Are the happiest moments those that arrive unexpectedly?

anno I would have loved the piper but would have cried buckets. My family gave me a surprise 60th party and I really had no idea. When they said we were going out for lunch I was wearing jeans and couldn't understand why they made me go and change. I realised when we got there and saw my friend's car in the car park. It was a wonderful party.

Happiest times are when I have my whole family round me - last Christmas was lovely: I didn't want it to end. My 70th birthday was the best. My two sons, their OHs and my senior GD conspired to put on a wonderful party in a local community centre in Hampshire. I told them who I wanted on the guest list and they did the rest. Old friends from University and different stages in my life plus relatives and sister in law and her family. The big surprise was being greeted at the door by a piper in full Highland regalia. My cup ran over!

Well, currently my happiest moment was the surprise I felt when I recieved an unexpected email three days ago from Kat to say I had won a prize through Gransnet, a 'Mum & me' day at a health spa. DD and I are off there next week.

I have had the nasty virus that is doing the rounds recently and still feel a bit under the weather, so a day of pampering is just what I need.

grace Sorry - I'm a bit slow on the uptake.

No, Eloethan - the Aunt and Uncle were in on the plot to pretend to be taking the PILs out to lunch while we set up in their house - this is degenerating into one of Frank's lengthy explanations however - it was MIL and FIL's 40th anniversary. Got it?? or still ?

I sometimes think that we tend to seek out and create happiness, and that this "expectation" can sometimes result in a feeling of let-down, whereas spontaneous and unexpected moments of pleasure/contentment can linger in the mind for ever.

grace how nice of you to go to so much trouble - I'm sure the occasion was a memorable one for your aunt and uncle, despite the original disappointment.

Yes and no = unplanned lovely moments perhaps linger more in the memory precisely because they are a lovely surprise. Surprises can have their downsides, though. 30 years ago sisters-IL and we planned a suprise 40th wedding anniversary lunch for MIIL and FIL including their bridesmaids from Scotland. Elaborate subterfuges were devised and it was a great success but it involved pretending not to be available on the day when they asked us all down - so that the coast was clear for Aunt and Uncle to whisk them away for a non-existent lunch so that we could descend on their house with lunch, bottles, flowers and surprise guests. The disappointment in my MILs voice when we made our excuses still makes me feel guilty. I hope she felt it was worthwhile?

Both lovely stories. [smile[

Sometimes contentment just appears but most of my really good times have been planned by me down to the last detail!

Like that Barrow. #shinglesishorrid

Not had any moments of pure happiness since DH died but have found a day can be lifted by an act of kindness.

Arrived home yesterday from shopping, in pain due to the shingles, unpacked shopping and collapsed on sofa in an aura of self pity when I hear a noise outside. Look out the window to see brother in laws car - cursed to myself (last thing I want is a visitor). Go outside to greet him to find he is chopping up the large logs I can't get onto my fire into smaller logs - he then stacked them just outside the door so I could get to them easily. He then came in for a cup of tea and a chat - when he left I found I was no longer feeling sorry for myself but very grateful to have such caring people around me. As he has recently undergone surgery and lives some way from me I thought his kindness was exceptional.