Grumbling

Goodness me, we've got a lot to grumble about at the moment. I almost can't bear to watch the news - what with Trump and his trumping, so say nothing of the lies and self-aggrandisement of our election. 

Here in the south of England we're worried about the lack of rain - the gardens are parched. Even closer to home, a recent gas leak brought the town to a complete halt; children were late for school. Closer than that, and I'm embroiled in a house-selling saga that ... I won't go on about that, it's too tedious.

Hang on a minute. I won't be homeless. What's more, my home has electricity and running water and the bricks won't be eaten by ants (not like this home in Malawi):

So, children were late for school. But their teachers waited for them. Their teachers are overworked and resources are limited. But they will be paid. And the libraries won't leak during the rains leaving books and equipment soggy and unusable (not like in Malawi)…

Our gardens are parched. And the farmers are warning of a poor harvest. But most of us will have enough to eat - I know there are hundreds of families who use food banks here (unforgivable in a country as rich as ours) but we aren't dependent on the World Food Programme to feed about eighty per cent of the population.

I can't even think about Trump. But our election: I know it's tedious, but it's important. And I know I've posted this picture before (in connection with our local elections) but it's a mantra (from Malawi) that needs to be sung from the rooftops:

What gives you joy?

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good grumble as much as the next woman. Don't get me started on the packaging of toothbrushes or the price of gas. When it's cold and grey and the daffodils are wondering whether to retreat back into the frozen ground - well, it's hard to find much to celebrate.

Yet - and here I speak only for myself - there is so much that makes me smile that all this foot-stamping and growling into my beard (that's a metaphor, I don't really have a beard) gets in the way of noticing the little things that cheer me every day. So here are a few of them:

Snowdrops - lively, delicate little flowers that come out to play in the meanest weather.

The smell of fresh coffee.

Bookshops. (Coffee in bookshops is one of the best ideas ever!)

Warm slippers - even furry slippers, that look ridiculous but keep your toes toasty.

Birds on the feeders in my garden - brave little birds, feathers ruffled against the cold. When the sun shines they wake me in the morning and I forgive them even if it's early.

Grandchildren. (Ah, grandchildren ...)

The Today Programme (a news programme that comes on radio every morning in the UK)

Singing - from bellowing in the kitchen while the kettle boils to the sweetest carol with my choir.

My passport (you know why!)

Aren't I lucky? Such day-to-day delights that greet me every morning. This list wrote itself in five minutes - think how much there'd be on it in half an hour? 

And you - what makes you smile, just to think of it?