So, after yesterday’s post turned into a bit of a wallow on my part, I thought I would pick myself up and list not three, but five fings things that are making me smile today (or made me smile yesterday).
First, you lot. Your kind messages and comments yesterday went a long way to cheering me up. Although I’m still smarting from the rejection, it was lovely to be showered with so many positive messages. I’ve picked myself up and I’m moving on.
it’s years since I’ve had Christmas presents!
Second, secret Santa. Under normal circumstances I don’t do Christmas gifts, but I did decide to join in with Sewchet’s Stitching Santa this year. And yesterday I was very excited when my present arrived. It’s secret so I don’t know who it’s from until I open it, but it’s a lovely box filled with things yarn-related, so it’s bound to be a joy to open. I still haven’t decided whether to keep it an extra week until my birthday, but I may not be able to resist it for that long.
chocolatey
Third, chocolate. Yesterday afternoon I cheered myself up with some cooking. In the absence of the beef, we decided to have fish pie (made using sustainably caught fish from Cornwall), followed by dark chocolate tart with a white chocolate sauce and raspberries (grown by me). The tart had chocolate pastry and a baked mousse-like filling. The sauce was simply a small amount of white chocolate melted in hot cream and then a teaspoon of liqueur added – it worked very well to contrast with the dark chocolate and the raspberries, although it would have been very sickly on its own.
just the thing to make Sophie look extra-beautiful
Fourth, the end is in sight. I now only have two rows of Sophie remaining, so she will be finished tonight. I was delighted, therefore, that my new blocking mats arrived yesterday. Sophie is too big to block on my usual cork board, so I have bought some interlocking children’s play mats for the purpose. Each one measures 30cm × 30cm, so it’s possible to construct the size and shape of mat I need very easily. I did try to find some secondhand mats, but in the end I had to buy new; however, I think they are going to get lots of use in the future.
Fifth, a lot of swimming. Today is the final day in 2017 that our local swimming pool is open. I won’t be able to go and swim there again until 8 January 2018. So I’ve totted up my tally for this year and I discover that I have been swimming 112 times. I’m very proud of myself… especially considering that most of those swims have been at 7am.
So there we are, lots to make me smile today. How about you? I really hope good things are happening in your life and, for those of you who find this time of year difficult, I send a big hug and remind you that the media’s representation of Christmas is nonsense and that there are lots of lovely people out there who want to support you and make you happy, like the café owner in this story from our local newspaper.
Thanks once again for the lovely comments on yesterdays post – you are all amazing.
The Snail of Happiness 
iamsimplyhooked
/ December 22, 2017Wow you have done well on the swimming front. And well done for bringing yourself back to positivity ater that most unwelcome rejection. Being resiliant is not easy….
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017I generally don’t mope for long and so many nice things happened yesterday (more than I have listed) that I couldn’t feel down for too long.
I am feeling very proud of all the swimming – this is the second year I’ve been doing it and I’ve impressed myself that I haven’t let it slide.
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quietwatercraft
/ December 22, 2017Mmmm the chocolate tart sounds fabulous, it’s making my mouth water just reading about it.
I tried to get some of those mats second hand as well, but they’re really difficult to find! My guess is that if you actually give them to children, they end up in a state not fit to be passed on to someone else.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017You’re probably right there. I know that I will use them a lot in the future, so I don’t mind too much buying new, but I always like to try for secondhand just in case.
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coppicelearner
/ December 22, 2017Glad you are feeling more positive. I hope you will post a photo of Sophie once she is complete. Is she for you to keep or a gift? I hope you keep her and enjoy her after all that work.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017I’m going to keep Sophie I think. I actually have enough yarn left to make a second one with a slightly different colour balance if I want… I rather over-estimated my wool requirements!
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katechiconi
/ December 22, 2017I’m glad your equilibrium has been restored a little. It’s terrible how much total strangers can affect one’s sense of self-worth. That choccy tart looks the business, I must say. But now that I’m allowed gluten again, I take out all my annoyance and frustration on kneading bread dough. Very therapeutic, as I expect you know… I’m grateful for 4 days over Christmas with the Husband, for hot, sunny days with not too much rain over the holiday, for a large double-smoked ham as the Husband’s Christmas present from work and for a seemingly never-ending supply of fresh mangoes from our trees!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017Hope you have a lovely four days – are you cooking for lots of people?
The chocolate tart was wonderfully messy to make – using many bowls and utensils – so I really should also how grateful I am for Mr Snail clearing up the kitchen in my wake!
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katechiconi
/ December 22, 2017We’ll be 9 for Christmas breakfast, all sitting down to a great big greasy feast, with ice cold tropical fruit juice cocktail on the side and slices of chilled watermelon and pineapple to chase the grease down afterwards. I shall definitely be needing a large nap once the dishwasher is going!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017Oh and you are so right about total strangers… although they can also bring joy too
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Nice Piece of Work
/ December 22, 2017please.send.any.excess.mangoes.here………:)
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katechiconi
/ December 22, 2017I have about 5 or 6 bucketloads of mangoes sliced up and in the freezer… You’ll just have to visit, I don’t think they’ll last the journey 🙂
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deborah @ the magic jug
/ December 22, 2017I’m pleased to hear that you’re recovering from the rejection. It can be hard to bear, but those of us who have positive things in our lives already do well to refocus on those at such times.
I’m interested to hear how you find the mats for blocking. I may look for some myself, I’ve always struggled to know how you’re meant to do it, and my normal layers of sheets and towels on the carpet aren’t always a great success.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017I have been told that they do work well, and I will certainly give a verdict once I’ve made use of them. They are, apparently, much the same as the mats sold specifically for blocking, but they are very much cheaper.
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KerryCan
/ December 22, 2017I got to yesterday’s blog post late, after I saw this one, and I am really impressed by how quickly you’ve bounced back! Impressed but not surprised because I think I know that you are so good at finding the positive in every situation! You’ve found lots to feel good about (all that swimming! And chocolate!) And isn’t it interesting how a dearth of Christmas gifts makes the one gift feel so special??
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017That’s so true about the gifts… I really don’t have any desire to receive piles of the things, but this box does feel special… I think particularly because it’s been put together thoughtfully and on a very small budget, rather than just being a standard ‘Christmas Gift’ from the shops.
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nanacathy2
/ December 22, 2017Happy Friday to you, so glad you are bouncing back. Don’t let the b*****s get you down as my step father used to say. I had a really good nights sleep last night and didn’t wake till nearly nine, the bliss of being reitred. Well done on all the swims, I really want to do better next year, and think the solution may well be paying in advance.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017Interestingly I was discussing that with one of the ladies at swimming this morning. I pay for the whole year in advance and I think it means it costs me about half the amount it would if I paid for each session separately. It means I have a double incentive to go – excise and saving money! The more often I go, the cheaper each session is. I think I persuaded my fellow swimmer this morning to do the same.
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Laurie Graves
/ December 22, 2017Glad you are feeling better. The dessert sounds scrummy and the swimming was just what you needed.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017I wish you could come round to share the tart, although I’m sure you’ll be awash with great food over the next few days!
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Laurie Graves
/ December 22, 2017It all depends on whether we lose our power again. Tomorrow, an ice storm is coming our way. Fingers crossed that it’s not bad enough to knock out the power.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ December 22, 2017What a wonderful story. If I was there, I’d make a booking and have my dinner cooked by Mr Acikel 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017I feel I should call in and give him a hug – what a star he is. I’ll certainly make the effort to give him some business in the future.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ December 22, 2017Glad to hear you are on the up! Our blogging communities are wonderfully supportive aren’t they! I didn’t realise Sheila’s Secret Santa would be such fun – I sent mine off just as YD took her major fall and was so pleased I had followed my intuition and put it together sooner rather than later – and then yesterday I received a package from South Africa – Imagine, South Africa!! I’d quite forgotten that I would get a little something too 🙂 Isn’t that so lovely!! Oh, and well done on the early morning swims – that is most impressive!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ December 22, 2017it really is amazing what a lovely community we find ourselves in – long may the kindness and gifts be shared! I’m really looking forward to seeing what everybody else got in their secret santa packages.
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anne54
/ December 22, 2017Happy Winter Solstice to you. (I am always surprised at the date of the Solstice. It seems as though we are just starting Summer or Winter, with the long haul of the heat or cold to come. I feel the shortest/longest day should be mid-season.) I did the Secret Santa last year and was delighted with the thought that went into my gifts. And connection I made through it is still a pleasure. Enjoy yours, whenever you open it!
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