Little things that make you happy.

[GiddyRobin]

Thought I'd start a nice, light hearted thread about things that make you happy! I notice a lot of light hearted threads end up a bit down in the dumps, so for those who just want to share, need a bit of cheer, or are generally nosy parkers (like me! 😂), I thought this could be a bit of fun.

I'll start (and try and make it brief!)

• Family. Yes, yes, twee, sickly, blah blah blah, but it's true.
• Christmas. Festivities and seasons changing in general.
• Books! Give me a good book, a nice box of tea, and I'm happy.
• Cheese. Any cheese. My DS had a milk allergy as a youngster and I had to cut it out too as I was breastfeeding. God I missed cheese. I celebrated so hard with a cheeseboard when he passed the milk ladder that I made myself poorly. 😂
• Flowers in my window. I love watching how the light changes the shades of the petals during the day.
• A good black comedy. Anything Shearsmith and Pemberton does me.
• Oversized men's sweatshirts. Fuck women's jumpers, men's are the way to go and I will die on this hill.

Off to make some sarnies to take to MiL's - v. interested to hear other people's little joys!

Morning all.

I've booked a day off work to catch up with things. The rain woke me at about 04.30, so I've been downstairs & I've brought a big cup of Earl Grey & a milky coffee back to bed with me.

I've got lots of boring life admin to do (form filling & making doctors & dentist appointments). It's now snowing quite heavily & it's settling which is strange given that it was raining a few hours ago. At 08.00 I'm planning to sit at my desk, looking out at the snow to do the dreaded admin. I bought some frozen almond croissants & pain au chocolat that I'm going to have with another cup of Earl. I'm sure I will feel satisfied when the admin is all done. I just need to make the "conditions " right so that it's not a tedious process!

@PollyOrange You just can't beat the nice and simple sometimes! I love the sound of your fizzy blackcurrant; what type is it? DH bought this really nice fizzy mixed berry/forest fruit thing from M&S a few weeks ago, and I've been craving it. Just something nice and refreshing - definitely ready for a break from an evening glass of wine now! Funnily, that's about the one psrt of Christmas I do get bored of quite easily. Even just the odd glass here and there starts to make my nose wrinkle after a week. 😂

Good morning, @Joyfulincolour ! That sounds like a lovely way to start the day - and the week! Getting back into the swing of things is more difficult than ever after Christmas, it's the bit I never look forward to, but setting everything up with nice rewards and a comfy environment makes it so much easier! I hope the pastries and tea went down well. Is it still snowing? I love sitting at my desk and watching a flurry!

The DC went back to school today, and I was worried they might be a bit mopey, but both were just chuffed to walk in the snow and see their friends! It's an easy one for them today, which is nice. They were both asked to bring in some craft stuff, so it looks like the school is just easing them back in gently which is a relief. It's quite thick snow and still coming, so I'm almost waiting for a call to say they're closing early.

It's an admin day for me here, too. I'm not officially back in work until Wednesday (WFH), but I've decided to get a bit organised and go through some things I know need doing. DH is also still off, so we had breakfast once we'd dropped the kids off - just some really nice crumpets with fried eggs and tomatoes. The house feels quiet after the busy-ness of the holidays, so I've put on some choral Christmas music turned down low, and lit some candles.

I think I might have a mince pie after lunch. 😂 It's Nollaig na mBan today - Women's Christmas. I'm Irish (though not living there), so DH has decided to make me my favourite for tea tonight - cheesey colcannon! I'm an absolute terror and love it with a side of beans. It's a bit similar to last night's jacket spuds, but nevermind - it's too good to pass up on!

My ring doorbell showed a fox outside last night, or rather this morning as it was in the small wee hours. It was trampling away and playing in the snow, so that absolutely made my morning!

Oh! Another one. Book post!

I've been waiting for a very special book to arrive. I've been in search of this particular book for nearly 20 years now, and some lovely MNers on another thread of mine have helped me track down what I think could be the one. Well, it's arrived today.

I'm almost too scared to open it. 😂 Going to make a few work calls, finish off, and then settle down to see!!

we shall await the big reveal 😄
Today is my first proper day back at work and thought there would be no joy to be had but:

• the flash of green parakeets across a grey lumpen sky
• realised I hadn't sent a book out to recycling when I dug it out from my under bed library after it had been mentioned in another book. Its gone to the top of the tbr list
• putting my phone down to concentrate on a chapter of a book
• spotted a plot on Elementary that belonged in the Sherlock Holmes canon

Snow is all gone here 😒

@GiddyRobin I love books, I collect nice editions and cherish them. I’ve just bought myself a Folio copy of the Simillarion, my favourite Tolkien book that I’ve read three hundred times. Waiting for it to be delivered, mind you I’m back at work on Wednesday and it will be very busy.

@StripyRedSocks I try to leave my phone in another room so I’m not interrupted, bit annoying today though when a delivery arrived and I had to dash upstairs to find it for a pass code - new kitchen knives, needed a code for handover, never mind that I appeared covered in flour from baking and look nothing like anyone who might order knives with a dodgy intent.

<Drum roll> It was indeed the right book!! And I know I said I was quite happy to have a wine-free night only this morning, but I've been saving a bottle of actual champagne for this day so sod it! 🍾 I've been waiting years! The book is Into the Green by Charles de Lint, and I've literally driven myself potty with memories of it for yonks and yonks! Very happy bunny here right now. And I mean me, not the actual bunny who tried to eat my skirting board half an hour ago. 😆

@StripyRedSocks That sounds like a lovely start back to the working week! I lived in Liverpool for a while, and we were always getting parakeets there - it's been years since I've seen an unexpected one! What a lovely surprise! What was the book within a book? I'm so nosy when it comes to anything like this. It's the librarian in me. 😂 I've been meaning to watch Elementary! Is it good? I'm obsessed with Jeremy Brett's Holmes, but I love modern twists too.

Boooo to melting snow! 😑 It heard rain earlier so I'm not sure how long ours will last now either. It could have waited until the 12th Night was over! Rude.

@RachelCarew Oooh, my Tolkien loving heart sings! The Silmarillion is also one of my favourites. The Folio version looks to be absolutely stunning so you're definitely in for a treat! Book collecting is so satisfying. The excitement when they arrive, looking through, to just having them there to dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you. Tolkien in particular holds a special place in my heart. I hope you get a chance to have a lovely relaxing evening tucking into it when it arrives!

That’s amazing @GiddyRobin , that you found the book you’ve been searching for. Just lovely. I’ve been collecting books since I left uni and started earning. Not sure if anyone will remember but the Folio Society used to be a subscription thing, you chose three books free each year from memory but had to buy four a year. That’s when I started collecting, it was a massive stretch back then, buying four nice books a year.

I’m currently rereading Frenchman’s Creek under a heated blanket, contemplating the fact that I’m going back to work having not done many of the boring jobs on my list, but I’ve read a lot of books and watched a few old films.

@RachelCarew Oh, that sounds fabulous! I wonder if there's anything like that still going these days? Such a nice way to get into collecting, too. A perfect incentive! I started back with my first library job, before I qualified as a librarian. The library I worked at closed down, and the books weren't being moved to another site. I must have made about six trips with so many boxes, and I still have the ones I rescued today. Not a librarian anymore, but I still work with books and just love being surrounded by them.

I think reading books and watching old films is a far better way to spend your Christmas. The boring jobs will always be there, but time to hibernate and lose yourself in imagination is special.

A few little ones from tonight:

• The sound of the DC laughing and joking after school. The house had been so quiet without them, it just lit up as soon as they got home.
• The smell of colcannon. Took me right back to my childhood, and seeing Norwegian DH so intent on making something from my upbringing that he's not used to really makes me smile.
• The big fluffy fake Oodie thing DH got me for Christmas. It's so chilly tonight, so I've been snuggled down in that with the fire lit.

@GiddyRobin well funny you should mention that as am in Liverpool 😄
the book I read was the Honjin Murders - Seishi Yohomizo which has that holy grail: a locked room murder. The book he gives special mention to is the Red House Mystery by A A Milne - written before the Winnie the Pooh books I believe.

I love Elementary; Watson is 'updated' as his female sober companion, but Jonny Lee Miller is very very good as Sherlock.

Mine are little purchases that I have bought as I have recently become slightly disabled
a support cushion and furry jacket to aid sitting up in bed
support socks and gloveS
4 wheeled tank of a shopping trolley to support walking

I saw a kingfisher last year. Was high on that for about a week afterwards!

I've just found this gorgeous thread.

Mine are:
Guinea pigs. They make everything better.
Hot water bottles with a fluffy cover.
Any Discworld book.

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale
Wow, a kingfisher!! I've only seen one once, at Center Parcs of all places.
Magical....the kingfisher not CP.

Seeing my 2 teens conversing without arguing/bickering/name/calling. This is in fact a bit like a kingfisher sighting, incredibly rare!

Seeing my chocolate Lab playing with his canine friends.

My post-dogwalk latte with 2 malted milk biscuits.

A good book.

Spending time with my mum and dad.

Seeing frost on the front lawn.

Hearing DH tell me he loves me, which is most days. He's very romantic, I know I'm lucky.

Forgot to mention seeing the Robin in my garden.
I'm sure he/she understands when I wave at the window. I realise that sounds bonkers!!

@GiddyRobin
Please tell us more about Women's Christmas.

I'm hoping it's a day where other family members pamper the Mums who have spent hours and hours (and hours) putting together The Christmas that everyone loves but often takes for granted.???

Are there presents too?

Yes to robins!
Watering my many house plants.
Any episode of Red Dwarf from seasons 2-6.
Rediscovering a good book (I'm on Nicci French's The Memory Game at the moment).

@StripyRedSocks Oh what a coincidence! 😁 I've got family there and it's one of my nearest cities. Might be a little bit in love with Central Library. When I lived there, there was a heron who used to live in the centre of Greenbank Lake! He'd sit there even in the snow and give death glares to the ducks. 😂

Now that does look good. Certainly not going on my every growing reading list it absolutely is. Love a locked room murder, but when it's done well it's bloody brilliant. Just googled the The Red House Mystery and it's got it all! English country house, dinner party, wealthy guests, a black sheep of the family...you'll have to give an update as to whether it's good! In the meantime I'll see about this Elementary as it sounds like a nice twist on Holmes!

@Rictasmorticia Those all sound really useful! I hope they help with everything. My DH struggles (accident that ruined hip/leg/some of his back), and he has one of these bed-seat things - I'll attach a photo. They're actually quite supportive and help if he's feeling sore after a busy day!

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale A kingfisher! They're gorgeous, gorgeous birds! 😍 Did you manage to get up close? I'm a birdy person but I always forget binoculars on regular days out, and have terrible eyesight. Carrying binoculars really should be my 2025 resolution haha!

@Needhelp101 Piggies! I'm glad to see more piggie lovers appearing on this thread! They're lovely little things, cheeky but so clever! Ours have learned how to do begging eyes for food, the greedy sods. 😂 Also a house plant fanatic, so you're in good company. What kind do you have? I love a good fern. The book you mention interests me as its written by two people, isn't it? It's rare I come across one of those and it always intrigues me, because it must be so tricky to write!

@MonkeyTennis34 I am loving your list! A chocolate lab - Oh they're such loving, funny things! There's one living in my village and he's still only a pup really, but he's just so excitable and sweet. His owner apologises for his antics all the time, but absolutely no one minds - he's a bit of a dog celebrity! And don't worry, I'm a robin waver too. 😁 They get used to a place, don't they? We've had the same one coming for a while now and he's very friendly. I wouldn't, but I'd love to hold him!

Women's Christmas is exactly like that!! In Ireland, it used to be where lots of women would gather together for the day and do their own Christmas (even if just small, and they'd go visiting), and the men would do all the household chores. These days it's a bit more family-like (from my own experience anyway), and a little more like Mother's Day. So the men and the kids will buy them presents and they put their feet up and get spoiled! I think some women do still go out in groups (there's offers on in certain pubs), but it's a bit of a quieter thing in lots of places.

Always a nice meal! Some families have it where there'll be a cake made in advance (by the men, or the women will gather before and make it in preparation. Booze is usually involved here!). It's also called Little Christmas. In our family we light 12 candles and put them in the window. I had my colcannon, DH and the DC made me a card and got me some sweet little gifts, and we played some games!

Mine today:

• More snow! Can't quite believe it's come back. It started to drizzle yesterday and I was thinking that was the end...but nope!
• A lovely cup of Lady Grey in bed. The dogs woke us extraordinarily early because Wolf Dog spotted the snow. DH took them out after providing me with caffeine.
• My insulated snowboots! I'd packed them back away when we got back from Norway thinking I'd not need them now. They made the school run a lot less hazardous this morning!

@GiddyRobin
Thanks for the explanation!
Is it always on the same date? If so, what is it? It definitely sounds like a new tradition worth introducing in these parts!!

When you called it Little Christmas, it reminded me of a Christmas movie I saw last year about a Norwegian (I think) woman who brings her Indian American fiancé to Norway at Christmastime. One of the traditions mentioned was Tiny Christmas.
I can’t remember what it entailed…wonder if it’s the same thing?

And yes, I too would love to hold the robin in my garden…will never happen!

You're welcome! Yes, always the same date - 6th of January, the 12th Night and Epiphany! I think it should definitely be more wide spread. The amount of women out there who deserve a good pampering!!

Funnily, my DH is Norwegian! Little Christmas is the 23rd of December. In Norway, Christmas Eve is the big celebration where we all meet and swap presents, etc. So Little Christmas (Lille Julaften. I hope that's spelled right), is the 23rd and the day of preparation! Everyone comes around and helps get the food ready for the next day. There are traditional games like finding coins in porridge, etc. In DH's family (really rural village north of Tromsø), they celebrate the solstice and advent and then swap over to new decorations on Lille Julaften. So we do still put up Christmas decorations when we're there and get a tree, but leave greenery for then.

Sorry, that was a big ramble! 😂 I love traditions, and being a mixed culture family we try and do as much of everything as we can for the DC so they get the best of both worlds!

I love to cwtch up in the bed with my boyfriend and have a cup of tea together on a chilly morning. We can watch the snow out of the bedroom window this week!

Diet coke with at least 6 ice cubes!

@GiddyRobin I didn't see much of the kingfisher - a blue blur really. I didn't have my glasses on but it was the right blue, and size, and we were at a fishing lake, so I'm 100% sure.

@SpringleDingle That sounds lovely! Snowy mornings feel like such a rarity here, especially anything that bit thicker. I remember it always seemed to snow when I was little, but I'm not sure if I'm just idealising memories. 😂

Wolf Dog (he's not actually a wolf, he's an Irish Wolfhound, he just thinks he is) is such a grump in the snow. Non-Wolf Dog (Collie) gets on his nerves as he's so excitable. I've just made a Lady Grey, and I'm going to watch the pair of them act like idiots in the garden as I have cheese and crackers.

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale Ahhh that sounds amazing though! They're so vivid - what an absolute treat, even if it was blurry!

Huge dragonflies also excite me. Those large, greeny/bluey bodied ones. I didn't see any for years but noticed 3 last summer!

Thank you the cushion really does help. It is one with an oval hole in it. I am so skinny now, my boney arse feels sore if I sit on it to long. It supports the coccyx.

I just had to correct that because auto correct put Bonny arse which it certainly isn’t..