Guardian writers and readers share the simple tricks they use to bring a bit of joy into their lives
During the pandemic, my husband found some wood on our street and used it to build a tiny, squirrel-sized picnic table. We attached it to the side of our fence with a handful of peanuts on top. Few sights are guaranteed to lift my day more than watching a “dining in” Nutkin parking its rump on the tiny wooden seat, occasionally glancing towards the house as if he’s waiting for you to bring the drinks. If you don’t have as much time on your hands as my husband did during lockdown, you can buy one on Etsy.
Maybe it’s the moment BBC reporter Gemma Dawson signs off the evening bulletin with an affectionate “good boy” instead of “good night”. Or the time Texas news anchor Cynthia Izaguirre trails the next item with these immortal words: “Right after the break, we’re going to interview Erik Weihenmayer, who climbed the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, but … he’s gay … I mean, excuse me, he’s blind.” It’s hard to pick a favourite, but watching reels of news bloopers is virtually guaranteed to have you in stitches in a matter of seconds, whatever the day’s thrown at you. There’s something about the total breakdown of strait-laced formality that feels particularly hilarious, like getting the giggles in school assembly. A tonic I’d recommend for everyone – with the possible exception of Jeremy Hunt.
