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Wednesday, 19 November 2025

How to Celebrate World Hello Day with Parties and Plenty of Fun

World Hello Day, marked every year on 21 November, is a wonderfully simple idea: say “hello” to at least ten people as a gesture of peace, friendliness, and goodwill. 

It’s a small action with a surprisingly powerful message. But you don’t need to stop at greetings in the street, you can turn the whole day into a celebration of connection, kindness, and community.

If you fancy making World Hello Day a bit more festive, here are some cheerful ways to celebrate with parties, gatherings, and fun activities that bring people together.

Host a “Hello Party” at Home

A themed get-together is a brilliant way to turn the day into something memorable. Keep it relaxed and welcoming — that’s the whole spirit of the day.

Ideas for your gathering:

Hello badges: Give guests personalised name badges so everyone can greet one another easily.

Multi-language welcome signs: Decorate your space with “hello” written in different languages, from “hola” to “hallo” to “namaste” or "helo."

Conversation-starter bowls: Pop slips of paper with ice-breaker questions in bowls around the room.

Simple comfort food: A pot of tea, some biscuits, homemade sandwiches, or a slow-cooker stew keeps things friendly and low-pressure.

Plan a Community “Hello Walk”

If you enjoy the outdoors, organise a neighbourhood stroll where everyone says hello to people they pass. It’s light-hearted, good exercise, and encourages community spirit.

To make the walk more fun:

Wear bright “Hello!” stickers.

Bring along a flask of hot chocolate to share afterwards.

Encourage participants to say hello in as many languages as they know.

Hold a Workplace or School “Hello Hour”

World Hello Day works especially well in workplaces, cafés, libraries, and community centres.

Some easy activities:

A greeting board: Invite people to write “hello” in their native languages.

Friendly desk drops: Leave small notes or sweets with a handwritten greeting.

Tea break mingles: A short social break with hot drinks and biscuits encourages colleagues to mix and chat.

Host an International “Hello” Potluck

Invite friends, neighbours, or colleagues to bring snacks or dishes from their heritage, family traditions, or simply cuisines they enjoy. Alongside each dish, ask guests to add a little card showing how to say “hello” in that culture’s language.

It’s a great way to learn, taste something new, and celebrate diversity.

Run a Social Media “Say Hello” Challenge

Encourage your followers to say hello to ten people, post something positive, or share a short video greeting. It’s simple, cheerful, and spreads the message far beyond your immediate circle.

You could even create a hashtag for your town or group to join in.

Create a Hello Book or Memory Wall

Whether you’re planning a party or running a community event, a “Hello Wall” where guests write their name, where they’re from, and something they love can spark conversations and create a shared sense of belonging.

For a smaller gathering, a notebook works just as well — a lovely keepsake for next year.

Share the Joy with Neighbours

Sometimes the best celebrations are the smallest. Knock on a neighbour’s door to say hello, drop off a biscuit tin, or send a card with a friendly greeting. Small gestures mean a lot.

A Day That’s All About Connection

World Hello Day may be simple, but the idea behind it is powerful: greeting others helps build understanding, bridges divides, and adds a bit of warmth to the world.

Whether you choose a cosy afternoon tea, a lively party full of laughter, or a walk around the neighbourhood, celebrating the day with others is a lovely way to remind ourselves that kindness starts with something as small as a hello.

International Men’s Day: Celebrate with Good Company, Honest Chats, and Plenty of Comfort Food

International Men’s Day (19 November) is an ideal moment to pause, take stock, and appreciate the men in our lives, fathers, granddads, brothers, partners, sons, mates, and colleagues.

 Instead of overthinking it or feeling pressured to make grand gestures, why not mark the day with something simple, heartfelt, and brilliantly down-to-earth: proper conversations, warm drinks, good food, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere where people genuinely open up.

That's Food and Drink featured International Men's Day last November. The last year has flown by, hasn't it?

Here are a few easy, meaningful ways to celebrate International Men’s Day at your local pub, café, or even at home.

Raise a Pint and Have a Real Conversation

Pubs have long been the heart of community life, and there’s something wonderfully grounding about sitting side-by-side with a pint and a chat. This isn’t about drinking for the sake of it—it’s about sharing space, catching up properly, and giving people room to say how they’re really doing.

You might talk about work, family, hobbies, or the football—but you’ll often find that, once the conversation starts rolling, the chat turns surprisingly honest. International Men’s Day is the perfect excuse to check in with the men who’d never dream of scheduling a “wellbeing conversation” but will happily open up over a beer.

Or Keep It Cuppa-Simple

If beer isn’t your thing, a mug of tea works wonders too. A pot shared between friends can break down barriers every bit as effectively as a pint.

There’s a gentle ritual to it—pouring the tea, dunking a biscuit, settling into a comfy chair—that encourages people to slow down. Sometimes, the smallest setting feels the safest.

Cake, Biscuits, and Honest Talk

Cake is a universal ice-breaker. Whether you fancy a Victoria sponge, a slice of lemon drizzle, or a plate of biscuits, food has a way of softening the edges of a conversation.

Use International Men’s Day as a time to celebrate the hobbies, stories, quirks, and achievements of the men in your life. Let it be about connection, laughter, nostalgia, and hearing one another properly—things that often get lost in the busy swirl of daily life.

Support Local: Eat at a Nearby Café or Pub

A meal down the local is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to mark the day.

Choose a cosy pub or a family-run café and make an occasion of it. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast, a Sunday roast, a curry night, or a simple burger and chips, sitting around a table together creates space for conversation that doesn’t feel forced.

You’ll also be supporting small businesses, many of whom appreciate the November trade more than you might realise.

Why It Matters

International Men’s Day isn’t about competition with any other awareness day. It’s about recognising that men have challenges, emotions, pressures, and vulnerabilities too—sometimes ones they struggle to articulate. Encouraging relaxed, low-key chats can make a real difference.

There’s no need for speeches or formal events. A pint, a cuppa, a slice of cake, or a comforting meal shared with friends or family is more than enough. What matters is the connection.

Celebrate the Men in Your Life, Your Way

Go for something simple, personal, and heartfelt. Invite a mate for a chat. Treat your dad to a pub lunch. Settle in with your brother over a pot of tea. Enjoy some cake with your partner. Or gather a small group of friends for a warm, grounding night out.

International Men’s Day is all about appreciation, conversation, and community—and there’s no better place to enjoy all three than your local.

Community Share Offer Launches to Save Historic Village Pub in Cornwall

Ponsanooth Community Benefit Society (PCBS) has announced the opening of its long-awaited community share offer, allowing both local residents and supporters of the village to invest in securing the future of The Stag Hunt Inn in Cornwall. 

From Thursday 20th November, the community-led initiative aims to raise a minimum of £300,000 to buy the village's last remaining pub's freehold and safeguard its future as a welcoming, traditional hub for generations to come.

The Stag Hunt dates back to the early 1800s and sits at the heart of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, closely linked to the village's Kennall Vale gunpowder works. For decades, it has served as a vital meeting point for neighbours, families, and social groups. Its closure would leave Ponsanooth without a communal space where residents of all ages can connect and support one another.

“The time to act is now,” said Sam Fitch, Chair of Ponsanooth Community Benefit Society. “Without community support, we risk losing The Stag Hunt Inn forever. This is our opportunity to reclaim a cherished piece of village history and create a thriving, inclusive space that strengthens Ponsanooth for decades to come for both locals and visitors alike.”

PCBS was formed by local volunteers after overwhelming support from a community survey and public meetings. The Society has already secured early grants, built a strong volunteer network, and commissioned an independent valuation confirming that the pub is at risk and currently trading far below its potential. 

With the pub on the market for 18 months and the vendors becoming “increasingly motivated sellers”, the team believes that demonstrating strong local backing will be key to negotiating a fair purchase price.

The share offer opens the door for anyone to support the future of the pub and represents a critical step in ensuring the success of the project.

To keep the offer accessible, the minimum investment has been set at £100, with every shareholder becoming a member of the Society and gaining an equal vote in how the pub is run. Investments will receive a competitive rate of interest, and may also qualify for substantial tax relief.

If successful, the community plans to restore The Stag Hunt as a cosy, traditional country pub with low ceilings, warm interiors, and space for classic pub activities such as quizzes and games. PCBS aims to deliver “more than a pub”: a warm space for isolated residents, a social café area for families and young people, and a venue where community groups can run events, workshops and activities throughout the year.

“Community ownership is becoming one of the few truly resilient models in today's hospitality landscape. The Stag Hunt Inn is a perfect example of a once-thriving pub that has been forced to close. By giving the community the chance to step in, we're not just saving a pub -  we're demonstrating a viable, sustainable future for rural hospitality at a time when the sector needs success stories more than ever,” David Miskin of Plunkett UK told That's Food and Drink.

Residents, supporters, and interested investors can access the full Share Offer Document and find more information at www.savethestag.co.uk

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“We Are Not Made of Soya!” – A Strongly Worded Complaint from a Maine Coon Who Has Had Quite Enough

If cats were made of Soya, they'd look like the one on the left
Greetings, humans.

It is I: the large, handsome, magnificently whiskered gentleman who lives in your house free of charge in exchange for affection, regular meals, and the occasional opportunity to chew something you didn’t want me to chew.

Today I come to you with an urgent matter. A scandal. A culinary outrage. A betrayal wrapped in gravy.

I’m talking about soya in cat food.

Yes. Soya. Beans. Plants. Leaves. Bits of vegetable. Things rabbits eat. Things I do not eat unless they accidentally fall into my bowl and I’m too hungry to stage a protest.

Let’s Make One Thing Clear

We cats are apex predators. Lions, tigers… me.

We are obligate carnivores – which is the scientific way of saying we are powered by meat, fuelled by meat, and spiritually uplifted by meat.

We are not (I repeat: NOT) made of soya.

What on Earth Are These Manufacturers Thinking?

You open a tin expecting:

Chicken

Beef

Something exciting like venison

Or, if the day is truly blessed, tuna in spring water

Instead you get:

“Chicken flavour” (red flag number one)

“With added vegetables”

“Enhanced with plant proteins”

“Soya chunks” (I’m getting chills just writing this)

Plant proteins? PLANT proteins?

Listen, if I wanted to graze, I would have evolved hooves.

My Body Is a Temple. Of Meat.

I am a finely tuned machine built for:

Stalking

Pouncing

Knocking things off tables

Yowling mysteriously at 3am

And digesting MEAT

My digestive system did not graduate from the “Leaf Munching Academy”.

It did, however, earn a doctorate in “Processing Small Mammals at Speed”.

The Hypocrisy of It All

The packaging is the funniest part.

Bright, proud labels shouting:

“WITH DELICIOUS CHICKEN!”

while quietly whispering in microscopic print:

“Contains 4% chicken. And also… erm… quite a lot of soya, actually.”

This is like serving you a Sunday roast where the plate is 90% broccoli and one sad cube of turkey.

You’d riot. You’d write letters. You’d unfollow people on social media.

So imagine how I feel.

My Official Recommendations

To all manufacturers, take careful note:

If it once walked, flew, or swam, it’s perfect.

If it grew in a field next to the carrots… no.

If it requires the words “binder”, “filler”, or “extruded plant matter”… absolutely not.

If it has more ingredients than a human smoothie… who hurt you?

And To My Human

Please continue your excellent work as Chief Purchaser of Meat-Based Delights.

You’re doing wonderfully.

You may carry on stroking me now.

But if you ever bring home a “plant-forward feline wellness meal” again, I reserve the right to:

chew your charging cables,

sit on your laptop mid-sentence,

or throw up on the rug (the good one, naturally).

In Conclusion

We cats are elegant, noble, majestic predators.

We are majestic, furry carnivores of distinction and gravitas.

We are not made of soya. We are made of meat.

And the sooner the cat food industry stops pretending we’re tiny vegan Labradors, the better.

Yours sincerely,

The Maine Coon Who Speaks for Us All

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