quiet paws.

Simple pleasures are something easily spoken of, but all too often overlooked. With this in mind I’ve been reflecting on the simply joys in life in recent times. This shift in focus is largely due to the goodness I’ve found in the pages of Tom Hodkingson’s most excellent books, ‘How to Be Idle’ and ‘How to Be Free’.

In these books Hodgkinson presents some very intriguing alternatives to life…we can choose not to be defined by money, career and material wealth. Sure some basics are always going to be essential, but beyond that there is so much more to savour in life if only we sit back, draw breath and absorb something new. Like discovering Thoreau’s Walden many years ago, I feel that I have found a lifestyle and cultural soulmate in Tom.

With all this talk of changing perspectives, I wanted to share three simple joys I’ve enjoyed this week as I made my way around this often mad and crazy world.

1. Hot water pouring on a herbal tea bag. I’ve taken to enjoying a cup of herbal tea in the afternoon. After wanting something different from my usual cup of Green or Chai, this week I opted for a blend of St. John’s Wort and Mixed Berry tea. As the hot water pours over the tea bag, the colour of the tea gradually changes from being completely clear to a rich, vibrant purple. It’s impossible to resist such a happy-looking liquid.

2. A rat coming out for a peek in a city street. Walking down to the bookstore on a rainy day is pleasant enough in itself, but when accompanied by a chance sighting of a furry city dweller, it’s even better. With a brief rain shower easing, my little ratty friend ran out from a row of bins and joined those waiting in the taxi queue. He sat and enjoyed the fragrance of the air for a minute or two, until suddenly taking fright and scampering back to his hiding spot. Encountering another sign of life in the city is always a happy thing.

3. Crossing paths with a pigeon. Walking back to my building after lunch, I found myself about to cut across the path of one of the many pigeons that thrive in the city environment. He obviously had important business to conduct in that part of town, with his legs moving as quickly as they could. In all his rush though he still had time to throw me a quick glance as he moved past. Sometimes we forget to look down, but if we always do that we neglect to acknowledge all those others who make the world their home.

Hopefully you experienced some moments of simple joy yourself this week.

While Men in Trees is about much more than men, the show just wouldn’t have the same appeal or frame storylines in quite the same way without the quality and quantity of men who call Elmo home. Men in Trees is a show which gives its characters room to breathe and space to grow. We have seen our favourite men change, evolve and develop as each episode drifts by, some for the better and some for the worse. While the men presented here do not represent an exhaustive list by any means, here you will find a little about what we love and what irritates us about the main men of Elmo.

Ben Jackson (Abraham Benrubi) – Local bar owner Ben is warm, kind and an all round nice guy. He is friend and confidant to many and leads a pretty contented life except when dealing with his relationships with women. In that regard complications abound. In trying to be all things to all people and avoiding conflict in matters of the heart, Ben is caught for a while in a precariously balanced love triangle between his estranged wife Theresa and old flame Sarah. It is only when he reasserts his masculinity that the way ahead becomes clear and he is able to make a critical decision.

Jack Slattery (James Tupper) – Jack tends to local wildlife, he is a committed conservationist and he epitomises all that is good about the woodsy, outdoorsy man. He is strong, and while not silent, he is certainly succinct with his use of words. With a wry sense of humour he is charming without being over-bearing. However he does have a tendency to spend too much time in his head and taking guidance from his feelings of guilt and responsibility, rather than listening to what is in his heart.

With a rare and unfortunate ability to attract complications and dramatic circumstances, Jack currently finds himself caught in a difficult position between his pregnant ex-girlfriend (Lynn) and almost new girlfriend Marin. If he got out of his head for a while and examined his heart, the situation wouldn’t be nearly as difficult as he thinks it is.

Buzz Washington (John Amos) – Owner and operator of Elmo’s one-man airline, Buzz is an old school man’s man. He is traditionally minded, stubborn and set in his ways, but these are not necessarily negatives. He has a kind heart and can always be depended upon in a crisis to help as best he can. Lovingly devoted to Mai, his family has grown to encompass his two sons from different lives, George and Patrick.

Patrick Bachelor (Derek Richardson) – Responsible for running Elmo’s guest inn and the local radio station, Patrick is sweet, innocent and demonstrates a solid measure of goof. In bringing Marin to Elmo he sets in motion a series of related events that impact significantly on his own life. He struggles with success in relationships with women mainly due to a lifetime of over-protectiveness by his mother Celia. Finding happiness with Elmo newcomer Annie, he is finally stepping out from his mother’s shadow and following his own path.

Sam ‘Plow Guy’ (Ty Olsson) – While introduced to us early on the series, we don’t really come to know the character of Sam until we look through the window of his relationship with Jane, Marin’s editor. He is practical, ruggedly handsome and deliciously masculine. He is someone more inclined to rule with his heart than his head, refusing to let his long distance relationship with Jane end when she returns to New York.

Until recently, the two of them have shared a particularly close relationship which was strengthened by their contrasting natures and life outlooks. While both are obviously still in love with eachother, they have convinced themselves that they just can’t make things work. I suspect we will have more to watch in this space in the not-too-distant future. The New York girl and the small town Elmo boy will surely reunite again, hopefully without further mouse-induced problems.

Stuart Maxson (Jason O’Mara) – Smooth, suave and sophisticated publisher Stuart Maxson seduces Marin both professionally and personally. He has a comfortable confident manner that instantly appeals and rather than win Marin over with showy actions and constant attention, he simply strikes right at the heart. A clear example of this is the gift he sends to Marin to help persuade her to sign with his publishing house. Rather than the expensive flowers, wines and foods sent by other publishers, he instead sends a book rich in meaning – Thoreau’s Walden. On a personal level, Marin and Stuart have enjoyed a brief snow-capped tryst which in reality could never become more than a pleasant diversion.

Richard Ellis (Currie Graham) – Police Supervisor Richard Ellis is unable to resist the mysterious charm and allure of Patrick’s mother, Celia. While she can be abrasive, irritating and caustic to many people this doesn’t seem to bother Richard, though he is a little miffed at her unwillingness to acknowledge their connection. Given her issues of over-protectiveness with son Patrick, another man in her life really is the best solution for all concerned. While their relationship is initially conducted behind closed doors, and sometimes behind locked cell doors, eventually Celia realises that the world will not end if she seeks happiness for herself for a while.

Cash (Scott Elrod) – Local roving handyman and resident sexy loner, Cash lends more than just a helping hand to Marin’s house re-construction project. He is a relaxed nature loving boy who is comfortable making do with what life throws his way. While he could be easily dismissed at face value as being a lazy drifter, aside from being handy with a tool belt he also has a grounded honest opinion which he is often willing to share.

Currently to be found living with Marin at her new residence, there is an interesting dynamic in the air. Too bad for Jack that his timing is always just one step off the march, he is too quick to rule himself out and too ready to jump to assumptions. Cash brings the perfect chilled-out balance to weigh against Marin’s overly analytical and sometimes uptight nature.

Jerome (Timothy Webber) – Regular patron at the Chieftain and sometime distributor of mail, Jerome is a professional drinker and occasional dispenser of sage like advice. He is a no nonsense, straight up kind of guy who has little tolerance for endless chatter about feelings and relationships. While he may be a little gruff at times and more than a little rough around the edges, beneath it all lies a warm and caring heart.

Terry (Mario Cantone) – When Marin’s hair takes a disastrous turn she is encouraged to pay a visit to hairdresser extraordinaire Terry. If it wasn’t for the ground-shaking tremors that day, things probably would have turned out much better. Thank goodness Jack is a dab hand at hair washing and hair cutting…lucky Marin indeed. While for Marin her first haircut at ‘Terry’s Hair Emporium’ may not have been a desirable outcome, Terry is still an entertaining character. Terry is a connection to the gossipy, flamboyant filled streets of New York. Enjoying a growing relationship with Buzz’s son George, things look very bright indeed for this hairdresser who is oh so proud of his buns of steel.

Humans are constantly waging war against enemies on many fronts. One of our longest running battles is that which we have been fighting against nature. We are forever asserting our dominance over the earth and as a consequence natural areas are being lost forever. We build highways, raise buildings, connect bridges and construct grand infrastructure networks. We do all manner of things which are considered amazing feats of humanity. For all our efforts our enemy, who is ill equipped to compete with such an aggressive onslaught, is left scarred, torn and savaged.

‘I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civil. To regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society.’ Henry David Thoreau

We cut down trees to improve our view, we pour bitumen to ensure a smoother journey and we dam rivers to provide ourselves with water. With each layer we add and barrier we raise, we take ourselves further out of the natural equation. At every opportunity we try to separate ourselves from the natural world, causing us to lose our connection with the land and the sea.

We insist on working hard at meaningless things, spending more and more time hidden away in our artificial lairs. Sure there are those amongst us who still appreciate natural areas and who do their best to preserve and protect as many pockets of wildness as they can. But how sad that this is necessary. There should be a common understanding that we are part of nature, not a species existing separately from it.

We have caused ourselves to lose touch and become out of sync with natural cycles and rhythms. We ignore seasonal limits to the growth of fruit and vegetables, instead manufacturing conditions to ensure that we always get what we want when we want. We abuse the land by continuing to support industries which are not sustainable, ignoring the hard evidence which shows we will cause permanent damage if we continue. We are a world of instant gratification, yet we are unprepared to take into account the long-term costs of this short-term pleasure. It is always someone else’s problem.

While nature is often powerless to stop human progress, from time to time spies from their camp manage to infiltrate the ‘human’ world of concrete and steel. Finding these signs of life in unexpected places brings me a great deal of happiness. I actively seek such sights out and when discovered, I can’t help but smile. At these times I am reminded of the words uttered by Dr Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park), ‘I’m simply saying that life…finds a way’.

Stop and take a look around you as you go about your daily travels, you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find. I’ve seen trees growing out from the walls of buildings, birds nesting on the top of light poles, predators hunting for food amongst city streets and unintended flowers spring up amongst the grass on roadside nature strips.

Please be careful not to draw too much attention to these spies, for if the commanders of our army find out that they exist among us; they may take brutal action and another connection between the natural world and us will be lost.