Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 1

I was feeling down recently so I decided to write a list of things that happen in my day-to-day life that make me happy/smile, the little victories as it were. So here it is in no particular order:

1. The fact that the volume control on videos and audio on the BBC website goes to 11:

My assumption is that this is not some bizarre coincidence and is of course a reference to Spinal Tap. If it were a coincidence or there was some mundane reason  for it , it would definitely take from it a bit (I started to Google it, but decided against it), but I'd still choose to believe that it was a mischievous developer with a quirky sense of humour.

2. Throwing things into other things:

Usually paper into a bin or socks into the laundry basket, but in reality anything goes. The more difficult the shot the better. I was trying to decide if the 'swish' was the best entry method or whether a shot that goes around the rim of the object then drops is better because there's the moment of uncertainty before the 'glory'! And then there's the shot that looks destined to miss but hits another object and defies the odds to reach it's destination. In reality they're all good.

3. Judging quantities of pasta or rice to perfection:

Sure you could measure it in something and be pretty confident of getting it right, but that doesn't compare to free handing it and, in the case of pasta, making the exact amount that satisfies your hunger or, in the case of rice, making just the right amount so that it corresponds to the amount of food you're eating it with. I hate waste so overestimating rice quantities annoys me, as does eating plain rice! And there's nothing more annoying than making too little pasta when you could have just shaken the packet that one more time when it was over the pot. But on those days when you get it 'porridge-of-baby-bear' right, dammit if it doesn't make you feel like the meal tasted better...

4. Timing something to perfection:

Now this has too many examples to list but includes the likes of (i) arriving at exactly the same time as the person you've arranged to meet at a given destination, (ii) going to check on something cooking in the oven and arriving at the oven just as the timer goes off, or (iii) flicking the TV on just as the show you wanted to watch starts or the radio and a song you like comes on.

5. Having the exact change:

This doesn't necessarily have to be for the bus, although that is always good. Any instance where you're worried you won't have enough cash and will have to either pay by card or go to an ATM. It's always embarrassing if you count out change or notes only to realise you're still short and that you've held up the queue unnecessarily. Obviously if you know you have enough cash to cover the cost this doesn't happen, but on those occasions when you know it's going to be tight, that relief gives a good buzz.


Bit of a random post I know, but if any of you that are having a bad day or more importantly a few bad days, I urge you to make your own list. Thinking about your own little victories might just bring a smile to your face.