it is amazing how , when reality falls apart , you cling onto the simplest of things ; how , for example , when a loved one dies , or your house burns down , you suddenly notice the things that lie hidden in the background most of the time : the inherent beauty of birdsong ; the way the grass dances in the wind and the contrast between its various shades of green ; the tranquillity of a park on a sunday afternoon , with families playing and couples cuddling .