Let’s face it: life’s a roller coaster, and not always the fun kind.
Between dodging deadlines, enduring rush-hour traffic, and finding time to binge the latest series, we often forget that a sprinkle of kindness can turn the mundane into the magical.
Picture this: you’re commuting to work, your coffee’s spilled, and the train’s packed tighter than a sardine can.
Just then, someone smiles at you – a real smile, not the, “I’m-about-to-sneeze” kind. Suddenly, your coffee-stained shirt feels less tragic. Magic? Nah, just kindness at work!
Travelling? Perfect time to unleash your inner kindness ninja.
Maybe it’s holding the door for someone, sharing your charger at the airport, or complimenting a fellow traveller’s undoubtedly superior packing skills.
These tiny acts create a chain reaction of good vibes, spreading faster than a cat video on the internet.
A kind gesture isn’t just a gift to others; it’s a little treat for yourself, too.
Science says being kind boosts your mood, making you feel like a hero minus the cape.
Plus, it reminds us that beneath our differences, we’re all part of one big, messy, beautiful human family.
Kindness is a universal language, translating across cultures and backgrounds. It’s like a Cwtsh for the soul, except less awkward. So, why not speak it fluently?
Next time you embark on life’s adventures, whether to the office or a new country, carry kindness with you.
Your smile might just be the lifeline someone needs.
Remember, folks, it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.
Be kind, and watch the world around you bloom with laughter and joy.

French actress Anouk Aimee, who recently died at 92, wasn’t someone I was familiar with, because her fame faded after appearing in films like “La Dolce Vita” in the early 60s.
But her newspaper obituaries mentioned she was one of the glamorous ‘Continental’ actresses of that era whose first and last names began with the same initial – like Claudia Cardinale and Brigitte Bardot.
We only had one glamour girl who followed that ‘initial’ trend – Diana Dors.
As fine an actress as she is, I can’t include Brenda Blethyn who plays “Vera”, the superannuated cop in a daft hat who solves crimes by giving suspects a quizzical look.
Seeing Brigitte Bardot mentioned in Anouk Aimee’s obits, reminded me of the story I heard about Brigitte’s appearance on “Desert Island Discs” in the 1960s.
When asked by the show’s host, the plummy-voiced Roy Plomley, what ‘luxury item’ she’d like to take to the imaginary island, she replied, in broken English, “A pe-nis!”
Roy stopped the recording and gently admonished the French ‘sex kitten’, reminding her ‘that’ sort of language was frowned upon by the BBC and, as she would be the sole occupant of the island, it would be physically impossible to meet her request.
It took a moment for Brigitte to realise her faux pas (what’s that in French?) and she explained what she actually wantedwas a copy of the lyrics of Ken Dodd’s then-current hit record “Happiness”!
What IS happiness?
Well, it doesn’t necessarily equate to how much money you’ve made or how successful you are.
That wonderful old actor Wilfred Hyde White once confessed “I’ve had mistresses in Paris, Rome and New York. I’ve owned luxury cars and a string of racehorses. But none of it made me happy!”
Conversely, despite his great wealth and world-wide fame, it was reported that after playing golf one day, legendary comedian Jack Benny drank a glass of tap water and said, “That was a FANTASTIC glass of water!” with a huge smile on his face that would match that of any big lottery winner.
Happiness really is where you find it. Ask Brigitte!

I don’t like resting on my laurels. I tried it once and the leaves left green stains on my white trousers.
I enjoy being creatively busy and have fingers in several pies.
I make no apology for my habit of testing the thickness of the crust and consistency of the meat and gravy in at least half-a-dozen pies before I decide which one I’d like on the plate alongside my chips and peas at the local greasy spoon.
Incidentally, in all the years I’ve been eating there, I have never once picked up a spoon from my saucer to stir my tea and found it to contain even the tiniest trace of grease.
On the other hand, I always take my own knife and fork, because the ones they supply are disgusting.
So, creatively busy me can today reveal that for the past year I’ve been writing a stage musical set in Polperro, Truro, St. Austell and Land’s End.
Every song is a parody of a well-known, authentic sea shanty or folk song associated with that beautiful part of the West country.
I suppose you could call it a genuine ‘Cornish pastiche’.
I wouldn’t dare, personally. But you’re very welcome to.
Your reaction to the contrived build-up and pay-off will depend on whether word play (the bricks and mortar of a tremendous amount of comedy material) tickles your funny bone or leaves you bemusedly unamused.
An individual’s reaction to any joke or witticism depends on whether they possess a sense of humour . . . or lack one..
There’s been a lot of talk recently about what comedians should or shouldn’t be allowed to say on stage. I find this worrying.
Old sitcoms, which fill the schedules of several digital channels, now feature ‘trigger warnings’ to make us aware that shows from 30/40 years ago may contain ‘attitudes some viewers may find offensive’.
I wish they’d continue . . . “So we suggest those five viewers switch channels and watch something else!”
John Cleese succinctly put it recently when he commented:
“People without a sense of humour aren’t qualified to dictate to people who do!” Cornish pastiche! Get it?

So, there I was on Sunday, dragging myself out of bed after yet another late-night escapade.
Why?
Because this column doesn’t just appear out of thin air.
Creative juices needed to be squeezed, and my mind was as dry as a desert.
Time to hit the gym, because apparently, working out is good for the brain. Who knew?
Sweat and exhaustion are part of the deal, but let’s not dwell on that delightful detail.
I thought I’d be the lone early bird, but surprise! The gym was bustling with people who seemed to share my genius plan, albeit for different reasons. You catch my drift, right?
Men and women of all ages were sweating it out on a supposed day of rest, all in the name of staying fit and looking younger.
A noble pursuit, wouldn’t you agree?
But here’s the kicker: it seemed the gym had turned into a fashion runway.
Make-up galore – blush, bright lipstick, and designer sportswear in every neon colour imaginable. And, no, the ladies weren’t the only ones flaunting it!
Who knew gym time was the new social hour? We live in fascinating times, my friends.
For the record, I’m soaking up life’s vibrant tapestry. It’s helping my creativity bloom, and lucky for you, I get to share these quirky little tales.

I’m passing on a story I’ve heard several different versions of – each of them set in a different location, from a London pub toilet to a tropical island.
I suspect it’s apocryphal – but really hope it isn’t.
As you have a delicate nature, this version doesn’t occur in a gents’ loo, but on a white sandy beach overlooking the Caribbean ocean, where successful songwriter Barry Mason was relaxing on a sunbed, soaking up the suns rays, plastered in Factor 50.
As he was lying there, his eyes closed beneath his designer shades. the man lying on the sunbed to his immediate right, started whistling a just-about-recognisable version of the Tom Jones classic ‘Delilah’.
Not just a few notes. The entire song from beginning to end – verses, chorus, the lot!
And, when he finished, he started whistling it all over again!
If the whistler had possessed a modicum of musical talent, it would have been annoying enough for anyone within hearing distance, but the man could barely carry a tune.
To be fair to him, if we must, the chorus is so well-known, even the world’s-worst whistler (and this man could definitely have had a shot at the title) couldn’t have mangled it beyond complete recognition.
By the time he was halfway through his second bash at it, even his wife had had enough and headed to the sea for a paddle.
Just as the man pursed his lips to attempt a third version of ‘Delilah’, Barry Mason sat up, removed his sunglasses and turned to the whistler to say, “You seem to like ‘Delilah’?”
When the man nodded, Barry said, without any ego, “I wrote that song!”
The whistler, obviously knowledgeable about songwriting, asked, “Are you Les Reed?”
Barry said, “No. Les wrote the melody. My name’s Barry Mason and I wrote the lyrics!”
Unimpressed, the man said, “Yeah, well, I wasn’t whistling the ‘bleeping’ lyrics, was I?” and headed off down the beach to join his wife.
Barry may have wondered ‘Why? Why? Why?’ he’d mentioned his contribution to the song.
But I prefer to think he just ‘Stood there, laughing’!

You know what’s really cool?
Holding an actual newspaper and catching up on the local news. It’s like a little moment of joy in this digital age.
But, hey, let’s not forget about the huge increase in digital and online news sites.
They’re convenient and all, but they just can’t match the feeling of flipping through the pages of a newspaper.
And think about it, if we got rid of newspapers altogether, what would my local chippy wrap the chips in? It’s a serious concern!
Did you know that newspapers date all the way back to the 1600s?
Yes, it’s been a long journey. The first British newspaper, The Oxford Gazette, was published in 1665. Can you imagine the excitement back then?
The 19th century was a period of newspaper boom.
It was like everyone wanted to get in on the news action. And, speaking of old newspapers, the Carmarthen Journal, founded in 1810, is the oldest newspaper in Wales. It’s got some serious history!
But times have changed.
In the 20th century, every city had its own privately-published newspaper.
But now, the younger generation isn’t as interested in the old traditional ways. They’re all about the digital news. Who can blame them, right?
It’s a bit sad, though. The decline in traditional newspaper readership has had a huge impact on the industry. And that really saddens many fellow readers of this publication. But hey, let’s not lose hope!
I receive letters and messages from people who still value the traditional way of spreading the news.
They find something special in holding a physical newspaper. It’s like a connection to the past. And that’s pretty amazing.
So, let’s appreciate the good old-fashioned newspaper while it’s still around.
Because, wouldn’t it be sad to witness its end?
Let’s keep supporting the traditional ways, even if it means being a little old-fashioned.

There are many expressions that people use, that when you pause to think about them, are completely meaningless.
A prime example is a six-word sentence that, if there was a competition to find the most pointless six-word sentence of all time, would win the top prize. Which of course would have to be something equally pointless.
I’m pretty sure you’ve heard your friends, colleagues and relatives use it occasionally and you may well be ‘guilty’ of it, too.
And it’s this . . .
“Can I ask you a question?”
Whenever anyone says that to me, I want to say (politely, naturally!), “You do realise that by pre-empting asking me a question by asking me if you can ask me a question, you’ve already asked me a question?”
By the time they’ve mulled over and absorbed the logic of the question I’ve asked them, they’ve usually forgotten the question they’d asked me if  they could ask me.
One of the most pointless sentences of modern times – and one I just can’t buy – has to be “Everything happens for a reason”.
Really?
People often use that expression to comfort themselves or the people around them when something bad occurs.
I understand that. But when you look around the world, at what’s happening in conflicts and natural disasters – how can anyone honestly believe they happen ‘for a reason’?
The line “Can I ask you a question?” turns up in films and TV dramas as often as “Try and get some rest!”
Whether it’s romantic dramas, thrillers, westerns, cop shows or soaps, the line invariably pops up somewhere.
I’m suddenly reminded of a story I read years ago about a group of successful Hollywood writers who decided, as an in-joke, to always put “Try and get some rest” in all their scripts.
Then they’d have an annual get together and toast the writer who’d managed to shoe-horn the line into the most unlikeliest scene.
Maybe something like…
“Great King of Thebes. I have just slain the three-headed Hydra . . . battled the Cyclops . . . and destroyed the Thracian army!”
“Well done, Hercules. Now try and get some rest!”

In a shocking twist, holiday prices have once again shot through the roof, leaving families across the country unable to afford quality time together.
It’s no secret that during peak school holiday periods, the price of a getaway can be a jaw-dropping two to six times higher than usual.
It’s a blatant act of exploitation that has the majority of the public up in arms. And who can blame them?
Desperate to make magical memories, many parents find themselves drowning in debt, burdened with exorbitant interest rates for the mere privilege of borrowing money for a much-needed break.
It’s an additional expense on top of an already-inflated holiday budget.
Gone are the days when families would embark on adventurous trips to Porthcawl and Barry Island during the miners’ fortnight.
Those old, musty caravans, where the whole clan had to trek half a mile for a toilet visit and endure a chilly shower, are now a distant memory.
Let’s not forget the arduous task of lugging around water butts just to have a cup of tea, coffee, or squash. And, to top it all off, it seemed like it rained more often than not!
But, believe it or not, those two weeks in Wales taught us valuable lessons in outdoor survival and even prepared us for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award.
While I can’t say I miss those challenging times, I’m sure many of our readers would agree that they were truly character-building experiences that have left us with incredible stories and memories to share with the younger generation.
So, let’s raise our glasses to the good old days of adventure and resilience, and hope that one day, affordable family holidays will be within reach again!”