Swimming and Diving and Water

Where do you prefer swimming?
In the sea, in a river, or in a pool?

I used to swim in the Avon canal; it was dark and murky.

I loved the clear blue seas, swimming from a yacht in Bodrum. Boats are fun.
It was also fun rowing to the shore to buy supplies.

There are some famous lagoons and blue seas off the island I live on.

Beaches are fun places.
I prefer sandy beaches, but our island has cliffs and rocks.

If you fall into a rocky sea, swim out, as the waves could dash you on the rocks.

My Collie hated swimming; he enjoyed running along deserted beaches chasing gulls.
He got worried if I swam in deep seas. Occasionally, swam out to see if I was ok, and immediately swam back.

People love diving from high points on this island…not for me. I don’t like heights.
Neither am I an accomplished diver; I would die of fright from a high spring board.

The beaches in Western Australia were wonderful, white sands, blue seas, but look out for sharks. Fortunately, I never saw any.

I collected and dove for shells and beachcombed to make necklaces. I called my label Tsunami shells.
Everyone bought my creations. I also tiled a bathroom wall with shells, but careless builders destroyed all but a small piece of the wall.

Kennet and Avon Canal used to walk my doggo here near the city of Bath.

Midsummer's Eve, Bath, a royal city, had banquets of roasted swan. I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. But swam in the Roman Baths that evening.

Eastbourne Beachy Head UK

Roman Baths, UK, city of Bath

Ölüdeniz Beach, Turkey

Post memories, music, chat with friends…enjoy,

Lian and Kieran

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