Old fashioned/simple pleasures that you still enjoy?

[TheQuietDignityOfASandwich]

There are plenty of things that I appreciate about modern life including MN but I’d love to read about some old fashioned ir simple things that you still enjoy.

Perhaps not the best example but the other day I went to a garden centre and I had an egg mayonnaise sandwich on wholemeal bread with a pot of tea and it was lovely. I often find that a lot of cafes put too many ingredients and sauces in their sandwiches so it was nice to have something relatively plain.

Also sitting having a cup of tea and a simple iced bun while listening to a Radio 4 play. And I’ve been watching old one off dramas and mini-series on Youtube. They’re so much slower paced than dramas now but all the more enjoyable for that.

What simple pleasures do you enjoy?

Classic FM in the car. No inane DJ’s and stupid screechy people phoning in, just knowledgeable presenters and beautiful music.

I am glad this thread has been revived. Comforting just to read. Using a real map. Watching garden wildlife early morning. I mean birds and squirrels not pine martens sadly.

Curling DGDs hair in rags, making her hot buttered toast and ovaltine and sitting down to read her the faraway tree.

Watching quiz shows with my teenage son - he is a gamer, very quiet and doesnt watch much TV (neither do I) but we like watching afternoon quiz shows for about an hour when we return from school/work.

My analogue watch - took it for a new battery and strap a few weeks back and it was the best £20 spent all year. Never feel jealous of apple watches and their myriad of functions.

All the old Radio4 and radio3 plays on YouTube. No need to wait to the designated time slot , listen any time.

Apols if this isn’t in the spirit of what you meant. It’s just soo good.

Reading on a bench by the sea

Doorstep thick toast with proper butter

The first vase of daffodils of the year

Placemarking. My life is at a point now where physical limitations are making me have to think of new things to enjoy that are within my capabilities rather than railing at things I can no longer do. Some lovely ideas here.

Also the radio 3 mindful Christmas playlist when it reappears each December. Glorious music
This year I am determined to recreate it on Spotify so I can listen to it all year as they take it down in January

Stroking/cuddling pets

Tea

More tea

Walking on the beach

Reading a good book and drinking tea.

Rewatching murder mystery TV (Midsomer etc) where I know who the murderer is from the first minute.

I live alone in an area where people seem to not be friendly, so getting a nice smile from people you pass in the street that you don’t know makes me happy.

So many lovely things on this thread that I enjoy. I would add;
a bar of Fry’s orange chocolate cream
putting out a new bar of soap,
fresh washing off the line,
my 4 cats,
the ticking and chiming of my grandfather clock and various other clocks around the house.

One more, freshly cut flowers in the house.

I had similar situation a few years ago and something that still brings me joy was buying chamomile seeds, seeding them indoors then planting out into pots. I love the whimsy of snipping off the flowers in the late morning (after the dew has dried but before the midday sun strips the oils) and drying them out. The tea from just a dessert spoon of the heads in a single person teapot is divine. It is a lovely and rewarding process if you can handle the small snippers.
I now have a dehumidifier but was happily using a sieve to dry the heads for a couple of weeks, so it doesn't need much to start the process. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DWHQ11JG?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3

Leaving the library with an armful of books, some fiction some factual with gorgeous illustrations, knowing I can flick through and read at my leisure.

I forgot to add that my DH and I sometimes take a bottle of wine and a crisp bar of decent chocolate with proper foil down to the beach, watch the moon rise and wrap up tightly. Hardly speaking, watching the sea.

I swam in the sea yesterday. It was the most beautiful, peaceful experience.

So much goes on in your head when you swim in the sea. You gather your thoughts and realise how lucky you are. You look at the shore and the horizon and contemplate how dangerous the sea can be.

You also look at the incompetent swimmers and think fuck, there's going to be a report of a drowning later 😕

where I live it's usually a report about sewage dumping that puts me off

I really like picking blackberries, knowing I’ll be able to make some delicious crumble to enjoy with either ice cream or custard!

Yes! Did this yesterday, most of them along a coastal path so got the sea air as a happy addition. Lovely.

Am I the only one who read that as you only eat marmalade and apple butter after you've taken your bra off? 😄

Inspired by this thread I have just reserved a book from my local library (rather than just buying the kindle version) and dug out my fountain pen and put a new ink cartridge in it.

A bit late to this thread, but yes to picking blackberries, drinking tea, enjoying nature and inspired by another thread, having traditional ingredients (Colmans English Mustard Powder to be precise) in my cupboards.

Handwriting, whether writing cards or letters to family or friends, making notes or lists, or still writing a daily diary at the age of 61 which is something I started around 10 and never missed a day. I love nice pens and writing paper. Far prefer handwriting to computers and tablets/phones etc.

<waves!>

What was the thread that inspired the traditional ingredients? Sounds like another thread that might be up my street.