I always enjoy "Ten Things of Thankful" on Messymimi, one of my favourite blogs, and today I thought I too would find ten things I have been grateful, happy and thankful about over the last week. So here they are:
1. On Saturday we had arrived in Suffolk, at our late friend's cottage. I am so grateful that her relations let us stay there sometimes, it means a lot to us.
2. As the weather was bad the next day we visited a lovely bookstore in nearby Halesworth. They have such an interesting unusual selection of books, many of them local and/or beautifully produced, and I got the perfect Christmas present there for someone who is always a problem to buy for!
3. Next day we took a bike ride. Even though it gets dark so early, I was incredibly grateful for the wonderful late autumn sunlight to show off the rolling countryside, the quiet lanes and the last of the golden autumn leaves, and to be somewhere I could see all this beauty.
4. The following day we met with people we had got to know in Monkton Wyld. He is a tree expert and we had lunch and such interesting conversations and even though I was feeling ill I was having too much fun to care.
5. We went to a friend's house and listened to a concert on Radio 3 we all wanted to hear. She has better equipment than they supplied at our cottage and I thought how lucky we are to have top performers available for free on the BBC, 7 days a week!
6. Returning to London the weather was bad again and I was feeling sicker than ever. But we got back without too many delays and the house was fine, so I was grateful for no nasty surprises awaiting...
7. ...although that happened the next day when I logged in to the bank account. Some drunk person (I assume) had swerved and driven into our car while it was parked just opposite our house, and I'd no idea that the repairs would add such a huge sum to the annual insurance, which fell due at the same time. I was grateful that nobody had been in the car when it was hit, and I'm grateful that we have good public transport here so there is the option of not having a car in the future! We are now seriously considering that. I prepared a birthday cake and bought food for a Big Birthday of my sister in law the following day.
8. Next day I'd had an extra bad night and didn't want to infect my sister in law so we discussed whether to postpone. I was grateful she decided to go ahead. She reckons she is on public transport all the time and getting breathed on by goodness knows who, so not enough to miss a party for. We had a lovely evening, one of the best ever. The twins reckoned the cake was iced and decorated to perfection :)
9. Today I am grateful because feeling ill and tired has given an excuse to spend hours at the computer writing my book and I've done another 8,000 words in the last couple of weeks. I feel really good about that!
10. And every day at the moment I give up thanks to be detached from the stress and anxiety at our political situation. I've been resolutely avoiding social media and news of any kind, and I'm glad I've settled in my head to vote tactically (using www.getvoting.org,) - not for anyone in particular, but against those who've got us into this. Sometimes it is positive to reject the bad, and I am glad I have that choice.
Oh - and finally - reading that Monkton Wyld post again that I linked to, I thought I should say that St. Anthony did indeed help with finding my lost item. Within the hour I found my hand right on a box file labelled completely the wrong thing, with the urge to open it. My important lost folder was inside, to my surprise. I thought I had checked all the files but there you are. So I am very thankful for that too!
PS The picture at the top of this post shows one of my favourite people, now grown up.
It is good to be thankful for all these day-to-day things in life without waiting for some grand event to occur. I feel quite safe in saying that if more people simply reflected in this manner, rather than grumbling and complaining, their changed outlook on life would lead to a net benefit in the mood of all of society. Bravo for even including being sick in your list of things to be thankful for, and teasing out the positive elements of what was no doubt a miserable time. i hope you are now feeling much better.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am sorry you are not feeling well, I wish you a speedy recovery. The photo of the fall colors and trees is gorgeous. It is nice you are able to stay in your friend's cottage. I wish we lived in an area with public transportation, we are too far out of the city. I always have a list of small things to be thankful and grateful for. Take care and enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteGlad you have so many things to be thankful for though I cannot say I would be thankful to live in London though. I think you should be thankful it was not raining on your visit, seems to have been non stop here. That cake looks yummy. I just find little things make me thankful now but not the cold that seems to be going through me at the moment
ReplyDeleteHello Jenny, It is difficult to feel thankful while unwell, so I congratulate you on your attitude. #5 resonated with me a little. I recently got back to my apartment in Taiwan, and each time I return I have a feeling of faint surprise that it is still there--somehow I expect the whole building to have vanished. Since that is not the case, I can be grateful that the damage was limited to a generous supply of accumulated dust and to just a few broken cups from an earthquake over the summer.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Oh gosh, it is so hard to feel positive when you feel so bad. Good on you, though, for appreciating the things around you and realizing that one’s attitude can make a big difference in the way we look at and accept the day to days annoyances and joys.
ReplyDeleteMy grandchildren don't like reading books.. they say they get their share of literature in other media. So I decided to write a blog post on my favourite book shops. Thus it was a pleasure seeing your #2 pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThis autumn image is stunning! It sounds like you had a full week. I hope you are feeling better. Over here we vote for the candidate who will do the least amount of damage. Of course that does not always go our way but at least we have the option to try. The photos of the kids are so cute!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that you have been feeling downpin...but glad that you did not let it stop you enjoying life. Those autumn colours!
ReplyDeleteMy when I feel ill I just take to my bed so I really admire you for keeping going so stoically.
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to avoid the depressing political situation some of our politicians have got us into. As you say it's about who will do least damage, they've already done more than enough & should feel ashamed but they don't!
Love your photos!
How impressive, to find things to be thankful for when you’re feeling so grim. (And I’m truly impressed at 8000 words in a day!).
ReplyDeleteNot in a day! In about 2 weeks!
DeleteOh, I clearly didn’t read properly. Even so, 8000 is good going, Hope you rewarded yourself with cake ... or wine,
DeleteI hope you are feeling better. The swing photo reminds me of fun. Thankful list, a wonderful idea.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be thankful. It is too easy to focus upon the problems
ReplyDeleteI have so many things to be grateful for that if I started listing them, I would be here for days.
ReplyDeleteBut the main one, of course, has to be my family. I could not have picked a better family if I had been given a celestial catalogue to choose from. And that is the base of it all.
Thank you so much for joining the Ten Things of Thankful! Your post makes me so happy, except the part about the insurance going up. It's infuriating when another person is responsible for the damage and we have to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cake. It's a wonder you can find a place to cut into it.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I am thankful for a family member who may be coming around.
I try to be Thankful everyday.
ReplyDeleteI read your sick too STOP IT ! Get better soon ! ! !
parsnip x
What a sweet idea for a post, Jenny. I am glad St Anthony has kept up his high standard of finding things - now I must invoke him myself. Sorry you have been so ill, but to produce 8,000 words meanwhile - that is astonishing. Well done you. The bookshop and the ride under the delicate yellow trees just speak of England to me, in the nicest way.
ReplyDeleteGratitude is a dominant state of mind for me. and has steadily been increasing over the last ten years. Your reasons for being greatful are all very good! I love the autumn picture, it symbolises what I love most about this season.
ReplyDeleteThat was good to read. Well perhaps not the fact that you were not well but the rest and how you overcame your malady. I really must resurrect my Thankful Thursday posts.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny. Answering your question on my blog re my visitor. The company is local to me but there are many up and down the land who offer same or similar service. Mine is called HOME INSTEAD for elderly folk. I saw a very informative article in a major magazine. You can read all about it
ReplyDeleteSorry about the insurance. The increase doesn't seem right if someone drove into your parked vehicle.
ReplyDeleteSorry you have not been well but glad that you have written more for your new book! And ouch on that insurance by the way! xx Take care.
ReplyDeleteYou had an interesting and action-packed week, despite your illness. How you are now feeling better!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful list. It is my turn now to be thankful. You posted the list on my birthday. I'll take it as a present. :-D
ReplyDeleteCycling in autumn is perhaps one of the lesser-known pleasures in life. Please, keep it a secret, otherwise, everyone will start doing and it will lose its magic. Like experiencing the golden hour at four o' clock in the afternoon. :-)
I'm a firm believer in counting your blessings. I think gratitude makes you happier.
ReplyDeleteIt is refreshing and inspiring to read about things to be thankful for - - especially since I (unfortunately) often tend to concentrate on the negatives.
ReplyDeleteDespite the fact that you were feeling ill - and your car was rammed by a drunk driver, you still managed to find positive aspects of the situations.
I hope you're feeling better, and - by the way - that festive birthday cake looks good!
I'd be very thankful for a slice of that cake!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling 100% better, Jenny...take good care.
How much is going on in your life Jenny. What a pity you got sick. I wish you get better soon.
ReplyDeleteSt. Anthony helped you to find a lost file well done!
I liked the photo with the cake, I can immediately see that it is great and tasty.
I can’t say that I have such a busy life, I am thankful to enjoy every day as much as it's possible.
In these troublesome times, not just here, but around the world in general, it is good to look for the positives as you have done and appreciate the good things that we do have in our lives. Do hope that you are feeling much better.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of Ten Things of Thankful. The birthday cake looks wonderful. And how fortunate that feeling unwell led to another 8,000 words!
ReplyDeleteAs I think you know, Labour doesn't stand any candidates in NI, so the best I can do is vote for Alliance, the non-sectarian party. But the DUP has a thumping majority in this constituency so is likely to keep the seat.
A shame about your car and the huge insurance hike. When we were in London, we also had a car that was wrecked by another motorist. We decided not to buy another car as public transport was so good.
To focus on ten things to be thankful for sounds like a great idea, Jenny. I'm so sorry you've been feeling so unwell, though. That's not good, but to have the time to write definitely makes up for some of it. What a nasty surprise about your car. Didn't the other person's insurance cover it, or didn't they stick around to own up to the deed. Good for you staying off social media and away from the political scene. I've done that too with all news in general. I find life much less stressful that way. Get better soon, Jenny!
ReplyDeletePS Your photo of the tree-lined lane is just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSorry you haven't been feeling well, but every cloud has a silver lining and to do another 8000 words is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteLove the Autumn colours in your photographs.
All the best Jan
Cycling along Suffolk lanes must be a welcome change from London.
ReplyDeleteHowever getting rid of the car might be a mistake, you have to get to Suffolk somehow and cars are better when you have kids along. Cheaper also!
I am surprised the drunks insurance did not fix the car, unless he did not have any.
8000 words in a few hours? Are you turning into Enid Blyton?
I thought I had posted here, I appear to have lost that one. Age has its problems...
Jenny, I adore everything in this post except for the part that you have been so sick, which sounds just miserable to the max. Yet still you managed to find such good in that time. I love your sister in law's viewpoint -- "I'm already exposed, let's celebrate!" And well done, you, with the 8,000 words! (And a post, too!) I love that even bad weather brings some good things, and time spent with friends old and new is always the best. You are indeed lucky to have reliable and rapid mass transit. We don't. Our old cars are chugging along but it would be nice not to have to have them. (Rick could maybe pull that off!).
ReplyDeleteThere is something about this post I find tremendously uplifting. And indeed, much for which to be thankful.
what an excellent attitude dear jenny
ReplyDeletei really appreciate your positivity and strength that inspite of sickness you kept your spirit high :) ,that is what matters MOST :)))
glad you found present for someone tough to choose for :) happy days to twins ,cakes looks delicious :)
i wish and pray that you are feeling far better at the moment my friend
either i am glad that you were happy to sit with blogging friends
stay blessed as always !
I almost overlooked this post (not intentionally, it just got lost amid a bunch of other bloggers posts in my sidebar), and I'm thankful I noticed it at last. Get well soon.
ReplyDeleteDear Jenny - I’ll try to find the things to be thankful when I feel unwell. You look more tough than I had thought. I mean, when I feel ill, I can’t concentrate on writing using computer The photo shows why and how you keep riding despite the recent bike accident. The birthday cake made my moth water.
ReplyDeleteMy husband returned home the other day. He needs wearing corset till the end of year not to twist his body for the long cut in the lower back but all the worrisome symptoms he had been suffering are gone. I’m really happy for him. Hope you feel better soon. Wish you healthy days ahead.
Yoko
revisiting your post to say you Happy Thanksgiving day dear Jenny :)
ReplyDeletehope you enjoyed the event with your beautiful family !
Aw Jenny, you've a lovely knack of finding the positive. I love the birthday cake - no wonder the children liked it, even big children would be delighted ;D) So glad you found your missing file. Hope your health is much better now. Cheers! xx
ReplyDelete