My friend Dave ( aka Gorgeous Dave) is a typical straight man when it comes to problems. He is not very good at reaching out for a sympathetic ear, preferring to deal with things internally and on his own.
I met up with him last night and he shared a problem
I was glad to be able to listen and wish he had contacted me earlier.
Interestingly we were off to see a one woman review entitled How To Be Amazingly Happy by Victoria Firth which was showing at the Storyhouse
It was a lumpy show, amusing and insightful at times and a little pretentious in others but Firth was engaging enough with her northern physical humour very much on show and she had a great deal to say about the pressures , we all feel in today’s society, to be happy and contented all of the time.
Firth’s perspective came from the fact she was a lesbian who was childless but I could relate to the way she tried out different “ lifestyles” in order to boost her mood. Her vignettes on running, not jogging, joining a tap,dance class and baking cakes for the family were amusing enough, but when she started her childless routine things did get a bit bleak and we were glad to make a run for the bar.
We didn’t stay for the Q & A.
On the way home, I decided a bit of fun was the order of the day and we were both cackling like schoolboys before we got onto the A55 for home. My mother blessed me with the ability to tell a good story and I was happy to be able to have Dave’s cheeks aching before he dropped me off in the village
I'm glad Dave felt able to share his problem with you, and that you have the experience and wisdom to just listen. The old saying, a problem shared is a problem halved, is so true. What a great way to end the evening, laughing until you ache! xx
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a rather miserable week hasn’t it?
DeleteNot the best week, but not the worst either. A good belly laugh certainly helps. xx
DeleteIt is always good to laugh and a great funny story does the trick. You are a very good friend JG!
ReplyDeleteWas Dave's problem to do with his carburettor? Knowing how well you maintain Bluebell, I am sure you were able to provide some helpful advice.
ReplyDeleteYou must be an old guy YP. I think it's a long time since cars had carburettors
DeleteThe man upstairs's cylinder has "gone"- which is most inconvenient x
DeleteI wouldn’t know a carburettor if I fell over one
DeleteYou also write a good story. I still laugh when I remember the story of a cockerel getting into your bathroom and crowing.
ReplyDeleteOh god I remember that, the dogs all looked as though they had been electrocuted
DeleteWell, darn. I was hoping to come here today to find that you had indeed learned how to be amazingly happy and had given us instructions.
ReplyDeleteI’m a work in progress dear msmoon x
DeleteI have a good friend who makes me laugh like no other human on earth. I always leave our get-togethers feeling like I'm on some lovely drug. Laughter definitely makes me amazingly happy.
ReplyDeleteI think once you start, you both “ get on a roll” so to speak, it feeds on itself
DeleteI, too, was hoping for instructions. My mother once said that most folks are as happpy as they decide to be.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good friend, John.
Hugs!
I’m not quite there yet babs x
DeleteI need a guru John - I thought you may have found the golden key x
ReplyDeleteJohn is all you need to be amazingly happy, don't you see.
ReplyDeleteOh, you could add the "scotch egg" of your choice.
DeleteMy point of this post is that like victoria Firth we all try and do things that may make us happy. Happy is synonymous with being useful , having a purpose
DeleteJohn -- You're a good egg.
ReplyDeleteNaw….but playing the clown can make me feel useful
DeleteWe have never met John but have blogged together for many years now and I have always thought of you who could pick me up from the slough of despond and cheer me up - bless you.
ReplyDeleteIt would be my honour pat, my honour xx
DeleteI glad you could cheer your friend up. I have always done that - been the funny one. I find that if I can laugh in a sad situation, it helps me cope and get on with life.
ReplyDeleteI get that….also laughter is contagious
DeleteI haven’t laughed until it hurt for a while. Very therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteI think we all need a laugh this weekend x
DeleteNow John, as a straight chap I take exception to 'is a typical straight man'! Whilst I understand the inference, and from my work I know that there are some men who find difficulty expressing themselves, if I were to use 'is a typical gay man' with the popular tropes that may infer, I'd likely be rightly pilloried! We're all unique. I once led a research project looking at what support new fathers received on the birth of their first child. Unfortunately - back then - very little. They mostly sought support from very close male friends (often in a pub...). I think it's more about who anyone feels 'safe' in confiding in - and obviously Dave thinks of you as a good friend and can confide in you - and laughter is a great way to put things into perspective. No offence meant by the way! I know you won't take any. ;○) x
ReplyDeleteOf course you are different, you read Going Gently !,, lol ….I know it was a total generalisation , but I stand by it, for i think it is generally true, though like most stereotypes things are changing ( for the better)
DeleteXx and I would never take offence with anything you said dear P xx
You always seem a jolly fellow
ReplyDeleteI love a good mirthful outing like that. It's been a while since I've had one!
ReplyDeleteI think that’s true of many of us dear Steve x
DeleteI love a reason to laugh!
ReplyDeleteI think the majority of stand-up comedians are either gay or lesbian. Are they simply better story-tellers than us others?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though you were a Grand Finale to a good night out.
ReplyDelete