Open-hearted joys 開開心心 55
Summer is racing by, and I want it all to slow down. Finally, the sun has returned in England and I can’t help but be super British and squeeze in all of the outdoor activities now that it’s not pouring with rain. Luckily, a combination of no commutes (our office closes throughout August) and Summer Fridays allows me to do just that! If only this setup would last for longer…
There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the smaller, not necessarily finer, details of the everyday mundane. Here’s to another list of petite, open-hearted joys, the moments that’ve brought and woven poetry to my days, this fortnight:
一. A ‘spare’ evening after work with no responsibilities or errands to check off, meaning four glorious hours spent playing Atelier Ryza 3 and returning to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. For a little while, I simply preferred reading again, but it feels good to be back to my beloved video games. Let’s be Nintendo Switch friends?
二. Hanging out with Ria one mid-week evening. Delicious dinner (at Nem Nem, in Islington!), the best catch-up and even better company. The ‘met online 10+ years ago’ genre of friends is just great. Who said you shouldn’t talk to strangers on the Internet?! Grateful for every pal I’ve made through this blog and the content creation community.
三. Reading The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang. I snagged a NetGalley ARC for this and it is SO good. You must add it to your TBR list.
四. Girls’ night, hosted by my friend Charlotte. An essential evening for all of us, and we had the best time chattering away, feasting on themed boards and indulging in face masks and all of that good stuff. Since I can’t host where I live, it always feels like a treat when we can all get together properly.
五. Savouring my last few London commutes until September. It’s funny, because I am endlessly complaining about them, but I’ll miss my commutes purely because of the focused reading time it gives me every week! (When I’m home, I end up reading while watching TV or procrastinating housework!)
六. Slowly returning to lifting at the gym after a wrist injury. It’s still a little sore, but far better than it was! For a fortnight I focused on cardio sessions and resting my wrist, and now I’m slowly lifting again and including plenty of rehabilitation stretches.
七. Getting the house ready for the imminent arrival of a certain little miss Yuzu, the Shiba Inu! We’re looking after my brother’s dog for two weeks and we’re all really excited. She’s the cutest little thing and, as a rescue, a touch nervous, but we’re looking forward to it nonetheless. Expect plenty of snippets over on my Instagram!
八. These Roasted Green Bean Summer Rolls, which made for a particularly delicious lunch alongside my Dad’s homemade satay sauce. Perhaps next summer, I’ll be making them again with French beans grown by yours truly…!
九. A writing afternoon, set to the tune of Taylor Swift’s hugely underrated ‘evermore’ album.
十. Celebrating Mum’s birthday with a sushi dinner!
What are some petite joys from your world lately?
