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!

Lidls currently have huge, Spanish lemons for 50p each. They are very lovely in my left over gin from Christmas! Ice and a slice delicious. Makes me v happy.

Apart from my DH and kids:

My log fire

looking at the tonne of wood in the inglenook waiting to be lit.

coffee and toast in the morning.

my ewes birthing lambs. Then after a couple of months they turn into rugrats and it only takes one to initiate bad behaviour and the all follow! Love watching them play.

lovely old pub in town.

mountain walk

I went out with one of my best friends yesterday and I got to meet sooooo many dogs 😍

We managed to bag the table next to the table where they sat all the dogs in the cafe we went to. Met the cutest and friendliest cockapoo.

And today I saw my sister which means I also got to play with my gorgeous nephdog!

Weekend filled with many good boys and girls ❤️❤️❤️

weekend

• took big dog (mine) and little dog (GNieces) to an indoor play centre where they ran riot and had a bit of socialisation. Little dog was on the back seat of the car next to big dog and slowly slumped down for a little nap 😍and big dog didn't move. They touch noses when they meet and then big dog tolerates little dog.

today

• opening a fresh notebook and writing a neat to do list
• Microsoft Copilot writing all my meeting notes
• my PT is about to become a dad of two and the fear and the joy and the excitement is palpable

Reunited - My walking boots are back from being resoled ❤️❤️❤️❤️ and the bare patches are back to original. Weren’t due back till Feb so hurrah ! Off to give them a test walk now with doggo xx

It has been a week to say the least, I'm so happy to be over the craziness of a work project! It was good fun but my God it's nice to switch off. 😂

Firstly - @StripyRedSocks that is AMAZING news!! I'm so pleased for you, I bet this week has felt a million times lighter? I hope the walking boots were good! You can't beat a proper pair. A few years ago we went hiking in Scotland, and the soul just went on mine. Trying to hobble through the wilds in Converse was not fun. Though memorable! 😂

@RachelCarew Gluhwein tea you say?! Now that sounds right up my street! I might have to invest in some.

I'm also very precious with nice books. 😂 Have been known to purchase a fancy version and paperback just to keep the nice one safe. I can't help it, haha!

@Sheknowsaboutme Your lambs and ewes sound amazing! What are they like at this time of year? Huddled down with the cold?

@SewingIsMySuperPower Cockerpoos are lovely dogs!! So so friendly and mischievous! That sounds like such a fab day!

I'm going to settle down and catch up on this thread properly with a nice cuppa this evening. Just thought I'd pop in with a little hello and a few of this week's joys! I've been keeping a list on a little mini whiteboard by my desk, which I have to say is helpful!

• DH insisted I went to get my hair and nails done a few days ago, which I'm grateful for as I feel a lot better. He's been up the wall busy too and it was my turn to do school run and dinner, but he took over. Got a new hair style and lovely nails so I felt a lot more me.
• The nicest cheese sandwich for tea last night. I didn't want a proper meal so I made a cheddar, sundried tomato, cucumber, olives, and rocket sandwich on homemade crusty bread. It was amazing and really cheered me up!
• DS spent his pocket money on a little sparkly pixie toy that he said reminded him of me. I have it on my desk and I bought him sweeties.

I'm off for a very long, hot bath. DH and I have taken tomorrow off so we're going to go back to bed when the school run is done, then go out for a late lunch. Can't wait!

Enjoy your day off @GiddyRobin , sounds lovely and a nice week.

I’m not sure I have much to add this morning, a week of long days at work. Work-eat-sleep repeat.

Although DC2 did say ‘Mum, you’re just too nice to me and DC1’ earlier in the week. They are 18 and 20, they’re lovely young people. We get on really well and it’s so lovely to see them growing into their independence with great friends/doing really well academically, with a decent work ethic.

@GiddyRobin @RachelCarew ah busy days at work - also back into the full slog of project delivery after Christmas. I did think of you this week Giddy when I saw a whole flock of parakeets - yesterday in fact and I then thought I’d magicked you up on the thread 😂😂😂 - they were very noisy! And yes I am very happy 😂😂
Today's joy:

• an older lady on a walker walking her dog stopped to admire big dog and then offer both big dog and little dog treats. Both sat beautifully to receive their treats (I am confident of big dog’s manners but was alert for little dog jumping up)
• My current book mixes fact and fiction. I am resisting googling at the moment but I know when am at the end down that rabbit hole I will go - the delicious anticipation.😂

In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, I have so many 'little' things to be grateful for. I'm grateful for my home, which kept me safe. There was an interview on the radio with a homeless man, who slept in a tent with his partner during the Storm 😢.

Grateful for the electricity crew, who restored my power.

Grateful for my electrical appliances - my kettle, TV, laptop, washing machine, dishwasher etc. All the everyday things I take for granted.

Lots of things to be happy about right now.

Lovely thread, thank you op 💐

Breakfast in pyjamas
Really old books
Growing veg from seed
Watching my two spaniels running on the moors
Pasta - all of it
My utterly fabulous DH
Listening to my dd play guitar
My old Volvo

with the bird counting weekend, yesterday morning i went for a walk with my merlin app, oh so many birds, didnt necessarily see them but i heard them,
my heart sang

Watching my ducks when I've changed their pond water. They go splashing flapping ducking mad.

My donkeys singing when they see me. Not full on braying but gentle breathy hees going up and down the scales and never getting to the haws. And their fluffy foreheads.

Playing silly games online with my adult children.

Seeing the world through the ears of my horse.

The pygmy goats having a mad five minutes, leaping off platforms and running round to get straight back on and leap off again.

The mournful sound of fog horns on the river when you can barely see in front of your face, the day the swallows come home, the murmuration of starlings and listening to a wren singing.

Love my Merlin app 🦅

• a propos of nothing really, on a walk with the dogs last night my GNiece commented that the sky and trees reminded her of a painting I did
• My inner soles for my walking boots have arrived and I can finally wear them.
• the dog broke a huge stick into a smaller one she could comfortably carry and then looked inordinately pleased with herself

@Maestoso your animals sound bonkers and delightful

A lovely thread and so many things I agree with.
Additional ones include:

When the swifts have returned and they are circling screaming round the house, returning to their nest boxes.
When my lab is playing “find the biscuit” by running round, sniffing each hiding place. When she is in work mode, she is so alert and fired up, quivering with excitement and joy. Almost as much as I do.
The nice little noise a contented hen makes.
Being around my coven.
Drumming round a campfire, especially in a group. Keeping the complementary rhythms going for ages, until the almost trance like state is reached.
Stargazing.
When the curtains are drawn, the lamps are lit, the fire is glowing, the music is on softly in the background and the wine is poured, ready for a winter's evening.
A long journey on my own, driving or train.

I walk the dog past a very small kid’s playground. With the lighter nights, it’s busy late afternoon. There was a toddler lying flat on her back on a roundabout with mum gently spinning her round and baby got a fit of the giggles whilst shouting faster. She was very funny.

It's the dog's birthday today. Every time I see her I sing happy birthday to you (admittedly it's getting shorter each time). She goes absolutely mad with happiness, brings her new toy, her tail wags furiously and then when it stops she collapses into a little heap.

When my flat is all tidy, clean and sparkly. I light a scented candle and relax !

Doing the laundry.