Monday 21 March 2016

Little luxuries

I suppose we all have different ideas of what a life of luxury would consist of. Not necessarily limousines and yachts, or servants waiting on us hand and foot. Just those things that would make our own particular lives easier, cosier and a bit more exciting. In my case, the list of luxuries would include the following:

  • Never having to worry about money ever again.
  • Constant warmth all the year round (move to Australia perhaps?)
  • Perfect health into old age
  • Beautiful clothes (satin pants? dresses? skirts?)
  • Delicious food from my personal chef
  • Several good, close friends
  • Brilliant paintings in every room
  • Go to gigs by all my favourite musicians (no expense spared - wherever they may be)
  • A chauffeur for long car trips
  • A private swimming pool (or even a private lake)
  • Travel to the world's most exotic places (business class naturally)
  • A photographic memory
Those are merely the ones that came to mind. I'm sure there are many more.

Not that I find my present-day life lacking or frustrating. On the contrary. My life is fine just as it is. But it's fun to imagine those little embellishments that would make it even better. There's nothing wrong with daydreams.

32 comments:

  1. And the above one took!
    Ok hot showers ......unlimited debit card, massage daily,
    And the odd scotch egg

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  2. Right now it would be a luxury to not have an obstreperous colleague who stabs you in the back at every opportunity.
    Other than that I'd like to eat gorgeous food every day without getting fat, receive regular foot massages from a busty young brunette, and be capable of taking long walks in the countryside without knee pain.
    Big houses with hot and cold running servants just don't appeal.

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  3. John: Do you not have hot showers in Trelawnyd? The unlimited debit card is assumed under no-more-money-worries. A daily massage would be good. I've never had a massage in my life - nor a manicure or even a manipedi. How deprived am I? But I'll pass on the scotch eggs and substitute chocolate chip cookies.

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  4. Dave: Hmm, that's quite a wish list there! Sorry to hear about the obstreperous colleague. I've had a few of them in my time. Knee pain's no fun either. A busty young brunette indeed. I'd be quite happy with Caitlin Moran or Bridget Christie and some witty conversation.

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  5. To live "una vita da pascià" ... enough money, a personal chef, a personal housekeeper, a personal dress maker, a personal hairdresser....personally enough to live my life in peace without worries and, most important, to enjoy it all in good health! Greetings Maria x

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  6. Maria: Una vita da pascià - that's a new one on me. A life like a major public figure? A personal everything sounds good, but I don't think I'd like all those people hovering round me all day. Unless of course they became good, close friends!

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  7. I think "pascià" is like a sultan. The saying means; to live life where you needn't worry about anything because everything gets done for you - I meant it in that way for me - but on second thoughts, yes you're right, too many people around me is not my cup of tea either!

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  8. Interesting list! Photograph memory? That would be useful! I imagine warm weather 24/7, beautiful flowers that smell divine, small portions of artfully created food (I hate feeling full), and definitely a limo driver so I never have to drive again. Also, good wine and champagne!

    I think those with money still worry about it! Losing it through bad investments and taxes.

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  9. Maria: Thanks for that explanation! A good phrase - I can't think of any English equivalent. There's "to live like a Lord" but it only means to live luxuriously.

    Bijoux: That all sounds good to me. I hate feeling full too - it's a horrible bloated, slightly queasy feeling. I'm naturally incapable of stuffing myself. I like driving short distances but long trips are exhausting and not enjoyable in any way. Definitely good wine and champagne, but I can afford those anyway! And I think you're right that the rich are terrified of suddenly going bust.

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  10. Would 'pascia' be the equivalent of 'pasha' do you think?

    If only the perfect health could be provided for my husband I'd not bother about the rest...

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  11. I can't think of anything else to add really .... having loads'a'money brings many of the above but not necessarily a better life. Oh God, I sound a right misery !!!! XXXX

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  12. Helen: Yes, it's definitely related to "pasha" (the eldest son of a Sultan).

    If we enjoy good health, we really take it for granted. If our health declines suddenly, it's a nasty shock. And poor health can jeopardise all the little things we usually enjoy.

    Jacqueline: True, you can be a billionaire and still have plenty of personal hang-ups and disappointments. Like Paul McCartney's chequered love life and John Lennon's murder.

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  13. a fun list nick!
    for me it would be a personal chef who cooked deliciously all the stuff i'm supposed to eat but don't.
    I hate to cook.
    my health would be better if I didn't. but alas.
    a driver to take me on cross country trips to see whatever I want to see. so i'd never get lost again.
    and to travel with unlimited funds of course!
    a small exquisite home in carmel~by~the~sea california.
    you must google it to see why! if you haven't been there.
    and oh yes...
    all the animals in all the world to be treated with kindness and love.
    the greatest luxury of all. that and humans too of course. but for sure the innocent animals! :)

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  14. Tammy: I hadn't thought of a chauffeur as also preventing me from getting lost. One big advantage! I just looked at some photos of Carmel by the Sea - it looks wonderful. And you're right about treating all animals with kindness. Not a personal luxury but certainly something essential that we shouldn't still have to campaign for.

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  15. Having lived a fairly comfortable life so far, many of the things that you list do not appeal to me except in the abstract. I would like to live comfortably no doubt and with good friends and relatives to chat with on and off, but other than that to live the rest of my life without much health issues is all that I would like to dream about.

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  16. Ramana: Well, clearly your life is so satisfactory, you have no need even to dream of any slight improvements! I think most of us oldies worry that we might be clobbered by some major unexpected health problem. Let's hope that's not the case for either of us.

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  17. I gave this post a fair shake of thinking. Luxury doesn't appeal to me as much as living without financial worry. My life is exceeding my resources to sustain it. This is the problem for most female elders with no supporting partner. So I can't treat your post frivolously.

    Health of course but wealth would not be part of my criteria. Just enough.

    XO
    WWW

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  18. I had insomnia for years, so one of my greatest luxuries now s getting enough sleep. I don't take that for granted.

    I love my life as it is, except for some health matters. My main wish would be for things not to get worse, or at least to progress slowly. Yes, I'm with Ramana. :)

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  19. regular massage, chiro and acupuncture
    fresh flowers in the house
    delicious food
    lots of trips to my fave cinema

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  20. www: A fair shake of thinking? I haven't heard that phrase before. I like it! Yes, I know about your financial difficulties. Freedom from money worries would be a great relief to you, I'm sure.

    Jean: I would appreciate an end to insomnia as well. I often wake at 4 or 5 am, and then nod off during the evening! Why won't my body just do what it's told?

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  21. Kylie: That all sounds good. We often go to the Queen's Film Theatre at Queen's University. A lovely little cinema.

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  22. I do not know if you do Easter, Nick but I want to wish you and Jenny a happy, PEACEFUL Easter weekend. Easter for me represents, growth, beauty, peace and hope - I like to dream positive. Buona Pasqua! Greetings Maria x

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  23. Thanks, Maria. I wish you a Buona Pasqua as well! Ti diverti!

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  24. I agree with your list, but I find the fourth one a little worrying. The only items I have ever bought and worn in that category is a kilt, with a posh jacket, and a sporran of course, to keep my accoutrements in.

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  25. Keith: I can't see you in a skirt or dress somehow. Personally I've never worn a kilt, they don't appeal to me at all. I have a shoulder bag for all my numerous accoutrements.

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  26. I would love to be to afford beautiful large bunches of flowers in every room all the time. I wrote a story once about an elderly woman who had this - and she kept a pianist in the conservatory to play all day.

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  27. Liz: I think a piano playing continuously would drive me nuts! But maybe a harpist....

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  28. Financial security , I think ... and then I'd provide the rest for myself .
    Failing that , unlimited funds for our local library .

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  29. Smitonius: Presumably for others to use the library, as with your financial security you'd be able to buy as many books as you wanted?

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  30. Well no , not really , since I'd hardly need to keep every book I read . So it seems more sensible us all to share them via the library . Besides , I was thinking of financial security as just that , not unlimited wealth .
    Not that I'd be averse !

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  31. Smitonius: I understand. Jenny and I also recycle a lot of books after we've read them. We take them to our local War on Want bookshop.

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