The little things in life

So often those little things in life seem to bring with them disproportionate amounts of pleasure. I had a bit of a moan the other day (and yesterday's post could be considered a moan, I suppose) so let's be positive today and think of the things that bring pleasure. Here, in no particular order except that in which they come into my mind, are a dozen of the little things in life that give me enormous amounts of pleasure.

• The cheeky smile of my 4-years-old-soon-to-be-5 grandson.
• The song of a robin on a winter's morning as I walk the dog.
• The tingling pain as feeling is restored to hands numb with cold when they are soaked in warm water.
• Standing under the powerful shower in our French house, much more powerful than the English one.
• Looking across the South Downs when I open the bedroom curtains in the morning.
• Opening a brand new book.
• Being at my cousin's farm when the house martins return in the spring.
• Using my windscreen-mounted toll-paying doodah to sail past long queues of cars at French motorway toll stations.
• Seeing the obvious enjoyment my dog gets from something as simple as chasing a tennis ball.
• A brilliant sunset.
• Beech trees bursting into leaf.
• And finally for today although there are plenty of others, but perhaps this is no small thing, living in a free country.

I really do have so much to be thankful for - and that, I am sure, applies to most people who read this blog. Go on - think of your own list of twelve.