h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm interested to know what gives pleasure to other researchers.

To start the rolling.....

The smell and feel of a new baby's head

Getting up very early on a Summer morning and sitting in the garden with my coffee - just listening and watching

Noticing the first Spring bulb in flower - gives me hope that better weather and longer days aren't too far away

Standing on top of a Scottish Mountain

The way the air smells at 5am.

The way her hair smells at 5am.

The sudden silence when your board leaves the piste and hits a powder field.

The sudden realisation in late February or early March that I no longer have to have my headlights on when driving to or from work - summer's coming!

The way that small children will stare at you if you smile at them, then after a moment of uncertainty beam hugely back at you. Or hide their faces and then look back again and chuckle.

Freshly picked *anything* to eat, the more so if you've grown it yourself.

The satisfying /click/ as a bogey which had put up a fight hits the wall and bounces off.

Looking at something that works and thinking "I made that".

Waking up and realising that your are not, and never will be, Michael Jackson. (or insert your own person you're glad you're not here).

Enough for now...

H.

Waking up at 5am and realising that I can go back to sleep

The way my baby daughter smiles when I come home from work.

Watching 300 people wetting themselves at comedy that I've written and performed.

The first pint of the evening.

The naughty thrill of deliberately offending a small mind.

A really satisfying bowel movement.

Wrestling with my son.

The smell of cat fur (usually)
Freshly cut grass.
Watching a cat dozing/sleeping

The honey-swirl of boiling water as it first hits the tea leaves

Dipping my hand into a sack of coffee beans, removing my hand and the aroma that follows

New-born babies' grips on your finger

Soft kisses from dry lips

The way that worry disappears from someones face and turns into relief

The words 'thank you', genuinely spoken

The creak of new books when you open them for the first time

New shoes

The honey-swirl of boiling water when it first hits the leaves

Dipping my hand into a sack of coffee beans

The aroma of fresh coffee

Babies expressions

The creak of a new book when you first open it

New shoes

Soft kisses from dry lips

The disappearence of worry from someone's face, replaced by relief

The words 'thank you' spoken genuinely

The sound of someone joining in with a perfect harmony to the song I'm singing when I didn't even realise anyone was around.

A smile with no hidden agenda returned by a stranger just for smiling's sake (this should happen a LOT more often).

Laughter

Orgasm

The big sigh that you can feel when hugging someone who's upset that says "Thank God I've got you to hug".

Going out for the night in the knowledge that all my $***s done (homework finished, bills paid, pets fed, calls made, chores done, that kind of stuff) and I don't have to worry about anything except drinking dancing laughing and flirting. (This doesn't happen often enough either!)

A really good

Getting jumped by someone I haven't seen in months.

Waking up with the warm feeling of the sun on my face.

I could go on all day...

Falling asleep on the couch after a roast beef and apple pie Sunday lunch which I made myself. (While everyone else does the washing up!)

Standing at the window and seeing six little boys climbing our tree and playing happily together.

Driving across the autumn countryside with something like "Wonderful Life" by Black at full pelt on the radio. Or an expansive symphony.

A classical music concert where no one coughs. (dream on TC)

The sea.

...Standing on the rocks looking out on to it, knowing that everything behind you is pretty meaningless in comparison.

And waking up in the morning without backache. Although that one will probably remain a dream, too.

The sea and rivers.

Totally agree with the home grown food thing. Can't wait to sink my teeth into some home-grown sweetcorn. Mmmmmm. Off the plant and onto a plate within 10 minutes! Will have to wait until the Summer.

Sitting in the icelandic mountains on a summer night, just listening to the wind and the sound of a small creek...

OOh yes!

Or sitting in the Blue Lagoon where the water feels like warm silk on your skin, looking at the faces of those around you and noticing that nobody can help smiling.

One of the best experiences of my life!

The sea, the sky, views that go for miles (city or country, it doesn't matter) the play of (clean) water on a babbling brook, a really nice set of pins, good coffee, good conversation, knowing that tomorrow can never be as bad as yesterday.

Definitely with the curled-up-kitty-sleeping vision. Especially when they have pink noses and pink paws set against white fur...

Also, when you've missed someone and they turn up sooner than you thought they would.

Clean bedding AFTER you've had a bath.

Having the window open during the summer nights.

Kissing.

A cute baby in an even cuter babygro.

Blue skies, hot concrete, and birds singing in the distance.

Getting letters and parcels in the post.

Walking into a shop to buy something, only to find it's on sale for half price.

Blankets.

Getting your hair *just* right...

Losing weight and fitting into *those* trousers...

Smirnoff vodka and chocolate.

Dark chocolate

The aroma of fresh coffee

Beautiful sunrises & sunsets

The smell of wet earth after gentle rainfall

Coming into a warm house from a cold brisk walk

Your child's hand in yours

A hug from your teenage son

Sea pounding on the rocks at the seashore

Music that stirs or soothes the soul

Singing something with beautiful harmonies in a choir

Applause & laughter from an audience

Slipping between fresh sheets & dropping off to sleep

Curling up in bed with a good book

Love & friendship

sleep.
Alcohol.

The sense of completion at the thought, touch or kiss someone that you love and loves you...

The stark beauty of a winter sky over a naked forest and the calming feeling of insignificance it all creates...

A game of WTC Jenga.

Listening to the coyotes sing on a clear moonlit night.

Watching my 11 year old Lab run and frisk like a puppy.

Drinking beer and chatting with old friends who've long since become family.

The scent of a new book...

The sound of flowing water...

The scent of a old book...

Waking up early (6 or 7 am) and actually being refreshed for a change.

The smell during a summer thunderstorm.

Realizing you've just spent the past 5 hours of the afternoon on the couch with your boyfriend... by ACCIDENT

Finding a really beautiful piece of music when you're in a bad mood.

The sound of rain dripping through a tree right outside your window.

Christmas smell

Tight harmony

Getting a compliment about a creative endeavor when you *really* worked on it