I like to read the Week-End Financial Times, one of the pleasures of a Sunday with a bit of time. I find the art pages just about keep me informed of the world of arts and ideas, and the main pages give me a whiff of the general and business news, just enough to feel I have an idea of what’s going on.

There’s always a glossy supplement called “How to spend it”, on all the luxuries money can buy you. I like skimming through it, sometimes picking up an idea of a destination that looks enticing, or a fragrance I might want to try, but it always leaves me feeling grateful for all the luxuries that don’t cost much.

There are so many of them. I actually caught myself listing them this morning, because they are so simple, so immediate, so accessible.

Opening the shutters in the morning and smelling in the fresh air, watching the sky and assessing the mood of the day.

Lying in bed on a Sunday morning, drifting in and out of sleep, catching on to fragments of dreams and wondering what they mean.

An unctuous and slightly sweet and fruity porridge for breakfast, accompanied by a strong black tea.

A chance conversation with one of the girls, in an off guard moment when there is no protest, no complaint, just the sheer joy of sharing something.

Otto our German shepherd puppy lying down next me during yoga and making me feel protected.

The brightness of a blue sky and the vibrant green of the grass.

The melancholy of a grey sky and the permission it gives for difficult-to-define feelings of sadness and longing.

A perfectly ripe pear, juicy yet still crunchy and definitely not squishy

A hot bath at night when the body feels all it can do at the end of a long day is collapse and dissolve in it.

The big oak I go past in my runs, and where I stop every time, standing close by, listening intently for any wisdom it can impart.

A conversation with a friend, all masks off, where we blend into each other’s world.

The audiobook of Max Frisch’s “Home Faber” I listen to when I drive – to perfect my German, but the truth is I am completely hooked onto it, and I catch myself driving slower in order to get more of it.

The series “Sex Education”, recommended by Kathy. I love all the characters, and am learning from all of them. And it makes me laugh.

Closing the shutters at night, smelling in the fresh air, taking in one last time all the beauty out there before going to sleep.