Noises From Above

I recently had a little chuckle when I read a comment that my blogging friend Jackie, otherwise known as Mother's Pride had left in my last post about happiness/contentment.

I had listed things that had hardly cost me anything money wise, that brought me contentment and she wrote "You could have put....... not hearing noises from above."

Well yes..... this would have given me immense pleasure, make me really happy even. Definitely happy. Not hearing noises from above.

Her remark brought to mind all sorts of things though.

"Have I got bats in my belfry?" Does she think I am hearing noises in my head?

"Have I got access to noises from God above my head?" Some people think that thunder is God moving his furniture around!

Well when God speaks to me it is in a gentle way through my thoughts, things I read, especially in the Bible and feelings ....... not by noises from above!

Jackie was of course referring to the rat noises in my kitchen roof, just above the ceiling.

Well, why have I got a squirrel picture on this post and not a rat? You might well ask. Have you ever tried to take a picture of a rat? I might be able to hear the wretched things but I cannot see them. Now that sounds like the bats in the belfry interpretation again!

Anyway, a squirrel is the best I can do for now. Some say they are as bad as rats anyway. If they were in my roof they would do just as much damage, so I have been told. The smells would be just the same, though squirrels do seem more respectable than rats, don't they?

I was not going to say anything until May Day! That seemed a perfect day to announce one way or another whether the underpinning has worked and whether we have still got rat problems or not.

I was too hasty when I wrote telling you about The Empty Silence some time ago and that didn't have a happy ending.

I will not tempt fate a second time by saying that nothing more has been heard. I think Cath was right when she said in a comment that she thought the rats read my blog and that they like to wind me up! All I know is that the one we heard that night, died! How do I know that? Don't even ask. All I am saying is that the incense sticks that we had left over from the last mass death above the ceiling, came in mighty handy.

Nothing more is being said on the subject then till May Day! Do you get that all you readers! I am NOT BOTHERED one way or the other!

The kitchen roof is coming off in the summer, ANYWAY!

That Sinking Feeling

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Ever had a sinking feeling, when everything seems to get you down?

While I was feeling in that kind of mood not long ago, I was half listening to the radio when something caught my attention. A councellor was giving a little talk and explained that when things start to get one down, it was a good idea to make a list of things that made one feel happy and concentrate on those things for a while.

Apart from the usual things like family, friends, pets and personal faith, what makes me happy?

I think that content is  a better word than happy, as happiness tends to be fleeting and contentment lasts much longer.

I started to think about it and made a little list and these are the things that came to mind.

* I am contented when I have a few hours to myself after a busy day at school.

* The start of a school holiday (though this tends to wear off as the time goes on and I might even start to get bored!)

* Spending time with a good book and no interruptions.

* Looking out of the window and watching the birds feeding.

* Snuggling between clean sheets.

* The smell of clean washing.

* Sitting by a fire and watching TV, when the wind howls outside, feeling safe, warm and secure.

* The way the sun shines on a flower or shrub and how intense the light is in the Spring sun.

* Settling down to uninterrupted sessions of photography, writing and crafts.

* Receiving a letter from a loved one who has not written for ages.

* A Saturday evening sharing a take a way and a bottle of wine with my other half.

* Getting on a bus to the sea using a free bus pass!

* The satisfaction felt after doing a dreaded household chore.

* Singing my favourite praise songs with friends in Church.

I could go on and on. Have you noticed that most of these things cost next to nothing? Am I easily pleased or what?

So go on, what things make you happy? 

Photostory Friday is hosted by Cicely and MamaGeek. Why not pay them a visit?