Ten Things I really Like

~ beetleypete

In the absence of a fictional muse at the moment, and slightly confused by feeling unwell and taking lots of medicine, I started to think about things I really like. I suspect this happened in my mind to offset the doldrums of thinking about being ill. Whatever the reason, it cheered me up. So here is a rare ‘top ten’ from me, and a very personal one at that. It is not in any order of preference.

1) Red Wine.
I like it a lot, and will drink any red-coloured wine, even Cabernet Sauvignon. My favourites are Pinotage, Chianti, Burgundy, and Shiraz. I also enjoy Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, Dao, and Rioja.

2) More red wine.
As above, but more.

3) Watching good films again.
I love to re-watch a film I enjoyed, and realise why I loved it so much in the first place. Some random examples of this would include ‘The Duellists’, ‘Goodfellas’, ‘Donnie Brasco’, ‘The Hunger’ (1983), ‘Zulu’, and of course ‘Blade Runner’.

4) Eating Out.
I don’t mind cooking. I cook most of our meals, and I am happy to do so. Some of them amount to little more that ‘hotting up’ something bought already prepared, and adding a few vegetables. But I do cook some things from scratch, and when I am in the mood, I serve a very good roast potato, if I say so myself. Despite that, eating out in a restaurant is something I have always enjoyed. It doesn’t have to be a fancy, or expensive place. As long as the atmosphere is convivial, and the food is cooked and served by someone else, I am usually very happy indeed.

5) Watching foreign films with subtitles.
Most of you already know that I rate foreign films highly. In most cases, I enjoy them more than films in my own language. There are various reasons for this, but I would say that the dominant one is that it is good to not know who the actors are. This stops any preconceptions based on previous roles, or earlier bad performances. An imaginary example of this might be an actor like Bruce Willis appearing in a 19th century epic costume drama. Given his reputation, I would already be thinking ‘This is not going to work’. However, put the Danish equivalent of Bruce into a similar historical epic, and I am none the wiser.

6) Listening to sentimental old songs.
This has got worse as I get older. I love nothing more than to hear a really old song, and wallow around in the sentiment of it. I’m not talking the 1960s or 1980s here. The songs that really get to me are much older than those. You might never even have heard of most of them, but when you get to my age, look them up, and feel your eyes moisten. ‘We’ll Gather Lilacs’, ‘Pennies From Heaven’, ‘The Very Thought Of You’, ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’, ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’. And many more…

7) Wandering about with Ollie.
Having such a good companion as my dog Ollie means that I have to go out. And when we are out walking, even on the most familiar routes, I relish the fresh air, and contact with nature. But even more than that, I welcome the chance to think. Out on those walks, I think about a lot of good stuff, including most of what I write about on this blog. If not for Ollie, I would probably be watching 24-hour rolling news, and writing nothing at all.

8) Memories.
No surprise of course, but I do love my memories. The best thing about them is that I still remember them, good or bad. When I stop writing about memories, you will all know something is badly wrong with me.

9) Solitude.
I have mentioned this before, but I get a lot of pleasure from time spent alone. I am aware that this is a choice, and if it was not a choice, it might not be so enjoyable. But solitude is something that can be studied. It can be developed, almost like a trade or a skill. Once you have mastered the basics, it is really very good indeed.

10) Blogging.
This had to be included, didn’t it? Since starting out, somewhat reluctantly, in 2012, blogging has become my ‘other life’. What I do with certain hours of the day, how I keep in touch with so many people, maintaining an active mind, and developing friendships in that great community. It wouldn’t have been a list of things I really like, without blogging being featured.

There you have it. Feel free to dislike any of the things I really like. I won’t mind.

And if you want to add your own ten, or even just a few, please leave a comment.

76 thoughts on “Ten Things I really Like”

  1. I am so behind i reading, but I did so enjoy this post. I too love solitude and walking -writing and reading. I love to cook and as you, remembering. My favorite thing is gathering with my children. I do hope your health improves quickly in time for the holiday. I love Christmas too-if we keep it simple.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks as always, Michele. I feel a bit better, and should be OK for Christmas Day. We are going out to a restaurant on the 25th, so it will be an ‘easy’ day for us. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Like

      Reply

  2. Coffee would have to be on my list as well, a good flat white is essential for my well being. 🙂 Hope you are feeling a lot better now, Pete. Get well soon!
    Best wishes from Cley. Xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Dina. I only have instant coffee these days, in the morning. At other times, I usually drink milk.
      I am still very congested, but the high temperature is going down now.
      Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  5. Pingback: Posts To Check Out – Buns are all that you require

  6. Books, old musicals, traditional jazz, joining in with folk singing, watching Pointless, pinotage, writing, cuddles, sunny holidays and being with the family. ( as for the wine, I keep a very tiny bottle in the larder and have a sip when I’m feeling depressed- which isn’t very often)

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Your self-control with the wine is admirable, Julie. As for the old musicals, they are included in my number three, mostly Astaire and Rogers ones. I also watch Pointless sometimes, and feel very pleased with myself if I manage to name a pointless answer. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  8. I don’t like wine or alcohol in general, and I don’t have an Ollie (although I enjoy walking my friends’ dogs), but I think your list is wonderful. I hope you feel better soon. All the best, Pete.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. I agree with the red wine, I’d also add a very good Sauvignon Blanc these days too. Eating out. Books. Photography. Blogging. Walking on a beach. My garden. Other gardens. Scandi series. Not in any particular order 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. I’m with you on every point of your list, Jude. Walker’s Bay is a favourite Sauvignon Blanc with us, not too pricy and simply lovely. 😋It would be nice to meet and share a bottle or two of red wine somewhere. 🍷🍷And we’d bring some dog biscuits for Ollie. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  15. It’s wonderful that you posted a favorites list when you’re feeling so poorly Pete! I love wine and drinks like strawberry Daiquiris, and amaretto, but sadly I can’t indulge very often because alcohol is a big migraine trigger for me. I do love Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider though. And don’t get me started on pistachios. Yum! My top ten would be:

    Books
    Blogging
    Children
    Dogs
    Movies
    Blogging
    Making people smile
    Music
    Chocolate
    Hugs (and kisses)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. In no particular order, my top five:
    (1) Hiking, rock scrambling, exploring, off-roading
    (2) Writing lyrics and fiction
    (3) Listening to music
    (4) Watching films (including foreign ones) and internet videos
    (5) Reading books and online articles

    I’m a news junkie and Francophile, so those are major ingredients in at least two points on that list. Back in Missouri, my (1) would have been canoeing, which, unlike the current (1), doesn’t involve occasional solitude, as it takes two to navigate a river. I’m not much into food or drink, and although I enjoy animals, I don’t own one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well you know I don’t like football, but ladies and kissing are nice to see on a list. History is one of my passions too, but didn’t make my top ten. I’m not bothered about chocolate at all, and wouldn’t be bothered if I never ate any again. 🙂
      Thanks for a great list mate.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  19. Excellent picks. I think my top 10 would go something like this:

    1. Coffee
    2. Hot baths
    3. Cuddles from Little O
    4. Drag Queens and Drag Culture
    5. Ice cream
    6. Running
    7. Baking
    8. Binge watching an excellent TV-series
    9. Finding a new outfit pairing
    10. Getting lost in a song

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well I have to agree that your outfit choices are generally outstanding! But you already knew that.
      I don’t mind drag queens or transgender people, but my wife cannot stand to look at them, for some reason. I can’t run for toffee, and never bake anything I could just buy instead. Ice cream is a rarity for me, unless it is Pistachio-flavour. Baths, yes. I always use the bath, and never the shower. I am new to binge-watching, but enjoying what I have done so far. Coffee is good, if the wine has run out.
      All in all, an excellent contribution.
      Thanks, Abbi. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Like

      Reply

  20. Nothing on your list surprised me as you have a tendency to post about your favorite things. It was fun to read them as a list, though with a bit of why. I enjoy foreign movies and don’t mind the subtitles, but I don’t think it would be in my top 10. Reading books and writing them sure would be. I enjoy shooting pool. Traveling would be at the top of my list along with wine, movies, walking, and taking pictures. No surprises.
    I think what’s telling — your list and mine — is that our lives are filled doing exactly what makes us happy. Isn’t that the definition of a “good life”?

    Like

    Reply

    1. If the list had been posted thirty years ago, Cindy, travelling would have been high up. Also photography, and reading, which I no longer do much of. I included writing in number ten, as blogging is my version of writing.
      As for shooting pool, I would sooner eat cardboard sandwiches. 🙂 🙂 But if it works for you, then that makes me happy.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

          1. The man who hates sports. I know, I know. 😉
            I still like you.
            Hey, you should do a list post of all the things you hate. Would you, could you, narrow it down to ten? Hmmm.
            Let’s see how well I know you.
            Watching sports. Royalty. Bad weather. Anything breaking down that requires your money. Noisy neighbors. Commericalism. Margaret Thatcher. Not being able to smoke. Doing repairs around the house. Doing routine mainenence jobs inside/out. Bad dog owners. The lack of money.
            …And a partridge in a pear tree.
            How’d I do?

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply

        2. I am obviously too transparent, Cindy. 🙂
          Royalty, Aristocrats, and the privileged rich would top that list. I need a guillotine!
          I would add trashy tabloid newspapers, crap celebrity magazines, so-called ‘Reality’ TV, and the cult of ‘Celebrity’, in all its forms. Throw in embarrassingly bad ‘chat shows’, most American ‘comedy’ films, and pretentious actors who think I care about their politics, or opinions.
          But I might like that partridge, as long as I can eat it…
          As for not being able to smoke cigarettes, I don’t mind that at all now. I am very satisfied with vaping, after six years.
          As always, my best wishes. Pete. xx

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

  22. Nice list. I agree with most of them though probably wouldn’t include foreign films with subtitles (I have enjoyed some but it’s not on my top ten list). I’d have reading as number one followed by red wine. I like drinking whisky, too, though I’m ashamed to admit to not being keen on the very peaty ones from Islay. I don’t have a dog to walk so I just take myself for walks! Hope you feel better soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Mary. I rarely drink spirits now, and have never liked whisky, because of that ‘peaty’ taste you mention. I used to enjoy a Cognac at one time though. I once read a lot, but left books off the list, as I have to admit to reading very few these days.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Decongestant tablets recommended, to dry up the tears pouring from my eyes. Plus the usual; fluids, keep warm, wait it out, etc. 🙂
      When I used to earn a very good salary, I always bought Gevrey Chambertin, my favourite Burgundy. It’s a bit too pricey for me these days. (£24-£40 a bottle!)
      Thanks, Sue.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

All comments welcome

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.