Joining with Nerd in the Brain (and others) for Three Things Thursday’. As “Nerd” says…
*three things that make me smile: an exercise in gratitude – feel free to steal this idea with wild abandon and fill your blog with the happy*
First, although I have hated the toxic campaigning associated with the In/Out of Europe referendum here in the UK, I am very grateful that I live in a country where I have the opportunity to vote. The emphasis these days is often on encouraging women to vote because of the struggle for women’s suffrage in the twentieth century. However, we shouldn’t forget that when parliament was established in 1265 the elected members were only voted for by male land-owners. The Great Reform act of 1832 extended voting rights to urban middle class men, but even so only one in five men were eligible to vote. The subsequent reform acts added various classes of men to the electorate, but it wasn’t until 1918 that most men aged 21 and over could vote. In the same year, women over 30 got the vote, but not until 1928 that there was universal suffrage and every adult could vote. At that time the minimum age was still 21, and this wasn’t reduced to 18 until 1969.So hurrah for everyone being able to vote… now we just need some more decent politicians to vote for (not to mention the abolition of that most undemocratic institution, The House of Lords). Tomorrow I shall be grateful that the referendum is over!
Second, I’m grateful for my lovely friends and my niece in Manchester, who made last weekend such fun. There was knitting, eating, tea-drinking and a great deal of laughter. These picture are just a little taster…
Third, I have to mention the limery. This time last year were were still in the construction stage, and now it’s full of plants and surrounded by them too… you all told me that the disruption would be worth it and you were so right.
So that’s it for this week. What are you feeling grateful for?
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ June 23, 2016I’m grateful for friends who write actual letters on actual paper (yes, your letter arrived at last!), for being allowed to drive again (you don’t realise how much you rely on it until it’s taken away), and for a body that heals fast and bounces back, even at my age!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 23, 2016Ha! They said the letter would take 5 days, so I expected it to arrive at your house around the same time that you did. Oh well, at least it got to you.
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katechiconi
/ June 23, 2016I’ve never had a letter take less than 2 weeks. It might have arrived in Sydney or Melbourne within that period, but we’re classed as ‘country Australia’, which means you can add up to 10 working days, sometimes. Big country, small postal service…
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Born To Organize
/ June 25, 2016That’s a wonderful list, Kate. I couldn’t drive after foot surgery late last year, so I fully appreciate what you’re saying. I’m also impressed by your positive, can-do attitude. Go you!
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katechiconi
/ June 25, 2016Some would say that attitude makes me a little reckless at times. My own view is that you don’t know what you can or can’t do till you try. It does mean I hurt sometimes, but other times I find new things to be happy about: for example,I can ride the scooter without pain, but the big motorbike accelerates too fast and jolts my back.
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Born To Organize
/ June 25, 2016You sound like someone who likes to stretch themselves in all things, and I can’t help but think that’s good, Kate. I tended to overdo it at first myself, and even had a small fall off of my knee scooter, but in the end, I continued to move forward.
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nanacathy2
/ June 23, 2016So agree with you about voting. I feel I would be letting my grandmothers down if I didn’t. I am old enough to have voted in both EU referendums and a haven’t changed my mind in that time. We have had sunshine all day today and I have finally cleared our centre flower bed. Now to replant. And that’s my three for today.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 23, 2016We too have had a sunny day – it’s been very strange to see the pictures of flooding in London whilst it’s so summery here. I have so much work to do in the garden… currently I seem to be suffering from a nettle and bramble invasion!
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nettyg
/ June 23, 2016Your limery and surrounds look wonderfully tropical. Those tomatoes you have in pots, standing in the blue tub….will you plant them out into the garden at some stage, or leave them in their pots?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 23, 2016I’ll probably pot them up into bigger pots – they were given to me and are much less advanced than the ones I grew myself, which I’ve already started picking… in fact we had some for dinner tonight.
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nettyg
/ June 24, 2016Thanks…..always curious and interested in how others garden 🙂
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Born To Organize
/ June 25, 2016There are many wonderful things in this post: your story about voting, the photos of all your gorgeous, healthy plants, your knit/crochet projects, and the snapshot of daily life. The referendum has been in our news all day today, as the markets took a tumble and everyone wonders “what’s next.”
Turbulent times to be sure.
I’m grateful for all the bloggers I follow and what they teach me every day. I’m grateful for the sound of birds singing outside my window, for a son home from college, and that Slinky is still with us.
Enjoy your weekend. xo
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The Snail of Happiness
/ June 25, 2016Having a bit of an odd time after the results of the referendum – reading some interesting stuff on social media and wondering about the future.
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Born To Organize
/ June 26, 2016It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? It feels like such a major shift in thinking, and a bit of an isolationist one at that. Trump would like to push us in the same direction. It’s a dark time.
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