Cheap Thrills

 Savoring Simple Daily Pleasures

Its been a very mixed bag of a week! My beloved Hubby returned from 3 weeks in the UK on Monday, which is absolutely marvelous. Gosh I missed him. So a very early pre dawn up and out to the airport where I sat in my big woolen double breasted coat nursing a (Very average) coffee until his familiar bags appeared on the trolley before him through the sliding doors. 

The week took off from there really with juggling a jet lagged husband and on Tuesday taking our eldest to training for a new job across tow. Except we didn't quite get there- for the first time in my life we got a flat tyre. Not just a puncture but completely and utterly pancaked.  We pulled over- possibly later than would be ideal when driving on that much of a flat (!) and after establishing how bad it was we limped to a nearby garage. While the day involved ALOT of waiting around and clearly unfolded nothing like I'd planned or anticipated, even during our mini crisis I was able to feel gratitude for all the things that did go right and the way it all came together and people kind people who were willing to help. Daddy came to the rescue immediately and despite having pretty much just arrived at his office, came straight back to collect our daughter so that she was still able to get to her job- if a few minutes late. 

By chance, there was one of our favorite cafes a stones throw form where my immobilized car was parked, so somewhere warm to sit and decent coffee (and a bathroom!) as I waited for the tow truck my husband had organized. On returning to my car to wait for the truck when I knew it was immanent, a thoughtful member of the public had left me a note on my windscreen to let me know about the tyre incase I hadn't seen and tried to drive away - damaging the wheel in the process.  So simple but heartwarming that someone took the time out of their day for no gain whatsoever other than to look out for another's well being. 

Anyway, a tow truck, a tyre center, and Uber and a lift back to collect my car later- yes the day hadn't panned out even remotely how I'd planned, my to do list looked exactly as it did at 6.30am, but I was safely home, with my car on the drive with two shiny new tyres. I was so very grateful and appreciative of all the little things that transpired to what prevented it from being a far more stressful and horrible day- Hot coffee, kind people, wintry sunshine, and a husband and Mother who sprung into action to help. Even my daughter -who could have added to the stress by fretting about being late to a new job (as, frankly, I certainly would have)  kept calm throughout. I came home too late to really enjoy a walk and fresh air before dark, so I took the opportunity for a pot of tea and a slice of grannies delicious lemon cake!

A day or so later, having been inspired by a podcast on spring cleaning and home organization, I felt the urge to tackle a kitchen cupboard which has been bothering me for some time- if I'm really honest , possibly since we moved into the house over 3 years ago, when it al just got unpacked and put away. 

I took all the pots, pans, skillets, Dutch ovens, colanders and pot lids out and put them on the bench. I wanted to clean out the cupboard itself and assess anything I didn't really use or was juts being stored and no longer useful. Half way through this process my youngest daughter decided to join me, so between us we emptied, cleaned, sorted and edited the pot cupboard and the drawers and cupboards I keep casserole dishes, all bakeware and all mixing bowls etc in. 

For a little while the Kitchen and Kitchen table was in chaos with every inch covered, but then it started to clear, the box of donations grew, the cupboards and drawers were refilled in a methodical, logical manner with only what I require and use, and our sense of satisfaction and achievement grew.  

Once it was all reorganized and the Kitchen was neat and tidy again, I went for a slightly damp walk (The rain is utterly relentless this winter) and my sense of accomplishment was palpable! 

Upon my return as the twilight fell, I began to prepare dinner and it felt such a luxury and so completely satisfying to be using my newly organized storage. I was literally smiling and savoring the simple act of reaching for a pot! It felt like such a makeover, I was as pleased as I would have been - almost- with a kitchen remodel! It made preparing dinner that night such a pleasure- and emptying the dishwasher afterwards, and has inspired me to keep going - the buzz is infectious and I cant wait to tackle some more organization these school holidays so that the start of the new term can feel calm, organized and ready for anything. 

This feeling, this beautifully organized kitchen, this sense of drive and enthusiasm for a "spring" clean, comes at no other cost than my time, its completely free, and yet the gain is priceless! Cheap thrills indeed. I highly recommend it! Once you get stuck in and reap the rewards from just a simple 5 minute drawer organization even, it becomes infectious. I now have a beautifully organized bathroom vanity drawer, and an edited wardrobe and am exciting to get going today and enjoy the feeling later.

My long awaited Harney & sons tea arrived within moments of my beautiful Brown Betty teapot in Cobalt blue I'd ordered on Wednesday afternoon, so I took that as an absolute cue to sit down and savor a cuppa with my book on the sofa for a few quiet moments. It was so hood I did it again the following day and added some toast (Vogels  for the Kiwis) and jam with dripping butter, No that doesn't quite fit in with my health and wellness goals but boy, it was such a yummy treat! With a crackling fire, an Emma Bridgewater tray loaded with scrumptious deliciousness and my brown betty sitting happily, I couldn't have felt much happier in that moment.