lanes so I can't get past I feel deflated.

What childish things do you still get excited by as an adult?

Penny pushers

I like running... just running. Like a child does.

Timorous Beasties do some beautiful ones.

I walk past their shop and admire these.

Sorry! This is not the wallpaper thread!!

Such a lovely thread Op! Thankyou for reminding me of all the simple pleasures that abound...
Walking on fresh snow - always exciting!
Watching snowfall when snuggled up warm inside
Ditto for listening to thunderstorms and heavy rain whilst in bed
Walking along the beach and playing chicken with the waves rolling in
Seeing spring blooms - daffodils, snowdrops, bluebells...
A magnolia tree in full bloom
Streets lined with Jacaranda trees in bloom is breathtaking
Walking in the shade of enormous Moreton bay fig trees in summer - seem so ancient
And a big yes to PP re: travelators and hump-back bridges!

Another one who loves rainbows. As a child I thought they were made up, until I saw one for real, when I was five.
Putting on my sandals for the first time in spring: I did that today.
Sunsets, especially when they make buildings look redder than usual.
Seeing car with reversing lights on, as you don't see them very often.
In rainy weather, watching water gushing downhill: down the side of the road, in gutters; just as long as it goes where it's meant to go. In places where small rivers are often dry, I've been known to make a special trip to see them in full flow.
Seeing cats out and about: I have to stroke them.
Waterslides. I couldn't swim as a child, so I missed out of the joy of them. Now, I'll often be queueing among the children.
Before receiving a present, having my eyes covered first. This happened once when I was a child: I was blindfolded for a few minutes while my big present (a bike) was brought in, and I've wanted to relive that excitement ever since. My DH indulges me with this on my birthday every year.

Bubbles! When I go somewhere touristy and there's someone making lots of bubbles and little kids are running around trying to catch them, it makes me irrationally happy.

Swimming in one of those high speed water thingies , Butlins when the DC were younger , we were able to go in one evening and it was nearly empty . I spent ages going round these water rapids pretending I was Mark Spitz (showing my age there ! )
Had to keep ahead of the sharks that they release into the pools when they're empty

And a formation of geese flying in a V , they are noisy and magnificent

One of the reasons I love being a West Ham fan. I've never been to a home game but if I ever get to go I hope whoever is beside me is prepared for how happy I'll be when I see bubbles. 😁

Seeing a river, stream or lake. It always thrills me for some reason.

Ducks, or specifically mallards. Grew up near a river and love ducks on rivers ever since. Ponds and lakes don’t gave the same effect.

I did Postcrossing for quite a few years, got totally obsessed by it, (was one of the highest ranked in the UK,) but it got extremely expensive with the postal price rises. Eventually I gave up completely, but i stillhave a huge stash of postcards.

It's a great idea to do with children to learn about lives in different parts of the world.

Those are the only bubbles I don't like, having been sat right behind the fecking bubble machine and couldn't see the game. I was joining in the song of "You can stick your fucking bubbles up your arse."

I didn't appreciate this until standing right next to one but working windmills are AMAZING.

Being up close to the jumbo jets at the airport when you're down by the gate and/or have a view of the runway. I get so excited that my DD pretends she isn't with me 😂

The weekend - I love love love 5pm on a Friday

Pulling into a space in a car park where the one in front is empty - means I can drive through so I’m nose out. Saves me having to reverse into a space.

A Mr Whippy with a flake and that dark red raspberry sauce you get up here.

When I’m in the car and one of my favourite songs comes on, and I get to sing along loudly yo my heart’s content

Turkish Delight

Bluebell woods

Loads of things really - I have a little notebook called ‘my favourite things’ which is full of random things I love about life and living - I add to it often.

When they give out tastes of new products in the supermarket, especially something that is being cooked. The six year old in me gets highly excited.

Likewise with free samples.

Snow
Bluebells
Crunchy leaves in autumn
A really nice fabric. :D

This is such a lovely post. I think a good guide to knowing you're depressed is when you've stopped taking pleasure in such stuff.

I like squishing fallen berries in the street.

For those who have a pony/horse now - even though I'm now not desperate to be a rider, at 56 I still have the same dream that I've been miraculously given a horse that I had when I was 11.

Agree 100%. Also hearing owls in the woods 🦉

Watching Inside the Factory and wanting to do a tour of all factories.

Driving on the motorway with my favourite music playing

Buying new notebooks, especially when I'm starting a new course or have something to plan.

Buying favourite books from childhood/teenage years on ebay or Amazon and having a secret reread before I give them to my own DCs

For those of you who love rainbows, this poem by Wordsworth captures the spirit of this thread beautifully:

My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
And I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.