Sunday 10th March

For whatever reason Saturday is rapidly becoming the best day of the week.  Walking the dogs on the beach, even in a fine drizzle, out to Clacton for a bit of shopping, in and out of all the charity shops, a trip around Wilkinsons and the 99p stores, M & S for undies and something nice for tea, breakfast in a café.  Then Frinton and popping in to all the high street shops and buying very little, a new deli just opened, afternoon tea in ‘The Hat and The Mouse’ is just perfect, and home in time to watch the footie results on the telly.  In the evening a nice pub meal and a glass or two in ‘The Lock and Barrel’ and home to catch an hour of telly.

Simple things, nothing sophisticated, the weather cold and a bit damp, the shops nice and warm.  Buying bits and bobs for France, something nice to eat, and when you get home that perfect cup of tea.  You don’t need to be a millionaire to enjoy the simple things of life.  My grandfather was a communist, a member of the Bolshevicks and he used to insist that the millionaire in his mansion couldn’t enjoy his pure Ceylon tea out of a bone china tea-cup any more than my Grandad could his PG tips out of an old mug.  And he was right of course. Chasing money is the biggest folly of all in life.  Despite what people might say what most of us want is just enough not to have to worry, enough for food and our housing costs, occasional new clothes, enough to buy birthday presents for the Grandchildren, enough to have a meal out occasionally, some nice things to eat and a good book and a new CD occasionally.

Despite the weather, despite the dismal economic news and despite our own sense of inadequacy life can still be good.  Even a drizzly Saturday can be just lovely.