So, Let’s Swing and Dance

I'm sure we all loved to dance. Own up, what were your favorite dances?

Dance was important throughout the ages.
For culture, symbolising a fashionable group, for bringing much-needed rain, for tribes to show war dancing, for young people to get together, and entertainment, even in depressing times.

The Twist started a whole dance movement that continued for decades.

Strangely enough, at Hollyfield Road school, it was only the females who learned. Compulsory country dancing. I had no idea it might ever be useful until in Western Australia, which I visited in 2006. The old-time music was the only group social activity in Albany. I knew all the dances like the Gay Gordons…Gay meaning happy rather than the different usage today. Numbers were battered out on an old piano.
That was deep in a bush town, and Milo a bit like Horlicks, the refreshment.

Dances from the fifties centred around the explosive music trends, which were fun. Ballroom dancing faded into obscurity. Rarely these days do I attend ballets, but some years ago I did the make-up for Swan Lake backstage. Backstage was always more fun than being in the audience for all types of performances.

But what has happened to Gen Z? Do they go to dances? I only see them working and travelling to and fro on the buses. They don't believe they will have pensions in later years. Selfies are the rage.

Enjoy posting music, memes, gifs, and chatting with friends.

Lian and Kieran

Stars On 45 - Proudly Presents: The Star Sisters

Boney M. - Rasputin

Fast Final Main Class - GOC 2025 (WRRC World Cup) | Boogie Woogie

The Most Popular Dances Over the Last 100 Years

Life is a Cabaret, or is It?

Wonderful movie Cabaret, great stars, music, glitz and glamour. For some, life appears to be a cabaret.

But in the thirties, the setting for the film, life turned to fun and glamour and frivolity whenever possible.

Joel Grey sang…Money Makes The World Go Round, but the thirties were poverty-stricken for many, due to the Wall Street crash in 1929, which was of global concern.
Many stars like Nina Simone made their entry to fame through Cabaret, and I have memories of going to late-night dinner dances sitting on an uncle’s shoulders during the dances…they were fun.

I also loved Old English Music Hall, where we ate Chicken in a basket. Entertainment after the war was at a premium. Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli, first-class entertainers,

Buttons

Pantomime at Christmas was also popular, with a Dame, always played by a man.
Audience participation was also a must for children.
Cinderella and Aladdin were two I remember.

Danny La Rue

In the last few years, dress has been toned down to hoodies and nondescript blending in.

2025 was a year that politicians did well financially, the Trump family made over three billion in crypto currencies. Yet Trump did not take his President’s salary.
King Charles disclosed his 12 million tax bill.
There is only one trillionaire, Elon Musk, but many more millionaires. Is money now a God?
Even Cinema has faded. Has music or entertainment improved?

Do you remember The Good Old Days?

This was always hilarious.

What were your memories? Were they really the Good Ole Days? Share experiences, chat with friends. Most of all, enjoy the frivolity.

Lian

Funny Road Hazards, Number Plates and Driving Experiences

Being a pedestrian appears to be a hazardous adventure; little provision is made for us.

Crossing the road is dangerous, pavements and roads are full of uneven paving and holes,and sometimes I walk around roundabouts, dodging fast cars. Suppose planners are chauffeur-driven. They never wait at sundrenched bus stops either!!! especially in 40 degrees. Shade is rare in the summer.

We call our government the concrete government. They love concrete…its’s a concrete jungle these days. Tempers flare in sardine-packed buses and traffic jams miles long.

They appear to pass planning for long Highways, flyovers and huge unfinished projects. Which last forever??? This island was/is noted for its historical buildings and villages, and now we are overrun with tourists, etc., and sadly, we are losing our historic heritage as architecture gives way to high rises. Looks like America in some places now…apart from our beautiful capital. The parliament is earthquake and bomb proof in design. Other buildings are not. This island seems like a continuous building site of noise and confusion and construction where I live, yet there are remote areas in the countryside.

What experiences do you have on your roads, with constructions...progress?

A land of contrasts

Enjoy the discussion.
Chat with friends, play music, post memes, and gifs.

Lian and Kieran

The coast road

Who Should Foot the Bill? Is Romance Dead?

On a date, the question is…who should pay the bill, or should the bill be split?
I suppose different countries or cultures have different opinions on who should pay.

Should the guy pay on the first date? What is your opinion?
If it is a date, who should pay?
Should the lady pay half or offer to pay everything?

For example…on my boat on the canals, I bumped into a guy on the tow path looking for a place to moor. We got chatting. I invited him for a drink on my boat.Boats have different rules about mooring; generally, if you don't move every two weeks, there is a fine of £200.
The guy was very respectful. He offered to take me shopping as he had a car. My boat was deep in the countryside, nowhere near a town or shops. Even the nearest village was a hike. So, about twice a week, we went shopping, always had lunch out and drinks. I insisted on paying my way as I was being helped.

I suppose I’m old-fashioned about dates; a lady feels looked after if the man pays.
For me, it depends on the other person’s finances if the bill is split.
In Turkey, I very often went to pay, and was told …the gentleman over there has paid for you…usually someone I would never see again….That is Turkish hospitality.
Three of us stayed in a hotel once in Istanbul and made friends with a Turkish man. We all ate out together every day, and he always wanted to pay. He left the hotel a few days before us. When we went to pay our bill, he had paid for us all for two weeks. I was amazed. Turkey was under military rule at that time, and we were all segregated to stay in an area I did not know. No choice. Military order. Must say I was impressed by the politeness and kindness of the soldiers, who bought me red roses. Blush.

I’ve never been to a dating site, or speed dating, or short of invitations.
What is your experience?
Oh, I believe in romance too. Makes life fun. But would not kiss on a first date.

I once, as a comprehension exercise, took dating forms into the class for students to fill in. One guy sent his form off and got a date. Poor girl, the whole class of eight turned up to watch the date unfold. LOL Just curious.

Enjoy the discussion, play music, the food of romance, memes, gifs, chat with friends.
Base comments on respect.

Lian and Kieran