Emma Beddington, inspired by Ian Bogost's book The Small Stuff: The Sensory Enchantment of Everyday Life, embarked on a week-long journey to rediscover the small sensory pleasures often overlooked in modern life. Bogost, an interdisciplinary academic and video game designer, argues that we have become 'dematerialised' and need to reconnect with physical sensations.
Day 1: The Daily Grind
Beddington began by manually grinding coffee beans and using a stovetop espresso pot. Despite initial struggles with the grinder, she found haptic satisfaction in the crunching beans and the smell. However, she noted that her automatic machine made better coffee, leading Bogost to clarify that the goal is not to reject digital conveniences but to 'live fully in your senses in the physical world.'
Day 2: Spreading the Joy
At a local repair cafe, organiser Catherine Djimramadji shared her love for knitting coarse wool, while Catherine Heinemeyer praised textured textiles. Beddington found herself irresistibly touching plants, especially roses, sticking her whole face into them. She also licked a tree, though found it not for her. Food provided a key sensory experience: she enjoyed the contrast of crunchy peanut butter on charred sourdough with garden lettuce, calling it 'ecstasy.'
Day 3: The Tools of the Trade
Beddington's husband introduced her to his favourite drill, which she found satisfying to rev and turn off. Writer Tim Hayward described the 'thocc' sound of custom keyboard keys, leading Beddington to appreciate her MacBook's key bounce and trackpad smoothness. Weeding with a 'hori hori' knife also provided deep satisfaction.
Day 4: A Mug's Game
Inspired by Japanese ceramics, Beddington used a sea-green cup with undulating ridges, which she found herself stroking for minutes. A friend mentioned the sensory pleasure of untangling his sausage dog's armpit hair, reminding Beddington of her late whippet Oscar. She later spent time tickling spaniel ears.
Day 5: Grab That Little Moment of Gratification
On a stressful day, Beddington found solace in the greenhouse, pinching out tomato side shoots. She noted the neat pincer movement, hairy stems, and crushed leaf scent. Bogost reassured her that small gratifications can seep through cracks in stress, and that 'there's no scarcity to sensory experience.' Even tooth-brushing became enjoyable: she relished the tingle of her electric toothbrush on her gums.
Day 6: Sharpening Kitchen Skills
Beddington visited friend Cristina, a former biochemist turned kitchen professional, who demonstrated knife sharpening and filleted seabass with dexterity. Emboldened, Beddington used her son's heavy knife to slice tomatoes, finding the weight and efficacy wonderful.
Day 7: Drinking It All In
To celebrate, Beddington made a dry martini using a technique from Hayward: smashing ice cubes, stirring with booze, and adding lemon zest. Though enjoyable, she found it too much faff for regular use. She concluded that discussing others' gratifications helped her tune into her own: teasing apart seedlings, the click of a scent bottle lid, and the cool smoothness of a fresh pillowcase.
Beddington kept the dentist's paper cup on her desk as a reminder of Bogost's 'low-level, ongoing practice.' She acknowledged that even a klutz can find tiny delights in the physical world, though she promptly caught her leg in a computer cable and spilled water on her trousers. 'Baby steps,' she said.
