Should We Sustain The Values Of Kindness And Generosity Today?

A true friend is one that you can turn to with any problem. They will always support.
Friends are not just people to have coffee with.

I just returned from the UK after over a month there on a canal boat. It is an unwritten law for boat people to help one another. I met many kind people, mainly in small villages and on the canals. One took me food shopping every week.
The cities and towns were totally different in atmosphere. I often felt an almost threatening atmosphere.

On the day I was leaving London at midday, I noticed a man on the pavement/sidewalk everyone walked past, and at four pm, he was still there, so I approached cautiously and asked what had happened. He was polite and elderly. He had fallen and hit his head, and no one had stopped. Another girl approached. We called an ambulance. The man lived two blocks away and couldn’t make it home. He had been in the hot sun for four hours. Sadly, I couldn't follow up with him as I was leaving London that day. He was not homeless or a druggy or asking for money.

Later on the boat, I was in the town of Northampton. I was constantly asked for money from people sitting in the streets. A few were abusive when I refused money.
In a small village, I had walked there for miles to find a doctor's surgery and felt exhausted. A lady asked if I was ok. I replied yes. She said you look exhausted; where are you going? I explained a doctor’s surgery. She said she would show me the way. She asked where I lived…I replied a canal boat. She explained that her daughter was the manager there, so I could be considered a temporary resident, although I was not in the system. She phoned her husband and they drove me back to the boat as it was raining. The next day, I picked up my prescription.

Aretha Franklin - Lean On Me

Genuine acts of kindness mean so much. But how do you know who is genuine and who isn’t?
I’m sure we all wish to help the genuine, but it isn’t always possible to know who is.
I used to carry a small purse of change, but in my hometown, I was asked for money on a daily basis. It’s a town full of refugees.
My grandmother would have given almost everything she had to someone to help. But I feel generosity is often considered a weakness and not always appreciated these days.
What are your views? Does it depend where you are, on culture or upbringing?

Natalie Merchant - Kind and Generous

James Taylor - You've Got A Friend

It’s nice to be back with y’all. Missed you. Love you!
The subject is generosity and kindness. Is it part of our culture today? Should it be as some people may be unscrupulous and take advantage? Should charity begin at home? Has society changed to one of not caring?
Post gifs, memes, music, chat with friends.
Most of all, enjoy.

Lian and Kieran

Say It With Flowers

Gardening is very therapeutic. Those of us lucky to have enough space can grow fruit, veg and flowers.
I have always enjoyed time outside tending flowerbeds. It’s a great way to clear your mind and just enjoy some fresh air and gentle exercise.
Many flowers make wonderful cut flowers, to bring into the house or to give away to friends, relatives, or neighbours.

And there is a whole language of flowers - known as floriography - and so many flowers have hidden meanings when given by one person to another.

We all know red roses mean romantic love, with the number of roses adding a deeper meaning to a bouquet. But what about the other colours of roses?
Yellow roses are a warm and happy colour, so they are used to convey friendship.
Orange is a stronger form of the same happy and energetic colour, so orange roses are used to emphasise something exciting!
White roses convey purity, positivity, and eternity, so they are used for weddings, anniversaries, and to wish someone luck with a new start in life or a new job. White flowers are also very popular in sympathy bouquets.
Pink roses are also used to convey love, particularly for good friends and family, and are a great way to say thanks!
Lavender roses symbolise admiration, whether for a possible romance or just to say what a great person you are!

Other flowers that convey love are dahlias, red tulips, peonies, carnations, and lady’s mantle.

Freesias, stocks, and lilies symbolise friendship.

Gratitude is easily conveyed using hydrangeas, both blue and pink.

Orchids, camellias, and amaryllis convey platonic or romantic admiration for another person. And if that person is a male, sweet Williams are the ideal choice to give to any knight in shining armour!

And nothing brightens a home up more than sunflowers, gerbera, chrysanthemums, daffodils, yellow tulips or pink hyacinths.

And we mustn’t forget nature’s own contributions in the form of wildflowers. I can never call those weeds!

Do you grow flowers in your garden, buy them for your home, or give them to someone dear to you?
What are your favourite flowers?

Today’s theme is anything floral, so post images, gifs, and music and chat with friends.
No religion or politics please, and respect all commenters.

🎁 It’s Lian’s Birthday Bash 🎉

Tomorrow, 31st August, is Lian’s birthday, and she’s 21 again!
And it’s time to show our good friend how much we love and appreciate her with the ultimate birthday bash.

So let’s cut the cake - gluten-free, of course!

And we can’t have a party without some great party music!
Dig out those dancing shoes and hit that floor!

The Drifters - Come On Over To My Place

You can’t beat a little twist, but just make sure you don’t twist the wrong thing!

Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away

Or maybe, jumping and shaking is more your thing…
Let it all loose!

Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line

This world has so much going on, and it’s nice to have an excuse to have some good old-fashioned fun and kick our heels up a little.
It is easy to lose sight of it sometimes, in all of the craziness, but we all have much to be thankful for - our families, friends, having a roof over our heads, food to eat, etc. - and not least, this little oasis of fun and friendliness. Where would we all be if we hadn’t met Lian, who makes friends wherever she goes, whether that is human or the feathered, furred and four-legged variety?

The Blues Brothers - Everybody Needs Somebody

So this week, let’s celebrate all that is good in this world!

The theme is thankfulness, positivity, but most of all, showing Lian what a fantastic lady she is, today and every day with gifs, memes, songs, or positive quotes. Let’s make this a great party post!
Remember, no politics or religion, so chat with friends and enjoy!

Lian and Kieran.

Like A Circle In A Spiral, Everything Has Changed

Do you like or dislike Change? Could you really manage going back in time?
As a teen, I often lived on my stepfather's boat. I never considered it spartan or difficult, yet it was. Then I was on a film set for narrow boats, and it was one of the best experiences ever: cold, frosty mornings, watery sunrises, no hot water, and a log stove.
Although I chose a boat to live on recently on the waterways, because of airport restrictions, I was only allowed 10 lbs of hand baggage, barely a change of clothes.
From a hot climate to a chilly UK, I was, of course, somewhat unprepared. At least I got my summer duck down through security to sleep fairly warmly.
I met a guy on the towpath one morning, and he took me to a shopping centre to buy a warm raincoat. I was walking miles to shops from my boat.
Things really must have changed as I asked him where to buy a hot water bottle.
‘I will go and buy you one in the cafe over there!’.
Language has obviously changed; it’s a rubber bottle you pour hot water into to keep warm at night, not a drink. How I laughed.
The next day, he turned up at my boat with an orange hot water bottle as a present. LOL
Well, I don’t have an electric kettle yet, for my all-electric boat, but I do have an orange hot water bottle, but no kettle to boil water. Central heating, not yet switched on, and a tv, same not yet working. It’s an adventure, just like my teens.
I had to borrow a knife and fork from the boatyard; they are not allowed through airports; toothpaste was also highly suspicious and tested in the airport. LOL. Everything is considered dangerous these days, even soap.
Cities which were once exciting are full of people who don't make eye contact and have no time to stop for anything, full of the homeless, all nationals of their countries, sleeping in the streets.

Most towns in the country I left had beautiful historic buildings being trashed to make a new kind of little boxes twenty two stories high, some with no windows in some rooms…That isn’t exactly progress.
I’m passing pretty thatched cottages, rolling hills, sheep and cows, small pubs and cafes.
Although I am originally from a capital city, I was utterly bewildered by shopping centres and large shops. Everything is done by phone here, including appointments.
Some changes are for the better, many are a challenge.

Pete Seeger - Little Boxes

There are still endless wars, and now huge influxes of people crossing borders from countries where wars took place who are being asked to join our armies???
The sixties were full of hope for peace, now the countries that were warring are crossing borders. Will they adapt?
Many nationals are now buying boats to escape cities. There is some degree of freedom on a boat; if you do not like the place, move on. Maybe some are living in vans?
Travel is not so free. Airports are hell, IMO.
Many small businesses have closed. Many are stretched financially.
Being on a boat is a challenge and lots of exercise. But people still say hi and chat, even help each other. I’ve met a few new people in the boating community.

Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

Noel Harrison - The Windmills Of Your Mind

The theme is ‘Change’ within your life. Do you enjoy change?
Are many changes for the better or worse? Does negative change to positive? What is your conclusion?
Post images, gifs, and music, chat with friends, enjoy, and base all comments on respect.
No religion or politics, please.

Lian and Kieran