Being happy is very tiring

I am well behind on my #100happydays challenge as I've been too busy being happy with the grandchildren for the last few days. My children have asked me not to post photos of the grandchildren (big sigh) so you'll have to take my word for it that they're growing and we all had a lovely time. 

Before Elder Son and family left today we had to pay a visit to Verdi's. I don't think 10.30 in the morning is too early for ice cream, do you?

Swansea's answer to ...

For my #100happydays photo challenge today I've used a photo of my two current library books. Libraries make me very happy!

But what is particularly interesting about these two books is the blurb on the cover.

Jacqueline Winspear's is described by Associated Press as 'The British counterpart to Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency,' while the Spectator is more specific when they say James Runcie is 'Grantchester's answer to Alexander McCall Smith.'

I'll let you know what I think when I've read them but maybe that's where I'm going wrong in the marketing in of my books. I should get someone to describe me as Swansea's answer A McM S. It could change my life.

Quick reviews of other books I've read recently:
The White Princess by Philippa Gregory - continuing the Cousins' War series, quite good but drags on a bit for the last third of the book;
Lamb, the gospel according to Biff, Jesus' childhood friend by Christopher Moore - hilarious;
Love from both sides (can't remember author), - only read a few pages because just too crude;
The birds of the air by Alice Thomas Ellis - ditto but because too literary and descriptive for my late night reading;
A married man by Catherine Alliott - good yarn by one of my favourite romcom authors - you get what you expect.

One of my favourite bits in Lamb is where Biff is helping Jesus plan the sermon on the mount and, in particular, the beatitudes. Having decided to give the meek the kingdom of heaven the first suggestion for the persecuted is 'a basket of fruit?'

What Marilyn Monroe and I have in common

My #100happydays photo for today is this:

I found the soap when I was having a cull of my clothes' drawers. My mother gave it to me for one of her last Christmases, probably about 1970. She apologised for not being able to afford to buy me the perfume; this was the best she could manage.

At that time - I was 18 - I didn't appreciate Chanel. I was more into Aqua Manda and Charlie (and they were cheap! Comparatively.) But I said thank you and, rather than waste it by actually using it, I popped it in my knicker drawer so it would scent my clothes. (Do people still do that today? Young people I mean, not those of us who grew up with these habits passed on from our mothers.) I don't think it ever actually made my clothes smell nice. I suppose taking it out of the box might have helped ... Anyway, I still have it and, as I say, I came across it today.

On the right is the bottle of Chanel No. 5 that Husband gave me last Christmas. It's unopened still because Uncle John also gave me a bottle, remembering that I'd said it was my favourite. And it is but unfortunately I don't think it can be smelled on me. Do you know what I mean? It's only when my hands and wrists get warm, for example if they're in hot water, that the perfume seems to be released so that I can smell it. Maybe others do smell it on me but when I ask Husband he can't. (Not that that necessarily should be considered too seriously.)

But I love it and knowing I'm wearing it makes me happy even if no-one else can smell it!

Generosity of strangers

An appeal on Facebook and again I am inundated with baby clothes for a very young pregnant girl and a mother of young children in dire need.

I am amazed at and so grateful for the generosity of strangers towards people in need. The world is a much nicer place than some of the tabloids would have us believe. Thank you all.

What Husband did to make me happy

Husband phoned me in work today. He said, 'Hello, I just ...' and then Stevie Wonder took over, 'called to say I love you.'
'Awwwwwwww.'
'Well, it was on the radio and you're always saying I'm not romantic enough.'

How many brownie points for that, do you think? He's definitely my favourite husband today. And he earns his place in my #100happydays challenge.

So, Furtheron, I hope you learn this lesson from your mentor!

What makes me happy

I suffer with depression but I'm basically a happy person and as it doesn't take much to make me happy I'm taking part in a photo challenge, 100 Happy Days. I'm actually posting the photos onto Twitter, although I think they should show up on my Facebook page as well, but I'm not entirely certain about that.

My photo for today is of blue sky peeping out from behind clouds: quite a boring photo but I was very happy that it stayed dry long enough for me to walk George without getting wet. But as I was in the mood I thought I'd take another couple of shots for days when I forget to take a specific photo. So here's May in bloom.

When I was little it was my granny's mantra: ne'er cast a clout till May be out. It was her excuse for not letting me discard my vest until she was sure summer was on its way. She'd turn in her grave if she knew how often I remove or replace layers these days - without a glimpse of a May flower. Although there was some argument over whether the saying referred to the flower or the month I'm pretty sure my granny wouldn't have let me run a risk so she'd have waited until she was absolutely sure.

Anyway now to me May flower still means that summer is on its way - and it smells lovely too.

Though it was dry all morning we've had a bit of rain recently so some of the paths in the wood are boggy. But isn't that a lovely thing too? (Assuming you have wellies.) Mud, mud, glorious mud, nothing quite like for squelching about it. (Apologies to Flanders & Swann.)

George though was less than happy with this little dog.

When he at last plucked up his courage to run back to me it was with the little dog on his heels, snapping and growling. Poor George was traumatised.

Incidentally the Happy Days Challenge website claims that by making a conscious effort each day to look for the things that make you happy your mood, and your life generally, improves. Why don't you take the challenge too?