It was such a lovely day yesterday. I had done a job at a house twelve miles away and was back home mid-morning. I had things to do on my computer, then cook lunch. Afterwards I spent some time in the front garden helping E clear some shrubs and dead plants. The guys doing the driveway had left. I set a fire and burned the rubbish. Problem with that was I smelled of smoke later and had to change my clothes. The thing is, it was enjoyable. Simple and enjoyable just pottering around the garden clearing it up. Whilst we were out front we saw people passing by occasionally, not many as our road is fairly quiet except for the odd speedster now and then. The guy opposite came home in his Bently but had to wait for his electric gates to open. He had to get out of the vehicle to move the waste bin that had been emptied but replaced in front of the gates. A few minutes later his next-door neighbour had to do the same thing but he had a more difficult time trying to drive into the driveway leading to his house because of the size of his vehicle. I remarked to E something about all the fuss that was needed just to drive into the properties. Whatever happened to the simple life? Where I live there are plenty of wealthy people and many large houses. My own house is large but I am not wealthy! I get by. If I can sell my house I will because we have no need of such a large place. It would be better if there were more people living in it and I suppose that is a possibility. The point I make is that it is the simple things in my life which are the more enjoyable. I have no need of an electric-gated large property and loads of money in the bank as long as my simple needs are met. We can get trapped on an endless merry-go-round of accumulating material things most of which we don’t need just trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses’. That is something I have never done nor ever wish to. Give me the simple pleasures in life any time. Small things in my day make my day, like clearing out the front garden on a warm and sunny Spring day, drinking a glass of red wine or two on the way.

Shirley Anne