The Cheery Digest

Love, Love, Love....

We're not really a big bunch of cynical old cynics, you see. Apparently love is the most important thing to us Brits, over dosh, nice cars etc...

In fact, in a survey from dating website fish4love out today, 71% said the most important thing in life is having someone special to share it with. Aw.

 

Only 20% said having a great job was their highest priority, while 5% put lovely holidays first, 3% would prefer a beautiful home and just 1% put having a nice car at the top of their list.

 

Lisa Walker, Marketing Director for fish4love said “In the current economic climate you may have expected people to put their material needs first. It’s reassuring to see that love is still the most important thing for so many people."

Cookies....

It's time to air my favourite Cookie Monster clip. Enjoy!

Obama promotes a nuclear free world

This is interesting - read this (the BBC put it better than I ever could. Plus I haven't had my second coffee of the day yet.)

Solo happiness

Nothing rude, before you ask. 

The Independent have done a cool little article on how to be a happy personage in solitudinousnessness....

You don't have to be swanning off to parties all the time you know. In fact, if you're cheery in your own company then we reckon you're onto a winner. Everything in moderation of course.

Monty's cottage saved!

'Come on lads, let's get home. The sky's beginning to bruise, night must fall and we shall be forced to camp.' Monty

Hooray! The nice chap who has bought Sleddale Hall - Monty's cottage in the cult film Withnail and I - has vowed to restore it to it's former glory.

Cumbrian businessman Sebastian Hindley, who also owns the Mardale Inn in nearby Bampton, snapped up the gem from water firm United Utilities for £265,000 after it lay empty for many years.

He said: "I will be glad to welcome everyone, from local people to fans of the film, to those who would like to spend some quality time in tranquillity.

"I want to see it back like it used to be in the film and, where scenes were filmed elsewhere, try and incorporate those into the whole package.

"I live in this area because I love this area. One of the things that makes it so attractive is the bleak beauty that was highlighted in the film."

Kindness! We could do with more of it!

But we used to be so good at it...

The Guardian Review did a very fine article on this very subject on January 3rd - yes I know we're a couple of a weeks late, but we at the Cheery Digest have been winding slowly into the New Year as only we should.

It's interesting, give it a read, with a cup of tea perhaps.

The Kindness Offensive

Love these guys (and gals)

They've put a lot of work in to make a big difference in London town, take a look!

Faith in human nature in process of restoring!

We have just heard on our (generally) favourite radio station BBC 6 Music this splendid tale ...

Jim Webb, 72, from Sheffield, very kindly lent an Aussie tourist by the name of Gary Fenton £5 in 1969, when the Australian traveller asked him for a loan, as he was stuck in Ostend, Belgium and couldn't afford the ferry fare to England. 

Good old Jim stumped up, but while Gary promised to repay the loan, he never heard from him again ... until last Sunday, that is!

Imagine Jim's surprise when he found on his doormat a hand-delivered card and two hundred smackers inside.

Gary explained that he was repaying the £5, plus interest. Jim has decided to give the £200 to charity.

What lovely people!

Get limbered up for Stress Down Day!

Kick off those clod-hoppers and slip into your cuddliest slippers! I don't care if you're at the office! Request a massage from your boss! And take a nap at your desk while you're at it! Yes, it's time to start practising for Stress Down Day....

The Samaritans launches its third annual Stress Down Day on Friday 6th February 2009 to help create awareness of work-related stress.

 

The emotional support charity is encouraging employers to let their staff take a little time out from their daily work and enjoy a stress-free activity or wear their slippers in the office, in return for a donation to Samaritans to help it continue its 24-hour emotional support service for people in distress.

 

Visit www.stressdownday.org or call 020 8394 8399 for a Stress Down Day fundraising pack.

 

Innocent keeping it cosy

As if you needed any more reasons to feel rather splendid about buying Innocent smoothies, the lovely company have once again launched the Big Knit - which is why you may be seeing a variety of all unique woolly hats on top of Innocent smoothie bottles...

The idea is that anyone can knit and send in a woolly hat to go on top of a bottle, and 50p from every sale of said bobble-hatted smoothies will go toward Age Concern, helping keep elderly people warm this winter, our Fruit Juice correspondent Jemma Street reports.

So stick the kettle on, and maybe some motivating knitting music and get clacking those needles, boys and girls! (yes, boys too...)