The Wonderful Hour 18th July 2025

Written by Jason Of Shrine

Category: The Wonderful Hour

Squirrels, Strangers, and the Joy of Finding Lost Things

In this edition of The Wonderful Hour, Tommy Boyd wanders from golden retrievers panting in the sun to squirrels darting across the road, from handbags stuffed with other people’s essentials to the pure relief of finding your keys just before you leave the house. What ties it together is that each moment, however small, carries a spark of wonder. Random chats with strangers, the comfort of arriving home, or even the humble egg — all take their turn in the spotlight.

Talking to Strangers

Tommy begins with his dog walk, which becomes a string of spontaneous encounters: a plumber listening to the Open on the radio, a couple hurrying home before their prawns defrost, and a rugged man with a grievance about the post office. Each conversation is light, superficial, and yet uplifting. Random chats with strangers can be like therapy — nothing heavy, no politics, just simple human contact that brightens the day. Strangers, says Tommy, are wonderful.

The Wonder of Arriving

Next comes the joy of arriving. Whether it’s returning home, walking into a pub, or simply being the last one to join friends at a table, arrival brings relief. The journey is over, the pressure is gone, and you can finally relax. Even the familiar act of putting your key in the door and hearing a “hello” echo back is a small piece of magic. Arriving is wonderful.

Handbags with Hayley

Hayley chimes in with her weekly contribution: handbags. Not just for herself, but for everyone else who relies on her to carry things they can’t fit in their pockets. Her point is clear: handbags are communal, endlessly useful, and sometimes unfairly maligned by husbands who think she owns too many. From the Queen to Margaret Thatcher, famous figures knew the power of a handbag. Hayley insists they are wonderful — and Tommy agrees.

Finding Lost Things

Few feelings compare to the relief of finding something you thought was lost: car keys, wallets, or even a jar of sliced gherkins in the supermarket. Tommy recalls frantic searches through sofas, bathrooms, and kitchen tables before the sweet victory of discovery. Each found item, whether trivial or crucial, feels like a trophy. The elation of “there it is” is truly wonderful.

Heroic Couples

On a more serious note, Tommy reflects on couples facing immense challenges together. Fiona Phillips and Martin Frizell, coping with dementia, and Kate Garraway with the late Derek Draper, battling long COVID. Their loyalty, care, and resilience embody what is most wonderful in human relationships. They remind us that heroism is not only on the battlefield but in kitchens, hospitals, and living rooms.

Three Squirrels in a Row

Then there are the squirrels. Not one, not two, but three moving nose to tail across the road. Tommy marvels at their darting, scampering rhythm, their sudden stillness, and their energy. Someone once dismissed them as “rats with good PR”, but Boyd sees them differently — as tiny performers, full of life. His first close encounter with a squirrel peering down through a hole in his ceiling only deepened his fondness. Squirrels, he insists, are wonderful.

The Versatility of Eggs

Eggs get their turn too. Boiled, scrambled, poached, or even used as props in family pranks, they are endlessly versatile. French chefs once claimed each pleat in their hats represented a different use for eggs. Tommy adds another: comedy. From feeding the family to fooling dad at Sunday breakfast, eggs are comic and culinary treasures. Eggs are wonderful.

The Relief of No Worries

Relief itself becomes a wonder. Whether it’s discovering your teenager drove home safely without drinking, or realising you don’t need to collect a car from an overnight car park, relief turns stress into joy. The sudden lifting of worry, Tommy argues, is one of the most underrated forms of happiness. Relief is wonderful.

Trainers, T-Shirts, and Hair Dryers

Other delights crop up too: favourite trainers, worn in and irreplaceable; favourite t-shirts, like Tommy’s Eric Cantona design that still makes him grin; and the humble hair dryer, a simple fan and heater that changed personal grooming forever. From nostalgia to practicality, these small comforts enrich daily life. They are, quite simply, wonderful.

How to Get Involved and Listen

The Wonderful Hour thrives on listener contributions. Share your own “wonderful” by texting or sending a voice note to 07836 314007. It might be a memory, a quirky observation, or something heartfelt. Tommy may read it on air.

You can listen directly via Libsyn, or find the show on Podbean, Podcast Player, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms. Search for “The Wonderful Hour Tommy Boyd.”

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Conclusion

From squirrels scampering nose to tail to strangers bonding over golf, from handbags and eggs to relief and Cantona t-shirts, Tommy Boyd proves once more that wonder is everywhere. We just need to notice it. Another wonderful hour, and another invitation to keep our eyes open for the extraordinary in the ordinary.

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Created on July 18, 2025