HAVE FUN or, Is being late bad manners?

Last week, Sidey’s theme was “Manners” and now it is this week already, hence the question in the title. In this case, I think/hope being late is not ‘bad manners’ , as we bloggy friends do not have to do the theme, there is no commitment about it, it is just “Have Fun”. In other areas of life, if there is commitment involved, or even an arrangement to meet, then being late could well be bad manners, lacking in respect, but not always. And being on time might not be respect – see poem below!

I think “manners” are context and culture dependent, while respect for others is something which transcends context and culture, so it is worth trying to be aware of whether or not the thing which might be bad manners is in fact being bad mannered, or lacking respect, or both, or neither.

Now, I am not in the mood for serious thoughts, I keep reminding myself that this blog is my Dairy, for me and any friends who like to visit it, so I now revert to Sidey’s main prompt… HAVE FUN…

Last Friday and Saturday: Friday was Rory’s birthday and she decorated her own cake, then on Saturday she was off-island, having elected to go glass-blowing with three of her friends, her Dad and surprise surprise, two more Dads of the friends. As soon as I heard about the expedition with Callum, Mike and Charlie in charge, I knew they were going to HAVE FUN. Apparently they did, but I have not seen any photos. However, as Wendy was working on Saturday, I took myself to the family home to be around if needed for Fiona, Ruby and the dog, Finn. Needed… HAHA … I was there just in time to join the fun expedition planned by Fiona. She had phoned her friend Julia, and Finn’s sister dog Sullivan’s owners, so Julia and her parents Pam and John, and Sullivan, Tracy and Mattias were collecting us for a day at the Clayhead. This is a wild area at the North end of the island, also known as the Maze, as getting lost on the tracks is quite a real possibility. It runs from the road through the maze  to clay bluffs and an often deserted beach – the very far end of the Crescent beach. Hopefully the photos show that:

WE HAD FUN … click photos for captions

entered the Maze through Lapham’s, fields of daffodils

on the way up to the trails

Although it is springtime, the Maze is still like winter

We found the track to the beach – the trick in the Maze is ‘listen for the sea’.

beach and bluffs, look quite different after last winter storms,

A slab of clay has slipped down on to the sand

It is not called ‘The Clayhead’ for nothing

water and mud, time for a facial?

Granny also had fun, practised the stone balancing artwork

And that thing about manners, and being late, I did once write a poem

On Time – Waiting

Waiting
I wonder
Why I am always on time
Even a little early.
Hospitable to myself
I suppose
I consider others.
But more truthfully
In my heart
I appease
endlessly,
someone’s displeasure.

Hey – I am getting better – I no longer have to be on time!