Little pockets of happiness …with edit and afterthought

21st Dec 202521st Dec 2025 Joey Jones8 Comments

When are you most happy?

I’m thinking we have all worked out that happiness is not a destination. We can stop and enjoy a happy dance sometimes when we have a measure of inner alignment and all feels well with the world.

If we recognise and cherish those moments, they can help to fuel our well-being. The thing is, if you’re not feeling particularly happy at the moment because you are too tired, too stressed, or preoccipied, say, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unhappy. Simply getting on with life.

One blogger’s post I read today told how happy he feels just chillin’ in the bath. ( you know what I mean), and I totally get that. Someone else writes that moment after the family is packed off for the day and before the chores begin. Another say settling down for sleep. I guess most of us would agree how blissful that can be. It’s getting that happy vibe for a moment and loving it.

Each of us will experience it differently, of course, but some of mine?..

A day out shopping with a buddy, back in the day when we were minted. It makes me happy to think back to those days.

A pint and a catch-up with an old friend, fresh air, and exercise with the dog, in any weather, and then watching them sleep soundly afterwards. Waking up feeling rested. An unexpcted msg, a lottery win. Getting home safely after a long day. Good news about someone’s health issues.Feeling healthy oneself.

There are so many little pockets to be had and remembered. It’s a double whammy if you can have a good time and be able to relive it in your head. Your body doesn’t recognise it as a memory, so the dopamine kicks in

And today, the shortest day and longest night. Slowly we will notice the evenings staying lighter for longer. Spring waiting in the wings for us to enjoy. Bring it on!

Edit. After I posted this I was gazing out of the window watching the squirrel having his tea…and it occurred to me I’m of a sunny disposition, really. And that I have more than my share of those little pockets.🙏 I hope you guys do, too xxx

After thought. I’d like to add that I’m not immune to slithering down the rabbit hole. We all do it. But I’ve learnt to sit it out.

” surprise!”

20th Dec 202520th Dec 2025 Joey JonesLeave a comment

What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

Earlier today, I was just about ready to sit down and put pen to paper and respond to today’s DP.

It coincided with a rap at the door. Patch already there to have a face-off with the postman. Not feeling the festive vibe (Patch, that is) obvs. The scenario was that I could only open said door just a little way.

Postie and I jostled a tad to get a lovely big parcel through the gap. The handwriting gave the senders’ identity away in an instant. My lovely buddy from Cornwall.

Excited? You bet. Tomorrow is the day I prefer to celebrate at this time of year. The winter Solstice, so it was apt it had arrived today.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. A whole sackful of thoughtful gifts. Such generosity was a little overwhelming, and it took a minute or two to compose myself. Overreacting, I wonder if you’re thinking? Not a bit, I can tell you that in an instant.

When I read the DP I was originally going to tell you the blast I had jet washing the car the other day. There really is a lot of fun to be had for £6, I kid you not.

Keeper of the Swans by Rosemary Horne

But today’s surprise parcel takes precedence.

How very fascinating

19th Dec 202519th Dec 2025 Joey Jones12 Comments

List your top 5 grocery store items.

Congratulations, WordPress! You have certainly excelled yourself! The mother of all assignments for us today.

‘Write your shopping list ‘

Yikes, this is surely going to be a post to draw the crowds.

OK, let’s do it. Coffee, number one every time. I would surely panic without this in the cupboard.

Then there is the oat milk to join said coffee. I’ve *kissed a lot of frogs to find my prince amongst the selection on the shelf of alternatives to milk. Some are absolutely rank, some not very nice, others at a push, a couple passable and my favourite. It was trial and error, but I got there.

Bread, prefably sourdough, but with not many slices in the bag, it can become costly to keep replacing every five minutes. Nice though!

Halloumi and/Feta. The culprits prevent me from being easily vegan. In fact it may have reached addiction level.

Chestnut mushrooms or Avocado’s.

And there you have it! Job done. Til the next time…

* For the uninitiated The Princess and the Frog is a children’s story book from way back when

So last year

17th Dec 202517th Dec 2025 Joey Jones17 Comments

Is your life today what you pictured a year ago?

No picture had been painted in my mind’s eye for 2025 a year ago today.

I hadn’t begun blogging again, and I can’t pinpoint the moment the lights went back on. The first day of a new year seemed to be the obvious choice, but it took until February 1st.

It began quite tentatively, whilst I found my feet and then the Pneumonia train came hurtling down the track. I clearly hadn’t seen that coming, and it all but killed me, but I’ve lived to tell the tale.

Years in the past, when I had blogged, I hadn’t stumbled across the Daily Prompt. This time, it has helped a lot to begin unravelling reams of data/thoughts/ideas/observations/experiences that were stored in my head and clearly needed a sort out.

I certainly hadn’t planned to be where I am today on what WP tell me is a 320 day streak.

This photo decided on its own it wished to featured in today’s blog post, so I’ll let it be.

Patch n me have survived another year, and putting aside a chunky lottery win, I imagine we’ll just carry on into next year as we’re are. Inshallah, a friend would hastliy add.

Yes, all being well, we’ll both stay fit and well and in good spirits..as I hope you who’ve read this far will also do. Happy New 2026 to you all.💚

Living and learning

16th Dec 202516th Dec 2025 Joey Jones5 Comments

What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

‘Every day is a school day‘ is pretty much a mantra for me.

I’ve this lifelong learning thing going on, where I just want to keep soaking up information. And there is so much out there to absorb.

Currently, I am keen to replace some taps in the bathroom and will soon be heading to YouTube for a tutorial. I’m prepared for it to take a while, and I may mess up initially, but I’ll get there.

This ongoing curiosity I hold probably explains why I am fascinated by screen time, which depicts in-depth exploration of true crime or medical procedures and the processes they go through to get results with the likes of CSI, the forensics, the technologies available to the professionals.

It goes far beyond voyeurism I’m totally captivated by every second, by everything they do.

There is a tv show. ‘ Show’ is totally the wrong word. It’s sounds flip. Programme, is better. Dr James Adeley a senior coroner for Lancashire with Cause of Death. Another is Inside the Ambulance and for tonight 2 new episodes of 24 Hours in Police Custody.

It could sound morbid if you didn’t know me and that I watch it like a student.

A student of eternal learning, the University of Life thing folk sometimes mention. But that’s where I am WP.

R & R

15th Dec 202515th Dec 2025 Joey Jones5 Comments

What cities do you want to visit?

Hey, WP. Whilst I am sharing a life with Patch, I won’t be visiting any cities overseas anytime soon. Simple as. But London, yes, it will always sparkle for me.

If I could go back in time to Downtown Amman, Jordan 20+ years ago, that would be good. I think these days I’d feel a tad vulnerable, though, with folk travelling through to hostile environments.

But the fact is, after a transient life, there is nothing better right now than to continue decompressing. It’s taking a remarkably long time to ‘ get over’ a lifetime of staying resilient.

To be still (for now) is kinda special

Joseph

12th Dec 202512th Dec 2025 Joey Jones5 Comments

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

Tim Rice was only 20 years old and Andrew Lloyd Webber 17, when the seeds were sown for what was to become a blockbuster of a musical.

On the stage of a little primary school in Birmingham, UK, along with class mates, we performed a short fifteen minute oratorio of Joseph and The Amazing Coloured Dreamcoat.

I get taken straight back there to this day when I hear the opening line 🎶 ” I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain…” Beautiful.

The world premiere of their latest collaboration, Sherlock Holmes and the 12 days of Christmas was held at The Birmingham Repertory Theatre ( The Rep) on November 14th this year. Initially, for a short festive season only the show has been extended due to popular demand.

Oh, to be a Creative of such magnitude. One can only dream.

Judge thee not

10th Dec 202510th Dec 2025 Joey JonesLeave a comment

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

Folk wisdom suggests you don’t know someone until you live with them. This I understand as people can be pretty clever at hiding their true selves.

I’ve never been a good judge of character, often someone turning out quite differently than I had initially/momentarily thought/decided ( a lesson there for me about not being judgemental in the first place)

Having said that, there are things people do that sparks my admiration. In fact, there are lots of things, but to be generous of spirit, that is a truly fine quality to be admired and totally respected.

*Myself and Other Animals

6th Dec 20256th Dec 2025 Joey Jones12 Comments

Do you ever see wild animals?

For such a huge animal lover, I’m pretty much starved of seeing them in the wild.

I’ll get a whiff of fox or hear about ‘those wretched badgers’ ( that gets my hackles up, of course!), and I’ll get an occasional glimpse of a Muntjac, It’s all very sad, really.

We were out just before sun up this morning and crossed paths with an escapee pheasant, wandering lost and alone without his family ( they would have all be slaughtered at the hands/guns of nobs, yesterday)

We didn’t see today, but sometimes a rabbit, sitting close to the road, oblivious to the traffic-clearly in the throes of Mixymotosis- another horror cooked up by Man. The cruelty/abuse of animals will never end.

I’m presently trying to befriend a crow that hangs around here sometimes, but they are remarkably skittish for such a large bird. Oh, talking of birds, there was a Red Kite out and about early this morning, too.

Squirrels, how can I forget those. They’re always around much to the annoyance of Patch.

*I’ve taken the title for today’s DP from an autobiography by Gerald Durrell. ( 1925~1995)

And now I shall go and read what the others have to say about wildlife they get to see. I’m sure bloggers from other countries are going to have more interesting sightings -ooh. I wonder if anyone will mention brown bears? I love those!