Your Happy Place

[ScouseFox]

6 minutes ago, bovril said:

Good to see some love for Norfolk in the thread. 

ain’t been for years but used to love it as a kid. might go back sometime soon now i can appreciate it from a different perspective. 

[bovril]

1 minute ago, ScouseFox said:

ain’t been for years but used to love it as a kid. might go back sometime soon now i can appreciate it from a different perspective. 

Beer fest in Brancaster in two weekends time and another in Heacham at the end of July (shameless promotion). 

[Nick]

10 minutes ago, bovril said:

Good to see some love for Norfolk in the thread. 

Norfolk gets a treble thumbs up from me.

[Buce]

1 hour ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

Heck yes.

 

Wasdale Head for me

 

Many, many years ago, I camped there in a field just in front of the pub (is it still there?) which was full of magic mushrooms; the views from the top of Scafell when tripping are unbelievable.

 

1 hour ago, MattP said:

I was in Borough Market Friday night, didn't realise what a good night out it was. - I had a lovely bit of food called an empaneda earlier (probably spelt wrong) from a little Argentine shop, beef filling, lovely.

 

In Leicestershire, just walking down the canals at Foxton Locks is a lovely place to clear my head, if I want a day just a seat on my own in the sunshine at Grace Road watching a county championship match, very peaceful. Despite not being religious I always get quite emotional in churches as well, the buildings are beautiful - if I'm in the centre I'll almost always nip into Leicester Cathedral and just have a sit down for a bit.

 

Weirdly I used to find a lot comfort sitting in the betting shop, despite the characters and the often violent robberies they attract I always felt totally safe in them, even in the roughest areas of London. No idea why.

 

1

 

My 'quiet place' too - I do the walk along the canal from Newton Harcourt several times a week, and as often as not I don't see a soul until Foxton.

[leicsmac]

A couple of places that I've been to but no longer are close to or have the means to visit, sadly - my old porch in New Hampshire (especially on a summer evening) and The First Alleyway in Gwangju in Korea always used to make me feel good.

 

Guess I need to find some more places where I feel comfortable like that.

[RonnieTodger]

36 minutes ago, Swan Lesta said:

Sitting outside next to fire or water and a beer/G&T/Aperol Spritz I find myself quite at peace!

 

I often find a ride out on my motorbike on familiar and empty country roads quite relaxing strangely - there's a feeling of home, power/speed and familiarity and smells of countryside and a huge sense of freedom....

 

I also like hikes either really high up on ridges or seaside cliffs.

 

Snowboarding in powder through trees.

 

 

I went to Lake Como last year and drank all of those at the same bar, by the lake. It was probably the most content I've ever been.

Edited 5 June 2018 by RonnieTodger

[SemperEadem]

Grace Road

[ozleicester]

On a football pitch... stadium, cow paddock or indoor, if im on a pitch im at peace.

 

Sadly old age/knees/back has put an end to it

[Buce]

17 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

On a football pitch... stadium, cow paddock or indoor, if im on a pitch im at peace.

 

Sadly old age/knees/back has put an end to it

2

 

Fvcking hell, Oz - that's a bummer.

 

I was hoping to use you as a porter on the Bibbulmun...

[Ian Nacho]

Pissed to the extent any type of music is enjoyable.

[Alf Bentley]

1. Ballybunion, the seaside village on the west coast of Ireland where my Dad came from and where we had family holidays growing up. Largely personal nostalgia, but not entirely. It's an odd place. Physically beautiful: crashing surf, great sandy beaches that are often empty (apart from the main one), cliff walk with spectacular views. But the village itself is seriously downmarket in the holiday season, like a mini-Blackpool: all bars, greasy takeaways and amusements.....but I like that seedy seaside-town atmosphere, too, like Folkestone, where I grew up or Brighton where I lived for a while. BallyB has a poignancy now my parents are gone (I've been back twice since my Mum died, once since my Dad), as well as my local uncles and aunts, but I like that - I find it positive looking memories in the face, feeling the sadness but remembering the good times. People are different, clearly, as my brother says that he can never imagine going back there again as he'd find it too painful.

 

2. The sea generally. I just love being near the sea, watching it, listening to it, skimming stones on it. It's hard to pin down exactly why: it seems to connect me to time, infinity, nature, mortality or some combination of those. I hope to end up living near the sea once daughter is launched. Apart from Kazakhstan or Mongolia, Leicester is about the worst place that I could have ended up, stuck inland here!

 

3. Arriving at the football ground on a matchday. Although I'm a latecomer to LCFC, I do now feel a warm glow of positivity arriving at the stadium (only sometimes ruined by the match!). Not yet quite the level of happiness that I used to feel as a teenager standing on the terraces at Folkestone Town with views of the chalky downs, a gale blowing off the sea and a tinny cover version of "Ob-la-di Ob-la-da" by The Beatles coming out of the speakers as the players clopped out through the caged tunnel....but it's getting there. Kent cricket matches as a teenager had the same effect.

 

4. I used to love being sat in a good real ale pub, preferably in good company or with a good jukebox and that "four pints of strong ale" head on.....but let's not go there. I'm a clean liver with a clean liver now......or for now.

 

5. A place that I haven't been for 30 years but would like to go back to: the vineyards around La Chapelle-de-Guinchay in Beaujolais. I did grape-picking seasons there for 5 successive years from 21 to 25 and loved everything about it: the scenery, the physicality of the work, being in a foreign environment speaking a foreign language, the basic food, the rough red wine. I remember once walking back from the village after a long day's work in the fields and a long evening's drinking and chat in the bar, and I staggered, fell into a shallow ditch bordering a vineyard and just lay there laughing with happiness: the dark sky spangled with stars, the grapes hanging down above my face, the belly full of booze, the heat of the summer evening, the physical exhaustion from work and walking, the intensity of conversing in French in such a state of half-drunkenness and half-exhaustion. That may well have been the happiest moment of my life....but don't tell my daughter I said that (you can tell my ex now, much as I enjoyed our wedding at the time! ).

[Izzy]

9 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

1. Ballybunion, the seaside village on the west coast of Ireland where my Dad came from and where we had family holidays growing up. Largely personal nostalgia, but not entirely. It's an odd place. Physically beautiful: crashing surf, great sandy beaches that are often empty (apart from the main one), cliff walk with spectacular views. But the village itself is seriously downmarket in the holiday season, like a mini-Blackpool: all bars, greasy takeaways and amusements.....but I like that seedy seaside-town atmosphere, too, like Folkestone, where I grew up or Brighton where I lived for a while. BallyB has a poignancy now my parents are gone (I've been back twice since my Mum died, once since my Dad), as well as my local uncles and aunts, but I like that - I find it positive looking memories in the face, feeling the sadness but remembering the good times. People are different, clearly, as my brother says that he can never imagine going back there again as he'd find it too painful.

 

As in Ballybunion the famous links golf course Alf? 

 

Bloody hell, that's on my bucket list to play one day and I believe the famous Tom Watson says it's his favorite course on the planet.

 

Surprised to hear the village itself isn't up to much though. That's kinda shattered the dream a little bit mate 

[Milo]

On water for me - Caribbean at night, balmy, slight breeze, bright stars and nothing but the sound of the water lapping against the side of the ship. 

 

Happy memories - Smiling just thinking about it!  

[ScouseFox]

also nothing can ever beat the pitch appearing as you walk up the steps from the concourse when you go the match. every time. whether you’ve had a season ticket for years, whether you only go occasionally, if we’re playing to win the league or playing in league one, it still just makes you feel like a kid again and everything is amazing. 

[Milo]

Just now, ScouseFox said:

also nothing can ever beat the pitch appearing as you walk up the steps from the concourse when you go the match. every time. whether you’ve had a season ticket for years, whether you only go occasionally, if we’re playing to win the league or playing in league one, it still just makes you feel like a kid again and everything is amazing. 

This.

 

Great answer! I love the impossible green-ness of a pitch under floodlights on a cold winter night

[Alf Bentley]

35 minutes ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

As in Ballybunion the famous links golf course Alf? 

 

Bloody hell, that's on my bucket list to play one day and I believe the famous Tom Watson says it's his favorite course on the planet.

 

Surprised to hear the village itself isn't up to much though. That's kinda shattered the dream a little bit mate 

 

Yep, that's the place, Izzy. My Dad caddied on that course as a teenager, one cousin of mine is an official at the course and another runs a guest house next to it - in fact it adjoins "our farmland". 

 

Don't let me put you off. The physical surroundings are wonderful - sea, beaches, cliffs, country walks etc. The village also has some decent places to stay or to eat - and is very quiet out of season.

But in the summer holidays, lots of bars and takeaways open up and people from the estates in Limerick come down for their hols, getting pissed and shouting about (though I've never seen any violence).

I'd definitely recommend it. 

[I am Rod Hull]

Anywhere, as long as i`m on this 

 

I started to ride to work on my lads heavy mtb around 4 years ago and really struggled, I was so unfit and it was hard work even though its under 4 miles  

 

Fast forward to 2018 and things have changed a little. I`v built up my miles and fleet since then and I rode my 17th 100+ mile ride of 2018 on Sunday with a ride around Lincolnshire. I have met and regularly ride with some top lads including old mates that i`d not seen for 10/20 years and others that I have to ride 25+ miles to for a ride. Cycling is a great stress buster and is not just good for your body, its also good for your mind. There`s some wonderful countryside out there that you can not fully appreciate unless you`re on a bike or walking and I would very highly recommend it to all. 

 

Cycling is my release and my moving meditation 

[VLC86]

Home wise it would be chilling out in my hammock with a nice drink, sun out and my music on either that or playing with my nephew/niece.

 

Otherwise it’s when I’m on holiday, having a nice drink with a decent view and decent company. I’ve figured out I barely really care where in the world that is but have been lucky enough to be able to meet that criteria in some incredible locations. 

 

 

Edited 5 June 2018 by Costock_Fox

[Izzy]

1 hour ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

Yep, that's the place, Izzy. My Dad caddied on that course as a teenager, one cousin of mine is an official at the course and another runs a guest house next to it - in fact it adjoins "our farmland". 

 

Don't let me put you off. The physical surroundings are wonderful - sea, beaches, cliffs, country walks etc. The village also has some decent places to stay or to eat - and is very quiet out of season.

But in the summer holidays, lots of bars and takeaways open up and people from the estates in Limerick come down for their hols, getting pissed and shouting about (though I've never seen any violence).

I'd definitely recommend it. 

Sounds awesome Alf.

 

Tbh if I ever get the chance to play there it will probably be out of season as it’s crazy money to play there in the summer (about £200 a round I think!)

 

But I’m told the problem playing in the winter is that its bloody freezing and always blowing a gale 

[PAULCFC]

Ally Pally for the dart's in December.The views over London are amazing.

[The Blur]

5 hours ago, Izzy Muzzett said:

It used to be the golf course but I've given that up recently.

 

I think some people's 'happy place' can be more about their state of mind and where they are in their head rather than their physical environment.

 

Blimey hell,  how come Izzy?  I thought you liked your golf.

 

 

4 hours ago, Webbo said:

Some good answers on here. Atm it's the back garden but that'll change come winter. I absolutely love Norfolk but I haven't been for years. I might have to talk the missus into a weekend away.

 

Dude, no one needs to be talked into having a weekend away.  Wait,  your wife is married to you after all  

[MC Prussian]

My apartment, the balcony in the summer is like a wonderfully splendid place to hang out. I live in a smaller city, so there's not that much traffic and noise around.

Other than that, the local swimming pool up the street. Cheap and excellent in the summer for chilling.

Or a walk near the River Rhine.

 

Ticino in the South of Switzerland is marvelous in summer, usually go there for the film festival. Perfect sunshine, movies, great food, wonderful scenery with the lake nearby.

 

Abroad, I like Portugal a lot. Especially the coastal area in the middle of the country, near Leiria. So tranquil and cheap to live.

[Izzy]

3 minutes ago, The Blur said:

 

Blimey hell,  how come Izzy?  I thought you liked your golf.

 

I do love it mate but I’ve decided to suspend my membership for a while. Basically I’m not spending enough time with the kids at weekends so need to get my priorities right!

 

I’ll pick it up again when they’re teenagers and don’t want to know me anymore 

[Unabomber]

My parents recently got a place in kelling heath in Norfolk and that is my happy place now. The place is in the middle of woodland on the site and completely silent if you go out of season apart from the natural wildlife. So sitting outside when the sun is setting with a decent local beer is class. There is also a pub on site which is good, also love all the local areas like holt, Wells, Holkham etc. The coastline is spectacular.

 

At work I recently got a site with Lovell homes in holt so have been down a lot recently and just wanna stay. Can’t wait to go back for a week in September. On another note the pubs are all brilliant in north Norfolk. 

 

Another one would be sitting outside the 2be beer wall in Bruges overlooking the canal. World class beer and setting.

[DANGEROUS TIGER]

6 hours ago, Suzie the Fox said:

Sitting in the garden on the patio with a large G&T (or cold beer.) The sun is shining and getting occasional wafts of smell from the flowers coming through. 

 

 

 

 

It sounds more like paradise,