I have a postcard of this plaque on the wall of my kitchen, one of two postcards bought to remind me of the happy years I spent living in Manchester.  On Saturday someone found this suitably bizarre as their experiences of England's self-appointed second city (don't mention that in Birmingham) had been less than positive.  We laughed about it, but my postcard stays firmly on the wall declaring what for me was so.

Yesterday someone asked, 'what makes life good?' to which my reply was 'how long have you got?'

Whether in Manchester (where 'life is good') or Glasgow (which is 'miles better'), or anywhere and everywhere else, there is much to demonstrate that life is good...

Sunrise and sunset, over the sea, the hills or the rooftops

Full moons hanging in a blue-black sky

Ice-cream eaten out of doors on cold days

Hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream enjoyed in front of a roaring fire

The untameable ocean on a winter's day as the wind whips your hair into a terrible tangle

The smell of new books - and old libraries

Vivaldi's four seasons, Barber's Adagio, Elgar's cello concerto - and primary school recorder groups

Cats and tigers

The smell of freshly ironed linen and the cool smoothness of clean sheets

Sunday roasts and summer picnics (even in the rain)

Dandelion clocks, varigated carnations, daffodils and fresias

Children laughing - and old people singing 'away in a manger'

Skinny Fairtade lattes in food courts as I mull the meaning of life, the universe and everything...

I could go on all day and then some.

Life is good, may God be praised!