More things I love…

Kari inspired my previous list, and though I believed I’d emptied that particular bucket, it appears not. This list is shorter, but also includes little bit of what and why about each listed item.

1. Drawings or sketches done in pencil or charcoal – there’s something about the light and free nature of them.
2. The life drawing in pencil done by my daughter when she was taking a course in Florence. I found it in an old art portfolio of hers, and had it framed. It’s going to look perfect in our new living room.
3. My little Ricoh GRIII camera – so small it fits in my pocket, and yet has a great quality lens. It’s ideal for when my back is playing up or when I don’t want to be burdened with the full camera kit.
4. A couple of cups and saucers by Shelley (the ceramicists, not the poet) – all I have left of my pottery collection of that era, one of which is from the tea set gifted to my parents at their wedding.
5. Two Burmese wooden busts which belonged to my parents and probably originated from the time we lived on the Northeastern frontier in India; they bring to mind my parents oldest friends of whom I was fond (he was Burmese).
6. A 6-inch high metal statue of dancing Shiva – my mother had three, so I offered to give a good home to one. This is my second Hindu deity, but I admit I’d also love a Ganesh…
7. A set of linen frames, sparsely decorated around the edge with flowers formed from thin ribbons – one houses my daughter’s wedding photo, the other two each hold a photo of my grandchildren.
8. My new glasses – one pair for reading/working on a computer, the other for driving – each of them having an anti-glare coating, a most effective, if new-to-me option.
9. A miniature old-style delivery vehicle liveried with my current employer’s logo which was produced as a marketing gimmick/giveaway. I found it in a drawer, but it now sits on my desk. I’m keeping quiet about having it, as I suspect one of the Directors would like to take it off me!
10. Kiwi fruit – while a pain to peel and so messy to eat, I love the texture and the taste. As they famously provide a massive hit of Vitamin C, they’re also a must for warding off colds.
11. Old family photos – I grabbed two old photo albums going spare when my mother was relocating to the US. One is my father’s from childhood, and the other belonged to his parents.
12. Our new home – the big windows flooding the place with light, the quiet garden, the buildings in the old town, the friendly neighbours, the fantastic array of coffee shops.
13. A local garage (auto repair shop) – not only in walking distance from our new place, they’re efficient, don’t talk down to female customers, and don’t charge you for unnecessary work or items.
14. The local Chinese restaurant – recommended by locals, but with lots of Chinese patrons. The food is delicious and the service brilliant.
15. Truffle Guys – I recently discovered a purveyor of truffle related products for Himself. I am not generally a fan, but their oil and “dust” are very good indeed. Positively yummy in fact.
16. The wholemeal seeded bread which forms part of a local UK supermarket’s “Finest” range which – unexpectedly – is very fine indeed. I like bread, but I am very fussy. Impressed 🙂
17. Ranunculus – I used to have a preference for minimal arrangements, but I seem to be moving to a more relaxed, higgledy-piggledy type of arrangement, and ranunculus (anemones too) fit the brief.
18. Peonies – such a gorgeous blowsy flower – I wish both their season and the individual flowers lasted longer.
19. Silver cigarette case – a gift from my godfather to my maternal grandparents. I spotted the engraving inside the lid when going through my mother’s things and grabbed it when it became clear she intended to discard it.
20. A lithograph of Cheltenham College – my father’s alma mater, an old English public school set in really rather beautiful old buildings. When I found it languishing in my parents’ attic, it’s frame and glazing broken, and with a nail polish spill, I took custody of it.
21. A print of an poster advertising a military history event which we regularly attended. It’s a striking piece of work, aping the Soviet military propaganda style. It’s also a memento of time spent with Himself’s best friend who died 6 years ago.
22. Crunchy Peanut Butter – long a fan, Himself is now using it to make a healthy oat based snack. It is taking all my willpower to enjoy it in a sensible manner and not eat it by the teaspoon-full!
23. Bluebells clustering around the base of trees and on grassy banks, heralding the start of Spring.
24. Roti – I recently found a purveyor of these in my local supermarket. They are just like the ones I used to eat in India as a child. I pop them in the microwave for 40 seconds and spread with butter – yummy! Perfect with a cup of tea for breakfast.
25. Woodland walks – to the rear of our new place are little paths leading through a wooded area, out past the ruins of a castle and then of the old manor house, before opening out onto polo fields.

I find it’s the small things which make life better and which give me joy – what things in your life do you love?

© Debs Carey, 2025