I’ve been really sickened by what’s happening in the world recently – children and families in Syria, 40% of Americans voting for Donald Trump, the Australian government’s continuing inhumane treatment of refugees on Nauru, and so on.
Then tonight I went over the road to my daughter’s place, she and her boyfriend cooked burgers for dinner (they made the buns and everything), and then we had a lovely evening together, and as I walked home it was a beautiful night, quiet, still, warm (it’s springtime here in Australia) and the moonlight shone through the trees and everything was, for a moment, really perfect.
Have you had a moment like this recently? Today? Last week? Last month, last year?
Let’s hear about it!
Moose the Mooche says
Yes. In bed with Mrs Moose about two hours ago. The best things in life are free.
retropath2 says
Well, I guess it still qualifies as “air”, even if it has travelled through you.
Bartleby says
Brexit morning was pretty perfect. All that elite sponsored bullshit rejected by the populace. A democratic revolution in my lifetime. The UK’s equivalent to the Declaration of Independence. Just about the most glorious moment in politics in a generation. And the howls of horrified anguish from the BBC and others just make it more delicious.
grac says
Worst morning of my life. Still not over it am afraid.
mikethep says
Mine too. Still happy, Barters?
Bartleby says
Very very happy thanks. Finest political moment of my life. And I’ve been a complete political nerd since the first set of by-elections under Thatch.
Vulpes Vulpes says
“Democratic revolution”; my arse.
Mick50s says
I was having a sorta quite perfect moment or two til I read that absolute tosh from Bartleby
count jim moriarty says
The morning when it was shown once and for all how millions of people can be fooled by a bunch of unprincipled liars.
ip33 says
Yes, Britain seems a much nicer place since June!
Bartleby says
You have a very low opinion of your fellow countrymen. Nobody was fooled. Nobody particularly believed one set of lies over the other. They just wanted their say in how the country was run and how it was constantly being lectured by an undemocratic, unaccountable elite who didn’t share or care about their problems. Viva democracy!
count jim moriarty says
I do have a very low opinion of some of my fellow countrymen. I’ve met a lot of them. It pains me to have been in the same camp as unscrupulous lowlifes such as Cameron and Osbourne, but their lies weren’t half as brazen as Johnson, Farage, Gove etc.
Bartleby says
Confirmation bias old boy.
You can’t seriously think that the only reason a majority of people in this country voted to get out from a sclerotic, undemocratic, corrupt, stagnant and bullying extra layer of government is because Boris and Gove misled them against the combined might of the Government machine, EU, BBC, CBI, Bank of England etc. Why would they be more susceptible to one side of a campaign than the other?! There are some pretty genuine reasons for voting to get the hell out of the EU – principally the obvious democratic defecit – and those were uppermost in most voters’ minds, as all post vote polls have demonstrated.
mikethep says
Just over half the population of the UK who could be arsed to vote think one thing, just under half think the direct opposite. In Scotland, Wales and NI the proportions are reversed. 30% or so expressed no opinion either way. Sure, Leave won because it was FPTP, but it’s not exactly the most resounding democratic revolution, is it?
In my humble(ish) opinion, ‘taking back our country’ was the biggest lie of all.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Arf! Get outta here. You can’t seriously think that a (teeny tiny) majority of people in this country voted with it uppermost in their minds that they wished to get out from a sclerotic, undemocratic, corrupt, stagnant and bullying extra layer of government. A lot of people would have to look some of those adjectives up on Google just to know what they mean, let alone how they might be applied to the EU. Where in this pleasant land do you live that’s full of deep political thinkers, and what drugs are you on?
Kid Dynamite says
One could also argue that a majority of people didn’t vote for it – when you’re asked to vote on change, then not voting at all can be taken as an endorsement of the status quo.
I don’t buy this ‘escape from undemocratic unaccountable elites’ tosh either, especially when you consider that nearly all the people making it don’t seem that fussed about the monarchy, the House Of Lords, or even the influence of non-UK citizens like Murdoch on our public life.
But it’s alright! Have you seen the economic news today? Only three of the four wheels of our clown car have fallen off, and we’ve bought Nissan off with god only knows what tax breaks and promises! Truly, this is a land of sunshine.
mikethep says
I’ve spent an hour or two paddling around in the toxic waters of the Daily Express this week (no, don’t thank me). Far from being concerned about a sclerotic, undemocratic, corrupt, stagnant and bullying extra layer of government, in the minds of the admittedly small percentage of the population that reads the rag, Brexit is ENTIRELY about immigration. The shit list is mostly muslim of course but basically foreigners of all colours and religions are disapproved of, including even French catholics.
Favourite joke, so popular it gets repeated all the time: a new charity called Shave the Children.
minibreakfast says
Mine is also bed-based. No, not that, but when me and Mr B first get snug for the night our cat Dottie hops up and does that kneading thing on his legs (we call it poddling) for 5 minutes. Then she moves on to mine for another few minutes of poddling, purring loudly all the while, and finally jumps down onto her own bed and has a little poddle there before going to sleep. It’s a funny little routine, but it’s lovely, and makes me feel like we’re the three bears (with no annoying bloody Goldilocks).
Dodger Lane says
I’m amazed she jumps off your bed. When I had a cat, she took full ownership of my bed leaving me crouched foetus-like somewhere near the pillow by morning.
minibreakfast says
Haha! Actually, last night for a change she stayed put, going to sleep on the back of my legs. I drifted off too, then woke at 1.30am wondering why I couldn’t move.
Moose the Mooche says
My mum tries to take evasive action from her cat by diving under the duvet. No dice: the little bugger often curls up directly on top of her head.
ip33 says
Our cats have moved into their winter routine this week, sleeping on or under the bed during the morning moving into the garden room in the afternoon to catch any autumn/winter sun, then jumping on the bed at night to try and force us out.
Waking up to the sight of a cats arse two inches from your face is always a joy in the morning.
minibreakfast says
Crikey, do they bother to go outside at all? It’s all I can do to get Dottie in by bedtime this week, when in the summer she’s often in for good and asleep by 4pm. She’s a bloomin’ weirdo, though.
deramdaze says
The local football club providing the village school with their first ever proper football kit, and then the team walking out on the pitch on Saturday with the pupils beside them. A mass of green.
Of course, then they got stuffed 4-0!
chiz says
I don’t know if it’s a symptom of my age and a creeping awareness of my mortality, but I’ve been savouring a lot of these moments recently. Maybe it’s the speed at which the world we know seems to be unravelling – the cruel inequality, the retreat from reason, the polarisation of hatred, the lack of humanity we show to people born into the wrong places, the frazzled planet, my gammy shoulder, Cold Turkey slipping down the charts…
A couple of weeks ago I staggered onto the top of a mountain with five chaps I’ve known for 30 years. It was a glorious still, sunny day and we were alone up there. I looked around at the grey, porky relics puffing and toiling along beside me and just thought; this is the only place I want to be right now.
I went to see my Dad. He said “Son, there’s something I’ve been meaning tell you.” I lent in. “What’s that dad?” He looked me in the eye and said: “When I was in the park the other day I saw an Austin Maxi exactly like the one we had in 1974.”
Every night when we turn off the light I say the same thing to my wife. It’s the best part of any day. I’m not going to tell you what I say because it’s soppy. Our jobs means we spend a lot of nights apart. She doesn’t know that I say the same thing to her when she’s not there.
pencilsqueezer says
Up.
duco01 says
A second Up.
Moose the Mooche says
Cold Turkey slipping down the charts? When did this shit happen??
chiz says
Around the time of the ‘Nigeria-Biafra thing.’ One for the Beatlesists.
Johnny Concheroo says
With love. John Lennon of Bag
chiz says
DING!
Moose the Mooche says
What are you idiots talking about?
What’s happened to Big Boy Pete?
Vulpes Vulpes says
Third up.
Gatz says
Now there’s a coincidence – this popped up on BBC News earlier today http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-37787297
pencilsqueezer says
Yesterday morning was yet another concrete reminder of just how remarkable my friends are and how blessed I am by their kindness, patience and generosity. In a world brimming over with selfishness, greed, cruelty and stupidity I am very, very grateful that my friends regularly demonstrate that they are prone to none of those traits. It an honour to be regarded so highly by such wonderful people.
This morning I got a little shudder of pleasure when I put a particular tint of orange next to a particular shade of red and they sang together in perfect harmony.
chiz says
Up.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Again.
hubert rawlinson says
Ups for both PencilS and Chiz.
bungliemutt says
Double ups.
Tiggerlion says
Double double ups.
pawsforthought says
On returning from work today my wife announced she had been to the charity shop “that always pays out.” It’s in a posh little market town and today she brought back my daughter’s first guitar. It’s a quarter size, pink and after I tuned it it actually plays!
Vulpes Vulpes says
Teach her “Stairway”. It’s the law.
retropath2 says
Only when she has mastered Smoke.
moseleymoles says
1:29pm at the Etihad on Sunday. Family there, Sun shining, ‘Come On City’ ringing out…
Leicester Bangs says
Slightly less edifying than most of those above, but no less sincere, I find nothing beats that first hit of booze. It’s like a weight physically lifts.
Rigid Digit says
Cheers!
pawsforthought says
You’re right, it does 🙂
Jeff says
Agreed, well said.
ip33 says
As I’ve mentioned on here my Mum has moved into a home as she has Dementia, she’s fine physically but doesnt really remember who we are any more. On Saturday we started clearing her house, 10 trips to the tip and 5 charity shop journeys! It was a bit of a traumatic experience especially for my wife but after 8 solid hours of clearing we finally called it a day. We drove to our hotel exhausted and after booking in we took two large scotchs and sat by the River Trent and watched the sunset. All the emotion of the day evaporated as the sun went down and we shared some memories and thought of better times. But at that moment we knew that we and everything will be alright.
Bartleby says
Big issues and stuff to be dealing with there ip33. Have a massive up for that.
Jeff says
Beautiful stuff, ip33. I’m raising a glass of Talisker to you, your wife, and your Mum.
Mousey says
Lovely story
bungliemutt says
Probably about 2.30 last Tuesday afternoon. Mrs B and I on our annual pilgrimage up North, sitting in the Dolphin pub in Robin Hood’s Bay. Couple of pints and a packet of nuts, watching the world go by, several days of hols ahead of us, not a care in the world. Just being in that moment in a little bubble of untroubled togetherness was enough. Doesn’t last though. Back to reality now, but still very much together.
ganglesprocket says
My three month old daughter recently hugged me back. Also about a week and a half ago it was my son’s birthday. He got a Buzz Lightyear, which he’s really wanted for months and his delight was just contagious.
Young children are bloody hard work, but the perfect moments often come thick and fast as well, I find…
ganglesprocket says
Oh and another one, his party, in a local park, we attempted a treasure hunt. Imagine ten three year olds not really understanding how a treasure hunt worked, running around like a sugar crazed pack. It was easily the funniest thing I’ve seen in ages.
Jeff says
*sigh* lovely. I’m several decades on from this stage of parenting but, my God, I miss it. Please feel free to post as much of this stuff as you want, it’ll always find a very receptive and contented audience in me.
Sniffity says
OK, here’s one a friend of mine posted to FB this morning
Mum : What would you like for breakfast Ruby?
Ruby : Yoghurt and porridge. But not mixed together!
Mum and dad look at each other thinking could this kid be any cuter?
Ruby : (shouting from the kitchen) HEY HO LET’S GO, HEY HO LET’S GO.
Parents puddle of love.
(PS Ruby is 3yo)
Jeff says
Ha! Great stuff, thankyou.
PS ‘Ruby Ramone’ has a nice ring to it.
ganglesprocket says
My kid has a new formed love for Jungle Book and has taken to marching instead of walking whilst singing “HUP TO THREE FOUR, KEEP IT UP, TWO THREE FOUR” over and over…
bricameron says
Just tonight with my dogs. A little indica and then off into the fog filled woods. Bracing and life affirming.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Heartily appreciate this too. Walk my Russells when I get home every day. Round the fields, hell or high water. Muddy, wet and cold sometimes. Head torch, wellies, damp wax jacket. Splendid.
pencilsqueezer says
Russell Brand? Russell Grant?
I think we deserve to know.
bricameron says
I never had a dog as a child. Now,I think every child should be assigned one.
GCU Grey Area says
I’ve had two great ones this week. One was finally getting round to making a recipe for a microwave chocolate ‘brownie’. I couldn’t believe that a/ it would work, and b/ it would taste any good. It did, and it did.
The second was on my daily bike ride, out on the Somerset ‘badlands’. I slowed down to look at a buzzard on a telegraph pole (a raptor-up-a-stick, as it is referred to at Chateau Grey). I managed to come to a halt, without it flying off, and we looked at each other for a few seconds, before it had had enough of me, and launched itself into the air. It then got mobbed by two very determined Ravens. I then noticed four more Buzzards, thermalling in a ‘stack’, with a Peregrine circling above them. A group of Lapwing came over, and some Fieldfare chattered in a hedge. I’m lucky to live where I do.
Gary says
Stick to English man! I can’t be doing with all that foreign talk.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Zoyland ahoy!
GCU Grey Area says
‘twixt the Parrett and the King Sedgemoor Drain. Such a lovely name for a water course. Could be worse – they call them Sewers in East Sussex.
Mousey says
Bloody ravens, no one’s taught them to fly underwater yet
Sniffity says
It’s never too late to strat.
Johnny Concheroo says
Best to try a Telecaster first, I always find.
Vim Fuego says
Driving home in the dark from a summer evening’s fishing on my incomparably beautiful river Wensum. My labradoodle Frank, still a pup really, laid on the passenger seat with his head on my lap, having his ears stroked. Perfect peace and happiness.
The engine Driver says
A bit late commenting but Mrs Driver went to see her sister so had two days on my own.
So a home made chicken jalfrezi over the two nights, a 15 year old Oban malt and working my way through the complete Steely Dan canon. Bliss.
Still gave her a big hug when she got home.