Saturday Stories of Positivity . . .

Saturday . . . the end of the week. Most people's first of a two day off weekend. Time to relax and do not a lot if anything at all. Time to have a bit of a lie in, extra kip, an indulgent breakfast, and to catch up on all of the news of the previous week.  I think a little good news helps to cheer anyone's day!

Here are my Saturday Stories for October 20th, 2018.  

 

As a means of combatting loneliness, a major grocery chain is launching a string of new meeting places that will encourage people to talk to strangers. 20 different Sainsbury’s supermarkets across the UK are offering “Talking Tables”, a pilot program for their cafés. The tables will serve as meeting places for people who may need human connection or conversation.

According to the supermarket, the tables will either have a sign that will identify itself as an meeting place for interested participants, or it will serve as a designated spot for charity-led community support groups and social ambassadors to host scheduled talks and activities.

I think this is a great thing.  We live in communities which are becoming more and more isolated.  Most people don't even know who their neighbors are.  Its also kind of sad in a way that we have come to this point in our society!  Why not just say hello to one of your neighbors today and greet them with a smile!  Lets start a revolution of reaching out to others!

 

He's 107 years old and he's still cutting hair! Anthony Mancinelli may be a staggering 107 years old, but he is still working full-time as a barber.  The same job that he has been doing  for the last 96 years.  He dropped out of high school at the age of 11 to become a full time barber and has been clipping away ever since. 

When he turned 96, Guinness World Records named him the world’s oldest barber, and over a decade later, he is still going strong. His secrets to longevity are simple. He has never drank or smoked very heavily. He says that he has never exercised much. He does, however, outlast many of his younger friends by standing on his feet for eight hours a day, five days per week. 

 “I only go to the doctor because people tell me to, but even he can’t understand it,” Mancinelli told The New York Times. “I tell him I have no aches, no pains, no nothing. Nothing hurts me.” Mancinelli’s customers and co-workers have constantly expressed their adoration for the centenarian, along with the tourists and celebrities who flock to the Fantastic Cuts salon in New Windsor, New York from all over the world to get a haircut from the world’s oldest barber

He still has a full head of glorious white hair along with all of his teeth, and his hands are still steady on a pair of clipper. He takes no daily medication, and says that he only eats thin spaghetti so he doesn’t “get fat.”  He doesn't plan on retiring anytime soon.  What a wonderful example of Longevity to us all!  

I need to start eating thin spaghetti!  I already cut hair.

 

UK supermarket chain Tesco is set to remove more than 100 further best before dates from its fruit and vegetables, in response to customers saying it helps them reduce food waste. Best before dates will be scrapped on 116 products including apples, oranges, cabbages and asparagus. This follows the supermarket removing the guidance dates from around 70 fruit and veg lines earlier in 2018.

As they say, every little helps! 

 

A very kind store manager at a Tesco shop in Bradford noticed a man struggling with his son in the shop and invited the boy to get behind the til in what the boy sees as his "Favourite Shop" and start scanning food just like a real til operator.   Dave (the father) was having problems coaxing his son away from behind an empty  cash register point because the lad had decided that he wanted to workfor the store that day. (We've all been there!)  Noticing his struggle, the manager of the shop opened the Til lane so that Jay (the son) could have a go at operating on a real til. Delighted to see his son so focused and engaged, Dave has praised the store's staff for their patience and empathy in helping him to turn a challenging moment into a wonderful memory.

 

Five year old Blake Mompher was born with Spina Bifida, and uses a wheelchair to get around, but that won't stop him from celebrating Halloween this year with a really cool costume.  His granddad  has made him a custom costume that works in tandem with his wheelchair, a bright yellow school bus that he can use to cruise around the neighborhood  with true Trick or Treating style.  As Blake also loves school buses, this costume is a double winner with him! 

 

Megs Yunn, who was the director of Volunteer Programs at a Pittsburg local college came to the realisation one day, whilst tutoring and helping a young homeless child with their reading that there are children in sad situations (such as poverty) that have never been to, or had a Birthday Party. Sobbing in the car on her way home as she thought about all the lovely Birthday parties she had given for her own children Ms Yunn decided that she needed to do something for children living in poverty or in shelters who have never felt the excitement and joy of a birthday party.

When Yunn learned that an insurance company was sponsoring a contest for people who wanted to make a difference in their communities, she came up with the idea of Beverly’s Birthdays . . .  a nonprofit organization that would partner with local businesses, schools and social services agencies to throw parties for children in need. She won first place and $2,500, which she used to buy birthday gifts, cake mixes and decorations to get a start. Since that day in February 2012, Beverly’s Birthdays has brought birthday fun to more than 30,000 children in the Pittsburgh area who are poor or homeless. She now has a dedicated and growing group of more than 200 volunteers.


“When you strip away the birthday aspect, this is about letting children and their parents know they matter,” said Yunn, who left her job to run the charity, which is funded through donations and grants.


In addition to hosting parties, Beverly’s Birthdays provides “birthday in a bag” kits for families that would like to bake their own cakes, as well as classroom supplies so teachers can recognize students on their big day. She also recently launched the “Birthday Boutique," which is a renovated bread truck where the birthday kids and their friends can “shop” for new outfits, pajamas, shoes, accessories and more. All free.

And those are my stories of positivity for this week.  If you look for rainbows, you will find them!

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *“With everything that has happened to you,
you can either feel sorry for yourself
or treat what has happened as a gift.
Everything is either an opportunity to grow
or an obstacle to keep you from growing.
You get to choose.”
~Wayne W. Dyer   •。★★ 。* 

 

In The English Kitchen today  . . .  Mixed Berry Pudding.  A delicious dessert which boasts sweet berries on the bottom topped with a light cake and toasted almonds.  Serve warm with either dollops of thick Greek Yogurt or lashings of cream for a dessert they will never forget!

Have a fabulous Saturday!  Don't worry, be happy, share smiles and above all don't forget along the way of your day that

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And I do too!