This photo of a wind vane  comes from another iron works that I passed on my way to visit a relative. About to post it – another nice photo – I came to think of a question I have been asked by a couple of acquaintances: why don’t I write about important things on my blog? Why not use my space, my speaker’s corner, to advocate a cause? Why post photos of these nice surroundings and (expensive) pens and wind vanes (of all things???)? I’ve asked myself  similar questions. Always a hint of bad conscience (mixed with relief and gratitude for not having to struggle everyday to have a place to stay and food on the table) for living in a fairly rich, democratic country. Why spend money on fancy pens when people starve? Why look for beauty when a lot of people live under outrageous conditions? I won’t pretend that there is an easy answer to it. But I do think it is necessary with these nice, pleasant things/surroundings etc as a counter weight to the ugly parts of  life and world.  To embrace beauty as well as kindness (who on earth prefers to be friends with mean people?) and pleasure is a way to find energy to try to make the world a little better place. To like (and buy) beautiful pens doesn’t necessarily mean that one naïvely embraces consumerism and the luxury goods industry. My dear  fountain pens add a big pleasure to my everyday living. They are not disposable – made to be thrown away when they are used – but can be refilled over and over again. A pen repairer (magician) can repair them if they break and  there is a zillion of inks and ink colours to choose from and fill the pen with. Simple joys. I honestly believe that being able to find pleasure in (small) things is necessary to be able to acknowledge and cope with the painful parts of life and world. I think that the world could be a little better and kinder if people were a little happier and tried to find the things in life that make them happy and prosperous. Sounds simple and naïve, but if one looks at the stats over the prescriptions of anti depressants of all sorts in  Europe and US, it is rather clear that people are very unhappy and uncomfortable in their lives. I don’t believe that there is one solution or a quick fix, but I do think it is important to try to find something every day that makes us happy or prosperous. Like an old iron works embedded in fairytale snow. Or a beautiful pen. Or a walk with a friend.