In winter...
Lovely, hot power-shower after a really hard, cold, wet ride. Dress in warm comfy clothing including my favourite socks and a toasty hoody. Then a well earnt cold beer in a proper pub, in front if a roaring log fire.
Sailing by the lee in a Laser dinghy (one for the sailors)
Watching my kids enjoying time outdoors doing walks and rides that kids twice their age would moan and complain about.
Just about anything bought from a bakery in France or Germany.
Riding my bike or walking in proper hills
Tea, a nice steaming cup of strong tea with a dash of milk or black earl grey.
Edit I forgot ginger nut biscuits, with the aforementioned tea.
A bit of summer afternoon coupling, sun streaming in the windows, followed by a wee 40 winks cuddling in.
Bliss.
Getting into bed with clean sheets after a shower.
A nice strong coffee at dawn with the cat for company
Bear hugs
A well cooked bit of broccoli in a really good curry (thai, indian, whatever), that's soaked up the sauce.
This is a new one for me, but getting into bed with freshly shaved legs - somehow the sheets feel awesome!
Alone in a freshly valeted car on an early morning run down the quiet motorway (M90) in summer. Ideally to catch a flight to somewhere sunny.
Sailing by the lee in a Laser dinghy (one for the sailors)
It's a fine line between pleasure and pain...
snus
@matt I think the correct term is...
It's a fine line between pleasure and swimming
I learned the skill quite late on in the time I spent in the class. Back on double handers for a while teaching Mrs g-d and the kids, although eldest has gone mad for Toppers.
Dispensing with the crackers, crusty bread, and any extraneous middle class toss and just cutting big lumps of cheese off a selection on a cheeseboard and shoving it in your gob. Washed down with a nice red 🙂
Sitting on the rocks in Devon on a big wave day watching the surfers.
A cup of good coffee in the morning.
My dogs sleeping on my feet.
Reaching out and feeling my girlfriend next to me,
Listening to TMS, preferably during our summer. All seems right in the world.
Giving the dog his evening walk, walking in silence and looking out for the local foxes, deer, badgers and owls.
Boobies.
Looking out for the local foxes, deer, badgers and owls.
And boobies?
Picking dried PVA glue off my fingers. Bloody loves it I does.
Hearing Mrs Ready laugh after 28 years of being together (in the good way!)
Long solo rides in a forest, stopping for a few minutes and completely absorbing the peace, quiet and smells.
And summer bike rides, nice views, pub stops with Mrs Ready.
Walking the dog somewhere peaceful and beautiful - woods, mountains, coast etc
Going for a wee when you've been busting for ages
Timing traffic lights perfectly
Kissing your kids night night (when they're asleep)
Cheese
Throwing a boomerang.
Watching Kestrels patrol the hedgerows (stopped on the way in this morning to watch one)
Kite flying with little kids.
When the random selection of tunes on the commute hit the right BPM
Getting in the sea.
Fish Finger sandwiches
I was going to say feeding the ducks but I’ve been Parklifed.
Taking off your kneepads after a sweaty ride
Having a ****
in that order?
A good nature documentary.
Staring at a good sky
That sunny Saturday morning feeling
Bike appreciation
Being high up
Beer buzz
Did I just write a poem?
Standing in the sea with waves lapping at your feet at sunset with a beer in hand
A midnight whisky circle in a field somewhere with good mates passing a hip-flask or bottle of good single malt about
the way a front road bike wheel glides effortlessly over a smooth "polished" road with just slightest shift of your weight.
A cup of coffee whilst sat in my armchair after having got in from work after an early shift. It felt good to have the rest of the day free whilst "everyone else" was at work (yeah, I know I had to get up at daft o'clock but I'll let that pass). Sometimes I'd treat myself to a little nap afterwards.*
Having the free time for a run/road ride/mountain bike ride.**
Going to watch the birds on the big pool at the back of the house.***
*Don't have an armchair anymore.
**Don't have the free time anymore.
***Don't live there anymore.
watching a snowboard film on vhs (not clips on ootoob) with a beer, like bitd. e.g./esp this one.
Marmite on white crusty bead.
Carving up some singletrack.
Carving up a B road in the MR2.
The first whiff of some really fine dope being lit.
Lying naked on the bed feeling the cool breeze playing on my skin.
Paddling out.
The crackle of the needle between tracks.
Smelling roses.
Bikes
April morning birdsong
Shipping forecast theme music
Top quality lager/beer gardens.
Looking out for the local foxes, deer, badgers and owls.
And boobies?
Them's goose in disguise, you can tell from the way they're walking
Old Konas with slicks on.
Bivvying in the middle of no-where and just staring up at a dark, clear sky.
Sitting with a drink outside a cafe/bar just people-watching whilst not having a care in the world.
The totally unconditional hug from a grand-child.
Top of a hill with a hip flask
To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!
Your wife to be smuggling contraband McDonalds to your hospital bedside.
i speak from very recent experience
Yellow gorse flowers against a cloudless blue sky on a bright spring day.
A bit of appreciation when it’s not expected.
A decent cup of tea drank outdoors.
The sound of my kids goofing around together, laughing.
Hard rain on the window as I’m getting to sleep.
Not f*cking-up an easy DIY task!
A good chat on the phone with my mum. Its makes her happy , but makes me sad as her mind and health are failing ( 87 yrs )
Sitting in my front room with a coffee and some belgium chocolate shortbread biscuits on a sunday morning watching the wind build in the Solent knowing thats its going to be great windsurfing conditions ina few hours time.
Washing my car.
My kids playing at being Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome while riding their bikes. I think Dave Brailsford would have had something to say about their wild disregard for the other's line choice/presence on the trail. Today I got nominated to be Peter Sagan.
Opening the door of a bothy, not knowing what (or who) you'll find.
Also:
Yellow gorse flowers against a cloudless blue sky on a bright spring day.
I have a question. Why do we say gorse smells like coconut, when really coconut smells like gorse?
Yellow gorse flowers against a cloudless blue sky on a bright spring day.
And following that, successfully excavating gorse prickle splinters from your knuckles.
Watching the dog waggle her back end around in the river and lap the water as she cools herself down.
