WANTED:
Simple pleasures…
In these troubled & turbulent times, many of us are seeking “simple pleasures” – I know I am!
Hence, dear readers, it was with no little sense of delight that I stumbled upon a splendid little tome in our Libraries the other day - Simple Pleasures: little things that make life worth living. (I confess it, I let out a little `whoop` of delight at discovering it…a shameful confession from a practicing Librarian I know, but there we are…)
A slim (though exquisitely bound) volume, it contains a series of short, pithy and whimsical essays from some of our leading writers on the theme of their own `Simple pleasures`…Prue Leith on the joys of a nice hot bath, Antony Beevor on the allure of the owl, Clive Aslet on the delights of Ramsgate Beach, and many, many more…
It’s a National Trust publication, so as you’d expect (being a reader of some discernment) it’s all rather `green wellie & Aga saga` if you get my drift…
Nonetheless, there’s a great deal of wisdom and comfort and pleasure to be gained from reading it…I particularly liked Lucinda Lambton’s article on “looking up at tall buildings” and have been following her advice ever since (you’d be amazed at what you see, even if it gives you a stiff neck!). I also intend to start growing prize vegetables, and possibly even knitting…
It also contains one of the finest ten words of advice I`ve ever read: “If it is to be, it is up to me”…
Anyway, try giving it a read, and see what you think…
The Blogbrarian has been pondering greatly on the concept of pleasure, both his own and others…
The writer and bon viveur Sydney Smith’s idea of heavenly pleasure was eating pate de foie gras to the sound of trumpets…John Mortimer’s was drinking champagne cocktails in the lounge bar of the Royal Opera House…
Mine (being a more rough-hewn horny-handed son of the soil) would be sitting in my shed eating pork scratchings, ideally listening to Test Match Special whilst reading a book from Bexley Libraries…Oh, and possibly getting my garden gnomes ready for the summer season. And if I`m really pushing the boat out, maybe sculpting a life-size papier-mâché model of the late great Hattie Jacques…Or is that just too much to ask for?...
Anyway, at no extra cost, here are six of my seasonal secret simple pleasures:
1) Reading
2) Walking
3) Scratching
4) Watching herons in flight
5) Thinking about how to grow the largest, most perfectly formed vegetables ever seen in NW Kent
6) Using Bexley Libraries…
What are your Simple Pleasures?... Either in book form, or elsewhere?...Share `em with us (if decent) by using the comments feature below. But remember, the Hattie Jacques model is mine!
TTFN
