The Wonderful Hour 13th June 2025

Written by Jason Of Shrine

Category: The Wonderful Hour

Catnaps, Happy Weeping, and Barack Obama: A Celebration of Wonder

Episode three of Tommy Boyd’s The Wonderful Hour moves effortlessly between the quirky, the nostalgic, and the profound. From the joy of napping in the afternoon to the tears that come from beauty and film endings, Tommy guides listeners through a show that is funny, touching, and deeply human. Along the way there are reflections on dogs’ names, supermarket queues, double-decker buses, and even the wonder of condiments in the back of the cupboard.

The Double-Decker Seat of Triumph

Tommy begins with the familiar thrill of catching a double-decker bus. From childhood memories of racing to the front seat on the top deck to the quiet triumph of still finding it free as an adult, it is a ritual that never loses its magic. Sitting at the front becomes more than a bus ride. It is a return to childhood imagination, the feeling of being a captain, a pilot, a driver in command of the road ahead.

The Supermarket Queue Game

Next comes the art of choosing the right checkout queue. It is part logic, part intuition, and always a small gamble. Tommy shares the anxiety of picking the slower line and the quiet joy of being proven right when your queue moves fastest. It is a harmless competition, but one that sparks a surprising sense of victory. Even in the everyday act of buying groceries, there is wonder to be found.

The Power of the Catnap

Listener Hailey writes in with a reminder of how an afternoon nap can transform a day. Tommy reflects on the Spanish tradition of the siesta, Keith Floyd’s love of long lunches, and the idea that a nap does not have to be long to be restorative. A nap is not laziness. It is a pause, a mini holiday, and a chance to reset. For Tommy, it is a perfect example of wonder hiding in plain sight.

The Sweet Shelf and Childhood Memories

Tommy recalls the corner shop sweet shelf, a magical place for children with a coin in hand and total freedom to choose. From Mars bars and Picnics to Lion bars and Bounties, the confectionery aisle becomes a time machine. Even as an adult, glancing at familiar wrappers brings back the thrill of independence, the joy of being treated, and the sweetness of childhood liberty.

The Odds and Sods Drawer

Every home has one. Tommy describes drawers and bowls overflowing with harmonicas, lightbulbs of unknown status, old batteries, tape measures that snap back with dangerous speed, and mysterious finds from the past. These drawers are not clutter. They are treasure chests of memory and possibility. The odds and sods drawer is wonderful precisely because it refuses to be tidy.

Happy Weeping

Perhaps the most moving part of the episode is Tommy’s reflection on tears. From hearing his grandson whisper “I love you,” to watching ET come back to life, to the majesty of cheetahs running in slow motion, Tommy admits that tears can be a gift. Crying at beauty, at family, or even at a scene in The Sound of Music is not weakness. It is proof that life still has the power to move us. These tears are wonderful.

Unchanging Wonders: Bicycles and Umbrellas

Some inventions never need improving. For Tommy, bicycles and umbrellas stand as marvels of design that remain essentially unchanged for centuries. From the simplicity of pedals and chains to the elegance of a canopy that keeps off the rain, these tools endure. A thousand years from now, he suggests, humanity may look different, but bicycles and umbrellas will still serve the same purpose in the same way.

Dogs’ Names and Companions

Pets are wonderful, and so are their names. Tommy shares the story of his own golden retriever, Friday, named for the joy the day of the week brings. He also recalls neighbours with dogs called Annie, Help, and Police — names that spark smiles and stories. For Tommy, the act of naming a pet is as human and delightful as the companionship pets give in return.

Barack Obama

In a surprising yet heartfelt section, Tommy reflects on why Barack Obama is wonderful. Charismatic, trustworthy, funny, and inspiring, Obama is described as a shining light in modern politics. From Chicago roots to the White House and beyond, Tommy sees in him a leader who left office untarnished and admired. It is both admiration and gratitude, a reminder that some figures remain wonderful long after the headlines fade.

The Sound of Bagpipes

Living in the countryside once brought Tommy an unexpected gift — the distant sound of bagpipes floating across the fields. Whether in military displays, films like D-Day, or the tradition of Scottish tattoos, the swirl of the pipes stirs something deep. Bagpipes, he argues, are wonderful precisely because they are unique — exotic, haunting, and powerful.

Condiments and Leftovers

From jars of Branston pickle with just a scrape left, to mysterious bottles of sesame oil, to debates about brown sauce versus ketchup, Tommy celebrates the larder as a museum of tastes. Pickles, piccalilli, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard each carry their own stories and rituals. And when it comes to food, perhaps nothing is more wonderful than last night’s leftovers — dishes that mysteriously taste better after a night in the fridge.

Why Listen to The Wonderful Hour?

This episode is Tommy at his most varied and most honest — blending humour with nostalgia, family stories with global figures, and everyday habits with universal truths. The Wonderful Hour is about finding joy where others rush past it. It is about remembering that anything, from a bus seat to a condiment jar, can be wonderful if we choose to notice it.

How to Get Involved and Listen

Tommy invites you to share your own wonderful moment by submitting directly at https://tommyboydshrine.co.uk/wonderful. The best will be featured on future episodes. Listen on Libsyn, or find the podcast on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Do not just listen. Subscribe, review, and share your favourite moments with friends. Help spread the wonder with #WonderfulHour.

Conclusion

From catnaps to happy tears, from the odds and sods drawer to Barack Obama, this episode of The Wonderful Hour proves again that wonder is everywhere. Tommy Boyd reminds us that life is richer when we pause to notice it — and that even leftovers in the fridge can carry magic.

Created on June 13, 2025