The simple pleasures

Time after time as I wander through this strange place called life, I've been grateful for one particular element of my outlook.  I'm blessed with not being materialistic.

Don't get me wrong, I like a few pleasures like any of us - a fine ale, good meal, a new shirt (not always terribly tasteful, it's true), but I'm not driven by accumulating wealth.

This little musing arises from a question I received about the tvdetective books, and Dan in particular.  As some seem to think he and I share much in common - how could they, when he's so bumbling and hopeless at so much of life?! - my correspondent wanted to know if I enjoyed similar pleasures? Simple things like walking the countryside, time to think.

The answer is yes. I've never hankered after new kitchens, the latest model of car, luxury holidays, all that stuff.  I've tended to find contentment closer to home, and often just within myself.

I've never been driven by money.  So many of my fellows from college days have earned mass multiples of anything I've managed.  But that doesn't always make them happy from what I've seen - often far from it.

My pleasures are writing - I love the challenge, the fulfillment, and the opportunity to entertain a few people. The teaching work I do is hugely rewarding, and I still very much enjoy being a journalist, on the scent of a story, that sense of ferreting out a hidden truth that the public should know.

But on an even simpler level, just give me a walk around the river.  A few minutes watching the geese and ducks squabble over some bread, a cormorant fishing.  A drink in the pub with some of my fine friends.  Or a quiet night, trying to crack a crossword, listening to some music, or reading a book.  Maybe even composing some of the strange tweets which a few people have been kind enough to say they find entertaining.

I try not to think it, but perhaps the headline for this little stroll of the mind should be - simple man, simple pleasures.  (And very glad it's that way, too.)

Finally then some music for today, and how about the charming JCB song, by Nizlopi?   Because it's so simple, in tune, lyrics and concept, and all the more delightful for that.