Friday, April 20, 2007

Happy Place

Watched an episode of 'Friends' the other morning and amidst the genius comic timing (very Laurel & Hardyesque) of Joey and Chandler was a very funny moment from Pheobe where she goes to her happy place. And it got me wondering where mine was, where was the most beautiful place I have been.....

Here it is.....

Question is, where's yours? Answers on a comment please....

ps, this was my pathetic attempt at being Ansel Adams

31 comments:

Suzanna said...

1st-not pathetic
2nd-a room full of yarn, fireplace lit, and snow falling outside, someone there to see it with me.

marko said...

get on over to your happy place! then, head south a few hours and spend some time at my house!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

suzanna
sounds idillic...and thanks, i guess at best it's fair to middle(ing)

marko, i stil owe you a long email - and i may just take you up on that offer friend....

Kathryn said...

That's a stunning happy place...and the idea has inspired me to maybe post a couple of mine too...There will be sea, always.
Very therapeutic!
Thank you :-)

Ellen said...

Oh, sweetie.... this was not a pathetic picture, or attempt. I can see your happy place, and it is quite georgeous. You captured it well, my friend.

My happy place.... the beach. Any beach. I go there many times in my mind everyday.

awareness said...

All I can say is that it isn't where I am right now physically....but emotionally and spiritually....... I'm there in my head? OH! I think I see Ellen!

I have posted a pic on my blog....a place I will physically be visiting this summer.


This little exercise completely took me out of the funk I was feeling this afternoon......

Anna said...

This is beautiful Paul.

I think it is Paulesque! :)

Hmmm.....my happy place? I would have to think for a bit....I will let you know!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

hey anna, very paulesque - a new word! yosemite is breathtaking - john muir was indeed a prophet.... thank god he was around otherwise it would, like heche heche be no more - look forward to hearing of your happy place....

Anna said...

You know that I am going to be using that word a lot now right?!? :)

My happy place is anywhere that literally takes my breath away....I love the feeling that I couldn't possibly take everything in no matter how long I stood there and tried...

How is that?

bluemountainmama said...

i think you might just be channeling a bit of ansel here....lovely photo! i think that could be a happy place for me, too.

as far as a physical happy place, most definitely the blue ridge mountains...imagine that!?

Nikita said...

Can I have more than one happy place? If I can then one of them is Portelet; when the tide's up you can only get down one slipway. The other is Cowes, Isle of Wight and the third is Barcelona - just the whole city.

Your happy place is considerably more stunning than mine

awareness said...

I have always wanted to see the Isle of Wight....... and your island too.

Barcelona Niki? Like you, I loved the whole city, and was just telling my kids about it the other day. Yes, definately a happy place for me as well.

my garden is another happy place....which is where I'm headed right now!

Nikita said...

Go to the Isle of Wight this summer. Last week of July/beginning of August. Watch me in arguably the biggest yachting event going. I'm sailing, for charity. :)

Barcelona...

Have fun in the garden Dana

Anonymous said...

Mountains anywhere - or being tucked up in bed with a hot chocolate and a good book!

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

anna(esque) - that's how that is!

I agree and Yosemite did that to me - i wept at the entrance to the valley it was so so captivating and beautiful

So where was the last place that took your breat away?

ps, an original ansel adams was purchased in the valley!!!!!!!!!!

BMM,
would love to see the blue ridge mountains for real - maybe one day - i know you will have heard this a zillion times but whenever i think of those mountains i think of the film 'way out west'!!!! thanks for your kind comments

hey niki
it is a most breathtaking place - try and get there, the drive from San Francisco is beautiful too
I too love Barcelona - the old town particularly has a charm of its own, but i also have fond memories of bembridge in the isle of whight!

Dana
guernsey is a very special place - it beats the dirty old mining village i grew up in anyhow
tis also a lovely thing that your garden holds for you the kind of magic that instills deep contentment.....

julie - i agree on the mountains and bed bit but not the hot chocolate - must be the only person i know who doesn't do chocolate. Gave it up for lent in 92 and now throw up if i touch it - suffice to say i willl never give up beer for lent!!!

Kathryn said...

I have a best mate who, like you, is chocophobic...which is fine, except that I tend to forget and think of spoiling her by some particularly wondrous Green & Black's offering.
Has anyone ever told you, Paul, how very lovely it is that you actually reply to comments. It's such a friendly thing to do (though it does mean that you're liable to fall victim to wittering women dropping in to witter some more. Sorry)

bluemountainmama said...

harbour- i haven't heard of that film. does that mean i'm out of the loop? it seems if it was about the west, it wouldn't be about the blue ridge....

Unknown said...

My happy place involves a husband, a dog, and a beach.

Society's Elite said...

the moment right before i fall asleep, with my wife's head laying on my chest...

Disillusioned said...

Have blogged my best places - or two of them. Have others too, but these two sum much up for me.
Thanks for the idea.

The Father said...

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1083233958017392322fGrqXw

This is perhaps my favourite place on earth. Remains of an old monastery built by St Mahee in the fifth century. Its on an island in strangford lough and it really is holy ground. Its a place I go to when life doesnt make sense and I need to be rather than do. Sacred ground indeed.

hope you are well Lulu

m

Gigi said...

on the back of the bike with my husband driving....70 mph is still waters to me......we call it shared solitude.

maggi said...

beside the sea is hard to beat, for me. Preferably a warm beach, but even a winter beach is OK

maggi said...

and... at long last, I have replied to your THinking Blogger post, here:

http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2007/04/thinking_blogge_1.html

mister tumnus said...

hi paul

i spent ages thinking about this. my happy place is my desk. i've written a wee blog entry about it. ta 4 the inspiration!

Anna said...

Hope you are well there Paul! :)

Diana said...

I realise that I have no pics of my happy place because it is that funny feeling I get in my tummy as I drive up the A14 when I pass the water tower. The tower represents all the good feelings I have about going to Norfolk - my hearts home.

mister tumnus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Harbour of Ourselves said...

Blimey, a few days off line and look what happens! I get a zillion emails and all these lovely comments - approaching the most I have had

anyways before i comment back i owe an apology to ellen - re-reading it seems i didn't respond to your kind words, very remiss of me seeing as they were so meaningful

My apologies ellen - i seek cyber-forgiveness

kathryn, your point is more significant given the above apology. for me the conversations that follow a post are as important and enjoyable - i love the dialogue
but to answer your question, no no-one has ever told me, so thank you, thank you very much

ps, always liked wittering women - i grew up in the north of england - happy memories

pps thankfully none of my friends buy me chocolate

BMM, by no means are you out of any loop - but i can't believe you have never seen Way Out West with Laurel and Hardy. It is a classic - the scene with stan being tickled on the bed leaves nearly peeing my pants it's so funny. You must rent or buy it. When you do watch out for the bar scene where stan sings....the connection between your beloved mountains will become clear....

Tori, i don't have a husband or a dog, but lots of beaches here which i love. Enjoying your blog by the way...great storytelling

Society, a beautiful image, am sure what you said makes her very happy

Caroline, two fabulous places - the beach seems to be a favourite with people - do you think it has anything to do with childhood?
I love Granada too, one of my favourite artists in the days of art college was David Bomberg - i loved the lansdcapes and colours he would create

dear father, what breathtaking beauty - even by photograph there seems to dwell a stillness - i will say more on your blog friend
ps, i have just recovered from 3 days with father bell and his tot!!!

bjk i can see why that would be memorable - i used to love bikes but about 20 years ago i saw an horrific accident and now when i hear a motorcycle accelerate i feel afraid. saying that, thta's your happy place so i should shut the *!*? up. i do remember the thrill well though...

maggi, thank you for your kind words - inimitable? no-one has ever described me as that (must go look up what it means!!!)
again more beaches, why is that? maybe it is the embodiment of our happy place as children seeping into the child now much quieter within us - maybe I've had too much coffee, who knows

Ah, and what a desk it is too shirley - glad to see it looks out of the window - what is it with people who yurn their backs on views to work? Will comment more on your blog my dear

anna, am doing fine thanks, but your thoughts are appreciated warmly. looking forward to the questions...

diana, welcome - that's an intruiging happy place. My grandad used to say the same when he came home from the pit about a farm at the top of the road - he knew he was nearly home...
ps, i have a confession - i have never been to Norfolk

paris parfait said...

It's a really lovely photo and I don't think Ansel Adams would be dismayed at all. Sea and mountains are always good calming places. Probably the Pacific Ocean does it best for me. But there are moments in Sevilla that feel like a little slice of heaven and in the mountains of Jordan, in Petra or the desert oasis at Wadi Rum I also feel a special kind of peace.

The Harbour of Ourselves said...

paris, you seem well travelled - i would love to go to Jordan - i think i have a chance at some point this year

i also agree that the pacific is a remarkable ocean