Small pleasures and joys

This week I’m doing an A-Z list of small pleasures and joys. I’ve tried not to repeat things I’ve spoken of before… but I can’t promise, as sometimes those difficult letters can be well – erm – difficult 😉

---

A for anchovy paste. Let me be clear, I do not like anchovies… yet I do like how anchovy paste adds a certain depth of flavour to sauces.

B for balloons. At my grandson’s birthday, his multiple gifts overwhelmed him. But the one thing he didn’t tire of at all during the day, was playing catch with his balloons. Such a joy 🙂

C for being in good company. I’m in a business club with other women who work alone, where the focus is on support rather than selling, although business can and does get done. I never regret those two hours, and attend 2-3 times a month, for it provides such a pleasurable uplift.

D for drawing the curtains as the evening draws in. It makes home feel more private and snug.

E for etymology – being someone who adores language, I am both amused and delighted to discover the source of words and phrases.

F for fleece bedlinen – as Himself feels the need for extra coziness during the winter months, and my neighbour sings its praises, I bought a set. And I have to admit to a significantly increased coziness factor ever since, even though it means I am now officially OLD…

G for my grandchildren, the perfect pair – one of each, they’re funny, boisterous, creative, sporty, loving and delightfully individual.

H for hand cream – not scented, not greasy, but rich and moisturising. One of those things for which I can thank lockdown is getting into the habit of keeping a tube on my desk, by my chair, and on my bedside table for ease of regular application.

I for Indian snacks – spicy and crunchy, they remind me of my childhood – visiting the market with my father, selecting different snacks to bring home and share.

J for journey or the J word. Clearly defined goals are admirable, but I’m a fan of taking time to travel – it allows for the trying out of ideas, the re-drawing of plans, turning back from the odd dead end, and exploring a side turning which could turn out to be a more direct route.

K for kisses – one decided small joy is kisses of the chaste kind, like I receive from grandchildren, from family and friends.

L for lemon (and/or lime). I love how they look, how they smell, and how they taste. In truth, I’d have a bowl full except it would be a waste, as we’d never manage to use them all in time.

M for my new magnifying mirror, allowing me to see stray eyebrows (and witch’s whiskers) in order to pluck them 😀

N for my (finger) nails. Despite literally decades of ill-treatment and ignoring, they are now flourishing. I still don’t pay them much attention, but get a little burst of pleasure every time I catch sight of them them looking long and healthy.

O for okay (or OK). Perfection is a thief of joy, so good enough (or OK) is a place I am learning to love. It certainly takes a lot of pressure off when I achieve it.

P for polar bears and penguins. I have a bad habit of leaving lights on, so Himself has come up with a methodology to nag me in a “nice” way, by encouraging me to think I’m saving polar bears and penguins – or pengwings if you’re Benedict Cumberbatch 😉 – by remembering to switch off.

Q for quiet time. Even though I work from home, and so spend much of my day alone, taking time to sit quietly, to drink a cup of tea and just be, makes such a difference to my mental health.

R for rain – or more precisely, the sound of rain when you’re snug, warm and dry indoors. It’s especially marvellous when falling on a tin roof, but any type of rainfall is the perfect sound for putting me to sleep.

S for step-in sneakers – I couldn’t be bothered with all that lace tying, so rarely wore them, but since the invention of the step in variety (and having the laces “ready” tied), I’ve acquired two pairs – one black and one white – and virtually live in them.

T for ticks on a to-do list. My friend writes a ta-da list instead of a to-do list, to celebrate those things she has achieved, especially those she has been working towards for a while – an idea I like even more!

U for new underwear. I recently bought bamboo shorts – they are comfy, feel lovely against the skin, eliminate VPL, and I’m hoping will also be cool in the summer.

V for Victoria sponge – the simply perfect, perfect simple cake. Two layers of the lightest sponge, with raspberry (in preference to strawberry) jam and whipped fresh cream sandwiched in between them. Quite simply, it’s my cake of choice.

W for watching my daughter with her children. She is such a natural, loving and patient mother, nothing gives me greater joy (and no small amount of pride).

X for sixty – my only outright cheat 😉 I loved my fifties, they were great fun and I had a ball, while my sixties have been more challenging. But there are many things an old lady can get away with, so I am leaning in to the joy of getting away with stuff 😀

Y yackety-yacking or a good yarn – just having a relaxed chat, talking about something or nothing, is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Once a week, I take my neighbour to the supermarket, then we sit, have a cup of tea and a good yarn.

Z for zoom lenses. One day I will find one which offers the perfect combination of flexibility, speed (so I can shoot in low light situations and to get that soft out-of-focus background effect), exceptionally sharp, and lightweight, so I no longer have to “zoom with my feet”.

What small pleasures or joys to you indulge in, or would commend me to consider?

© Debs Carey, 2024