Trivial things that make you happy - Part 2 - The Happyning

Redneck Reject

Graces7 wrote: »

Grand re the bees but why kill the wasps? They pollinate too, and they are dying anyways,.

Wasps raid the honeybee colonies which is another part of their decline.

Graces7

Redneck Reject wrote: »

Wasps raid the honeybee colonies which is another part of their decline.

ah the poor things. I used to feed them... jam etc. Would feed any critter in need

Odd; never seen a wasp on the island. massive number of bees...

Redneck Reject

Graces7 wrote: »

ah the poor things. I used to feed them... jam etc. Would feed any critter in need

Odd; never seen a wasp on the island. massive number of bees...

Wasps here at the moment are on death mode. Can't count the amount of stings I've taken last few days. Seems when Autumn is near they just go crazy. So do you live on a smaller Island?

Ted_YNWA

Redneck Reject wrote: »

Wasps here at the moment are on death mode. Can't count the amount of stings I've taken last few days. Seems when Autumn is near they just go crazy. So do you live on a smaller Island?

Ya, wasps in 'death mode' and also slightly drunk due to eating fermenting fruit as well.

Graces7

Redneck Reject wrote: »

Wasps here at the moment are on death mode. Can't count the amount of stings I've taken last few days. Seems when Autumn is near they just go crazy. So do you live on a smaller Island?

Sorry re the stings.. OUCH! Yes offshore west coast island . There is a big old fuchsia by my gate that is always filled with bees. But seemingly no wasps...

Used to trade at street markets and at this season customers would perform the "wasp dance"! So I would open a jar of jam and put it a way away from the stall.. worked a treat. No stings... NB must start putting that out for the bees soon too.. Thank you for reminding me!

The first cold spell will end it for them.

Redneck Reject

Graces7 wrote: »

Sorry re the stings.. OUCH! Yes offshore west coast island . There is a big old fuchsia by my gate that is always filled with bees. But seemingly no wasps...

Used to trade at street markets and at this season customers would perform the "wasp dance"! So I would open a jar of jam and put it a way away from the stall.. worked a treat. No stings... NB must start putting that out for the bees soon too.. Thank you for reminding me!

The first cold spell will end it for them.

Heh I'm jealous of your lifestyle. I've never been to the smaller islands but seen pictures of them and always dreamed of living on one. Well done you!

honeybear

Strictly is back ... Oh to be able to dance like those professional!

RMAOK

honeybear wrote: »

Strictly is back ... Oh to be able to dance like those professional!

Then wouldn't you be a professional dancer yourself?

honeybear

Not TH, but sisters! I’ve lots of them but get on super with them all. Arrived home to find my beautiful pooch groomed and looking like a baby (she’s 8). Two of my sisters had gorgeous pressies for me. Where would we be without sisters?

Graces7

Redneck Reject wrote: »

Heh I'm jealous of your lifestyle. I've never been to the smaller islands but seen pictures of them and always dreamed of living on one. Well done you!

It is a life like no other, believe me! Not my first island as I was up in the North Sea a decade. But what I longed for and now have.


Another Sunday today! Happy that every day is Sunday for me.. debating about an early berry picking walk... maybe, maybe not .. windy out there but as long as it is dry.

Graces7

Chilled and weary but very, very happy to have been a berry picking walk in the windy rain! There is a beauty here even in this weather, and a second day indoors was unthinkably stultifying.

Watching the mizzle drift in over the ocean, and the cobwebs drizzle draped and white... utterly lovely.

Even managed to do my weekly check on the Church so all is well and a few more pounds of blackberries safe in. They are not ripening fully with the lack of sunshine but the flavour is intense.

The last hundred yards was.... interesting... and the driveway a slow progress But it was done!
Step by slow step with the reward of bed and hot coffee to come..

So snug and getting warm and very happy and content. Alleluia!

Graces7

and the dwelling is filled with the evocative aroma of blackberry jam.. another three pounds to add to the harvest. mmmm!

all done in but happy with it! Just me and knitting and youtube now... what utter luxury!

Bredabe

My London boss has agreed to give me a reference for my promotion interviews.
She was the last person in the world I would have thought would put herself out for me.

bitofabind

I spent HOURS traipsing across the city trying to find a decent cobblers to fix a badly damaged pair of Jimmy Choos that I need for a wedding in 3 weeks time.

First crowd and quoted as “the best designer shoe repair shop in the U.K.” basically took one look and gave me a “computer says no” response. Then onto Jimmy Choo who told me they’d send them to Italy and I’d get them back in “about ten weeks”. Second place then was filthy, dodgy as hell and quoted me 150 quid and wanted me to leave the shoes there til they could verify next week whether they could fix them or not. No thanks.

Finally I took a long train to the far north of the city and found this lovely family run cobblers which was so quaint and pretty on the inside. The cobbler was a real true-blue tradesman and he gave me coffee, spent 10 mins assessing the damage and told me they’d have them fixed in 2 weeks just in time for the wedding.

Honestly after a nightmare day meeting lovely competent people like this really made my day.

bitofabind

Also. Anyone ever just sit on a park bench on their own and people watch for a few hours? During a sunny weekend day it’s the most joyful thing in the world.

There’s a dad playing football with his toddler in front of me, and a dog playing catch behind me. The little boy just ran over shouting “puppy” and the dog rolled around in the grass as he patted him. Pure joy.

Graces7

bitofabind wrote: »

Also. Anyone ever just sit on a park bench on their own and people watch for a few hours? During a sunny weekend day it’s the most joyful thing in the world.

There’s a dad playing football with his toddler in front of me, and a dog playing catch behind me. The little boy just ran over shouting “puppy” and the dog rolled around in the grass as he patted him. Pure joy.

Ah takes me back to Killarney and watching folk feeding the ducks and exercising their dogs at Ross Castle.and the coach tour folks and lake tours... Great fun

madmaggie

Out for my walk this morning, I spotted what I thought was an injured bird on the road. It turned out to be two male robins fighting. I have heard of it happening, but never saw it before.

Purple Mountain

I have a lovely homemade and nutrient packed lunch in the fridge for work tomorrow.
Ditto for tonight

honeybear

Nice visitors yesterday & today

Graces7

The flowers on my prayer table... in a tall white mug, small marigolds and dog daisies and some bright yellow wild flowers that rejoice in the name of bog asphodel..

Also it is two years to the day since I abandoned the mainland and, with three cranky cats and a loud dog ( they sang all the way from the old place in the car) , boarded the ferry. Dog astonished me and impressed the farmer/ferryman by trotting onto the ferry as to the manner born! Bless her!

Smoke curling from the chimney, and three stalwart islanders unloading my stuff from the trailer. All the help I needed was to hand. A table full of candles and torches etc,

Then five months with no ESB ( a council mess) then 2 more with no internet and complications of all kinds..all sorted.

Settled here and loving it more and more. Peace and privacy... a people and a life like no other. Help if I need it which I rarely do, respecting neighbours, and no intrusion else. A simple life.

Oh a few weeks ago I was talking to an old islander neighbour.. " So you are staying? Not going back to the mainland?"

After two years!

Kitty6277

Kerrygold shortbread biscuits. Amazing

madmaggie

Ah Graces7, two years is no time at all! After being educated here, getting a job, my own place, I still used to be asked "do you ever think about going back to England", this about 25 years after I came over.

SaltSweatSugar

Getting good feedback and praise from a supervisor at work. I’m helping to organise an open day and I’m being made feel very appreciated and valued. I’ve had some good ideas and my supervisor has let me know that they’re really good. Such a simple thing but it’s made me feel so motivated and revitalised after a difficult few months at work. I can’t wait for this open day, it’s gonna be awesome.

Also yesterday was my ten year anniversary in my career. Not sure where that decade has gone :pac:

Graces7

madmaggie wrote: »

Ah Graces7, two years is no time at all! After being educated here, getting a job, my own place, I still used to be asked "do you ever think about going back to England", this about 25 years after I came over.

lol.. I have been in Ireland nearly 20 years now!

When I first found the island here and talked to the ferryman I had to give my Irish ancestry! Oh and that I had lived a decade on a far more exposed and remote island... The man was so relieved! " So you know about island life!"

I think many come here then leave when winter hits! My first winter here was a test indeed... He once told a visitor " We soon realised that this one was not soft, a bit tough." ! The greatest compliment I have ever had....

But I am and remain so blessed to be here. Lived in North Mayo my first few months in Ireland and had longed to return. The most lovely part of Ireland; wild and clear

Off to pick berries!

Graces7

SaltSweatSugar wrote: »

Getting good feedback and praise from a supervisor at work. I’m helping to organise an open day and I’m being made feel very appreciated and valued. I’ve had some good ideas and my supervisor has let me know that they’re really good. Such a simple thing but it’s made me feel so motivated and revitalised after a difficult few months at work. I can’t wait for this open day, it’s gonna be awesome.

Also yesterday was my ten year anniversary in my career. Not sure where that decade has gone :pac:

We need a CAKE! With candles!

Widdershins

The incredible growth of my climbing roses since I started fertilising them with coffee grounds.

The ornate cream and gold ceiling of Middle St. Synagogue in Brighton which I'll visit in 2020 when I do a tour of the Uk to catch up with a few friends and relatives. I just saw a phito an FB friend took while lying on the floor looking up at the sybagogue ceiling.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Heading off to a primary school to talk senior Infants on a Nature walk. I love these sessions. Kids are fantastic and keep us all young.

Graces7

The sheer comfort of a good turf fire when the wind chill is creeping into the very bones and marrow, stealing any warmth. First since March and very welcome indeed.. Cats are curling up by it and all is well .. happy!

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

I’m delirah that there’s a new Bill Burr special up on Netflix for me to devour this evening. Om nyom nyom.

Kitty6277

Happy that after my first day back at college I’m feeling motivated and able to tackle what this year is going to throw at me

iamwhoiam

Planted up some Autumn flower pots with pansies , cyclamen and a bit of trailing greenery . They look so fresh and colourful and Autumny

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

I’m very amused that the Biscuit Tournament thread has a mod warning in the first post. People take biscuits very seriously, it seems. :pac:

New Home

I'm TAed I didn't know there was such a thread!

Mam of 4

New Home wrote: »

I'm TAed I didn't know there was such a thread!

Enter at your peril NH !

It's a dangerous thread

New Home

I've noticed...

gifted

When I put my hand into the crisps bag and grab a big bunch of crisps in a perfect shape that's just right for my gob.....no spillage or cracking of pieces of crisps

Autosport

gifted wrote: »

When I put my hand into the crisps bag and grab a big bunch of crisps in a perfect shape that's just right for my gob.....no spillage or cracking of pieces of crisps

When I see a picture of perfectly cooked sausage rolls and can nearly taste them and then a picture of Rocky road I don't even eat sausage rolls I just want the pastry

gifted

Autosport wrote: »

When I see a picture of perfectly cooked sausage rolls and can nearly taste them and then a picture of Rocky road I don't even eat sausage rolls I just want the pastry

Bet you'll eat my sausage roll....lol lol


Sorry Auto....couldn't resist that lol lol

Widdershins

The thing with the sausageroll meat is it can have rubbery bits your teeth bounce off. I found these spiced white pudding version of sausage rolls in the local shop. They're never gritty and a bit TH.

Th making elderberry syrup and apple and blackberry tart from fruit from my own garden and hedgerow.

madmaggie

Today I decided to make an effort. Put on some make up, and got the hair cut and coloured. I'm fed up looking like a dog's dinner. And I feel great.

Graces7

happy that the long loud night is nearly over even though we seem to have a long loud day ahead! For hot water flowing free after the fire was lit, and for the confirmation of fuel supplies coming in. This time last year I was still able to go over and shop so this has been of concern.

Happy hoping I can replace my (cheap as in dealz!) reading glasses as mine are falling apart! Not sure how yet....

happy days! happy that today the dwelling will be fragrant with blackberry jam and rose hip syrup again..generous hedges

Rubberchikken

happy thst its 40 minutes to home time. long busy 2nd night and tired this morning. 2 more nights ahead of me but sure after a few hours sleep I'll crack on:)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

The sun's shining.

Ifevera wiztherewas

The moon is like a big torch in the sky tonight.

Ifevera wiztherewas

Not trivial but, my son. God I love that wee boy so much.

Widdershins

First time in 26 years that the full moon has fallen on Friday the 13th. That is, it's 98% full tonight.

On way home from dinner in Limerick. The city looks so pretty in this brilliant white moonlight. Happy out! Nightol!

PS. Friday the 13th is lucky for me, as are black cats.

SaltSweatSugar

A friend trusts me enough to ask me to babysit her toddler tomorrow.

I had to turn her down cos I have a doctors appointment but still, someone trusts me with their tiny human.

Also fully owning the fact that I’m now firmly in the broody stage of life

Graces7

Very happy that through the wonders of email and the timing ie on a delivery day, I got my broken reading glasses replaced yesterday.

Also very happy that I did not yet order hyacinths and snowdrops and narcissi as the pharmacy were very much more expensive than dealz and cannot do both.... narrow squeak that was!

gifted

Went over 3000 posts on Boards.....happy and rubbing hands while waiting to get my cheque from them............lol lol

Ted_YNWA

gifted wrote: »

Went over 3000 posts on Boards.....happy and rubbing hands while waiting to get my cheque from them............lol lol

You'll have stumps for hands if you keep rubbing your hands waiting for it.


TH the weekend is almost here.