Monday, 27 September 2021
Treats
It’s my birthday today. Not an excuse for wild celebration here in Derbyshire, but it does raise the question of treats. How do we treat ourselves and each other in such a prosperous age? Leaving aside government attempts to make us far less prosperous, what would a special treat look like?
Special meals maybe, but if food is reasonably good quality and well cooked, then the rest lies mostly in the imagination. It’s steak and Stilton pie from a good local farm shop for us this evening. Maybe a superb chef could conjure up something better, but not enough to see our pie as a lesser treat. An evening out at a top class restaurant would perhaps be more of a treat, but much of that is flimflam.
Special holidays, cruises, exotic destinations are fine but when they are not out of reach or something similar is not out of reach then most holidays cannot be the special treat that they were to previous generations.
A trip around the planets of the solar system would be a treat, but that’s not going to happen. Maybe the day will come when even that isn’t a treat because virtual reality will have virtually taken us there years ago.
Come to think of it, the collapse of the Labour party would be a treat. Followed by the Conservatives. Maybe two treats in a row is expecting too much though.
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9 comments:
Happy birthday A.K. Mine was yesterday. A meal with friends and daughter being sufficient excitement after 18 months of intermittently having to avoid people.
Happy Birthday, AK!
We were only discussing special treats yesterday, and decided that we really didn't want to go and eat anywhere else but at home these days, we just don't want to put up with the hassle any more!
It's our Golden Wedding next year, and we still reckon that we'll do exactly the same as we've done every year, just topping up the home-made wine (long story), maybe get a few prawn cocktails in and watch a decent DVD...
Oh yes - happy bidet to you, sir and may there be many more.
Many happy returns!
I have often discussed the concept of a treat with pupils (in the context of motivation for exam revision) and, over the years, have noticed an increasing disbelief that an ice cream or a bar of chocolate could once have been regarded as something special. The small delights of earlier childhoods have become utterly commonplace to them thanks to well-stocked cupboards, abundant pocket money and instant access to films and music.
I can help feeling they have lost out somehow - and that the ‘Because I’m worth it’ culture is taking us all to Hell in a handcart.
Hoppy birdie to you on our wedding anniversary!
Woodsy - happy birthday to you too. There must be something about September...
Scrobs - we're off to a Golden Wedding do later next month, but ours in 2024 may be quieter. Like you we don't want the hassle.
James - thanks, I hope there will be a few more but maybe not too many.
Macheath - yes they have lost out, yet it is one of those losses which fades away because it is difficult to explain to those who never knew it. A lost loss. I find the ‘Because I’m worth it’ culture weirdly deluded.
Jannie - happy anniversary and I hope you have many more.
Something about September - it's 9 months after Christmas and New Year holidays and parties!
Happy birthday Mr. Haart. Treats are more difficult to define as we get older. For me it would be the expectation that today is no worse than yesterday.
Woodsy - that must be the reason adults look forward to Christmas too.
Andy - thanks and yes - maybe that counts as positive thinking if we expect today to be no worse than yesterday.
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