Of the little pleasures in life

I do find as I get older that I have less patience with some things - and, unfortunately, some people - and as a result discover more and more often that I am fast becoming a curmudgeonly old man. But I really not quite as grumpy you might think.  In fact, I'm quite a cuddly soul who appreciates life's little pleasures.  Like this morning when several things, little things in themselves, have combined to make this a wonderful day.

1. I had a lie-in.  I do have a usual-ish sort of time for getting up but some days I have to be up earlier than that and the last two days have been just such occasions.  Tomorrow will be as well.  Indeed, the reason for getting up early tomorrow will probably result in another vitriolic post as I have a meeting with the accountants to Brighton Lions Housing Society to discuss component accounting... But today's post is meant to be a peaon ofpraise for the little pleasures in life so we'll save that for tomorrow.  I was saying that I had a lie-in.  It gave me particular pleasure to press the snooze button not just once, but several times.  When I did eventually give in I lay in bed a few more minutes listening to a wood pigeon calling, probably from the sycamore tree.  It took me right back to my first summer camp with the scouts.  We travelled by train from Kent to Somerset and I remember being surprised to see buildings constructed of stone rather than brick.  It was also the first time I heard the genuine old Somerset accent when a local asked, "Be 'ee goin' to zee Gillingham play this zeason?"  The sun shone every day of that camp and every morning I woke to the sound of wood pigeons.
2. The after-breakfast walk was dry.  OK, there have been several dry walks over the past few days but today just seemed drier than usual, possibly because the mist was less dense than it had been yesterday when it was so thick that it was really drizzle.
3. The are signs that spring will come again.  I have heard a blackbird singing; there are buds on the trees - black on the ash, brown on the elm and green on the sycamore; and the bulbs are bursting through - snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and even bluebells.  The first leaves of the lords-and-ladies are unfurling.  I have seen a few primroses in sheltered gardens and one neighbour has periwinkle in bloom.  I do like the periwinkle, it's such a delightful shade of blue, but it's not often one sees it these days.  And when was the last time you heard of somebody whose eyes were periwinkle blue?

So there you have it.  Three things, tiny things in the overall scheme of life, but things which have brought me much pleasure this morning.

~~~~~

The time will come again when Stanmer Great Wood is carpeted with bluebells.