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

Summer and Fun Fashion

The summer heat has arrived, and it’s exhausting.
I miss the bright colors people used to wear. The locals wear black and the tourists mainly white shorts creasing badly around the butt, with white tops. A few tourists wear pretty dresses.
How I miss the vibrant colors of past eras for the summer.
The Italians are wearing the shortest white dresses I’ve ever seen with frilly knickers.

I'm in sky blue or turquoise depending on the colour of my denim, having turquoise eyes. People look bland these days.
Probably too hot for the beach…but dreaming of a holiday, but have workmen to fix the roof next week.

Will you be choosing a dream holiday? What is your dream?

How do you keep cool? Swimming? Aircon? A fan? what do you wear on the beach?

Remember to respect all commenters, chat to your friends, and music appreciated.

Have fun!

Lian and Kieran

We used to have a Reggae bus here that played constant music for everyone.

Used to sing along, it was fun. Alas, all our buses are ordinary these days, and crammed like sardines.

Scenes From a Railway Carriage and Memorable Journeys

We have a street in our town called Railway Street… but no railway.
We were going to have a railway, the locals say.
We even have a railway station, but so far no railways have been built here.

However, I have had memorable train journeys in the past.
The most memorable was London to Istanbul, four and a half days, with no buffet car. It was a bit of a nightmare as we had to keep changing trains and were often left on platforms in different countries.
In the old Yugoslavia, two fat, jolly ladies got on with a huge picnic hamper and shared it with everyone in the carriage. Two Turkish men stood for me so that I had a place to sleep when the train was in Greece, where we crossed the border into Turkey.
We arrived at the iconic Istanbul station, which is a beautiful building and in many movies.
Countries varied from manicured landscapes to the beauty of Bulgaria, so green and many waterfalls, but draconian officials who questioned and searched everyone.
Seats on many Turkish trains were wooden and uncomfortable.
Then, exciting trains in Australia with completely open carriages with no seating, where there was fresh air and views of sparse land. Also, double-decker trains that were a novelty to me.

I know some of you love trains.
In my heart, I miss the steam trains, but barely remember them. Train journeys are not so glamorous these days. Although long-distance journeys look appealing to me.
There are always plans to build railways here, but so far nothing has materialised. Subways or underground don’t appeal to me.

What are your trains or transport systems like?

So let’s chat, play music, post memories and gifs and images, respect our friends…enjoy!

Lian & Kieran

to

Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans

Chuck Berry - Memphis Tennessee live 1965

From a Railway Carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson (read by Ben W Smith)

Doctor Zhivago (1965) Original Trailer 

Wonderful shots of train journeys and across snow by sled.

One Pill Makes You Smaller

But… Ozempic does make you smaller, but there are extremely bad side effects, don't be persuaded by advertising, it's a multi money making industry. Hollywood also sets the trends with diets, slimming and lifestyle.

Many of us have experienced hospital stays and seen beds in corridors, yet 2 million has been spent on beds on a roof too, most patients love it, it seems.

Would you prefer a room with a view in the open air, this is the latest experiment?Patients are under canopies in all weather, just hope it doesn't snow!

Medical equipment is in glass boxes to protect it from the weather. I wonder the effect of bad air quality in London where the experiment is? What is your experience of hospital stays? Even daily visits are too much for me. Not enjoyable! Hospital gardens are better, but many a time, I'm not allowed in the garden with my friend in a care home and we are accompanied by security guards. I asked if they would like to sit with us. No, they sit watching us?! Many elderly here are in care homes, and the homeless imprisoned. The food quality has improved and looks quite tasty. Enjoy chatting with friends, music, gifs and memes. What have your experiences been? Most of all enjoy. Lian

Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit

The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Benny Hill - St. John Thomas Hospital (1984)