Stuff that makes you disproportionately happy

I like having just the right tool for a job when working on a car or bike etc., that time when the spanner/socket is just the right length and angle to get onto the head of a bolt or the hose clip just lines up perfectly to get access to it.

Also when you buy a tool to make a job easier and it actually works, I think this is my peak example of it when working on cars and trying to get to those awkward radiator/coolant hose clips which always seem to be pointing in a direction you cant access. £15 spent that’s saved me hours of swearing!:

Finding this nest in the hedge now the leaves have dropped

Ah but the best feeling of all is when you buy a tool and it turns out to be the wrong tool and then you throw it in a box for years and suddenly without any warning at all in the middle of a job you need that exact tool and you go “wait a minute…”

A weekend to myself (despite having to work a few hours on sat)

Wife and daughter have gone to visit my other daughter at Uni so its just me and the cat till Monday night!!!

Already got my ‘awful’ blues lp’s on the stereo  and later on the guitar will come out for some badly played rock covers.

Riding bikes with my son..did Rebellion Way with him last year camping and King Alfred’s Way this year camping. Did Sa Calobra from Porte Pollensa this Easter as well, what a day that was.

Trackleman’s chilli jam. Accept no substitutes. Spread on a scone after a swipe of cream cheese for a spicy cream tea. Always cream (cheese) first!

Visiting the community cafe on a dreary Friday afternoon to find it full of fun and happy people. Here’s to you, Cafi Canolfan Mynydd Du 🙂  https://black-mountain.org.uk/

Seeing a kingfisher.

But today was a special treat.  Rather than just seeing the flash of blue flying away down the canal, he actually stopped and perched whilst I watched.

And then he started diving for fish and caught one.

Certainly one of the highlights of this year.

Kingfishers are great birds.  I saw a pair together for the first time this year and was stupidly excited.

Haven’t seen a kingfisher for a few years now, sadly.

I popped into a recently reopened cafe near me, in an old lodge building. Roaring log fire in the small indoor seating area, comfy low sofa to sit and eat my crispy bacon cob, and a gorgeous retriever pup who thought a low sitting bacon eating stranger would make a perfect new friend.

It’s been a shit mental health week and I really needed a new furry friend and a roaring fire.

I installed a double kick pedal on my drum kit. It’s silly and unnecessary for the music I play…..I love it!