Comments

Wimbledon is indeed here again. Yet again we Brits dream of Murray becoming the first Brit to win Wimbledon since Adam was a boy. Never mind, the strawberries and cream and afternoon tea will be very 'nice' again.

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 24, 2008 2:26 PM

Simply stunning!

There is something to be said for a display of gratitude with beauty. Sometimes no art of man can compare to the beauty in the art of our Creator.

Posted by DUST!N at June 24, 2008 3:12 PM

'Sometimes no art of man can compare to the beauty in the art of our Creator.' - Dust!n - perfect words - thank you.

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 24, 2008 3:41 PM

What a beautiful arrangement of flowers. Thank you, TP.

Isn't it amazing how simple acts of kindness such as giving flowers away effects outcomes in ways that "hard" things can't? There are really no polar opposites in a sense. Opposites are often reflections or parts of the same whole. The question is how they are arrived at; how they are achieved.

A thought: Do flowers as a gift work for men as they have traditionally worked for women? Do they have the same effect on men? Would the male leader of your team be just as happy to get such an arrangement for a job well done? An observation: Are the men on this site, who wrote so eloquently about such beauties in that Great Peony Post, typical of the masses?

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 24, 2008 11:37 PM

Someone at work gave me some flowers and choccies recently as a lovely thank you for a favour I had done. actually the flowers were for SWMBO but it created quite an interesting stir that a man in the office got flowers!

Posted by PaulH at June 25, 2008 2:33 AM

I am always pleased to receive flowers Judith (let me give you my postal address....!), but have never received any in the course of work pursuits. When I did have flowers on my desk, colleagues would ask 'Who bought you those?' to which I would reply 'I did'. So indeed giving flowers to yourself is always beneficial too...

Posted by Ian Sanders at June 25, 2008 3:09 AM

Ian, You have my email address...send me your postal address. I think flowers will make it across the pond. In fact, I think its probably today just a matter of a click. Funny thing... reading you comment reminded me of something. When I would buy flowers for myself and display them on my desk for my own enjoyment, both men and women would stop by, asking with a twinkle in their eyes, "who sent those to you?" At first they weren't buying the fact that I brought them in myself. Later they accepted the fact. These were not delivered. I'll have yours delivered to your office. :-)

PaulH, I was just thinking that I wasn't sure if flowers were the "acceptable" get for men at work. After reading Cathie Black's book Basic Black, I have been more consious of the kinds of gifts I send. I have always been fond of personal handwritten notes to teachers, friends, pastors, bosses, etc. since a teenager. I send gifts occassionally. I can only imagine what the recepition of flowers to a power broker CEO might be...probably not very favorable. But then again, maybe so.

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 25, 2008 1:04 PM

'I can only imagine what the reception of flowers to a power broker CEO might be...probably not very favourable.'

What a fantastic idea you suggest Judith!!

If we did more of that sort of thing we could dispel the myth that these ‘power broker CEO's’ are hard hearted unfeeling types – when in reality we all know they are really just big cuddly teddy bears with soft hearts just like the rest of us mere mortals. They are just conditioned not to show emotions in case it is seen as a sign of ‘weakness’ – how sad is that – showing our emotions is a braver thing to do than hiding them.

I speak of course as a proud ENFP Myers-Briggs type – and we ENFP types just loooooove giving and receiving gifts - the ‘nice things’ in life such as flowers are always welcome in my house/office I assure you :-)

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 25, 2008 4:43 PM

The gift is about the other person. I never want to give a gift to anyone that would not be appreciated. After all, the gift is not about me, even though by giving my heart is warmed.

I'll remember, Trevor, that you too appreciate receiving such gifts. Perhaps when Ian's flowers go out across the Pond there will be a batch also there for you. Do you have a preference? Perhaps an arrangment of sorts as those from Susan's garden?

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 25, 2008 10:10 PM

Judith, you are too kind to send flowers across the Pond! But a very nice thought and much appreciated....

Posted by Ian Sanders at June 26, 2008 1:40 AM

Pleasure, Ian. :-)

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 26, 2008 5:03 AM

Ah , sod-it... if you can't beat 'em (or feign interest), and don't want to join 'em... try 'Kenyon on Peonies':
----
In the darkening June evening
I draw a blossom near, and bending close
search it as a woman searches
a loved one’s face.
----

'The peony... ultimately feminine, delicate and ornate, without being overbearing.'

...lesson for us all there.

Whatever. I'm off in search of mischief.

Posted by g at June 27, 2008 12:08 PM

Simply Beautiful, g! Thank you! So, it seems as if mischievous men who like to stir things up a bit can be sensitive and charming too, eh? By all means...take your charge!

Posted by Judith Ellis at June 27, 2008 3:34 PM

'Sensitive and charming"?... nah, not me.

It's that bl**dy 'Mr Nice' Trevor again... putting my name on stuff he's written.

Posted by g at June 28, 2008 3:15 AM

g - now come on ... You know I'm not capable of such literary genius as yours. Just enjoy the adulation :-)

Yours etc.,

Mr 'Nice'

Posted by Trevor Gay at June 29, 2008 2:55 AM