Hey all! I have a really good friend who's having a really rough time at the moment. Unfortunately there's nothing any of us can do about the situation she's in (I won't elaborate for the sake of anonymity!) but she needs a bit of cheering up. I've gone through all of the usuals and need new ideas! I know it's a kind of personal thing, but what cheers you up when you're a bit down? Cheers people, she's an awesome friend and needs as many smiles as possible right now! Best, KB

Going to a nice coffee shop for a cup of coffee, a cake and a chat with a good friend helps me. Even if all you talk about is totally trivial stuff - might be best too.

Agree with what BB said, coffee and cake work a treat, as do shopping (if she's into that), or doing an activity together like paintballing, skydiving, go-karting, a beauty/health spa, painting the town red etc...

Me, personally - I have a friend who would call me randomly and rarely say anything serious on the phone, the conversations are seriously silly! He knows how to cheer me up no end :-)

This is a good thread. I've got a good friend in need of cheering up and I was thinking today about what I could do. My friend is a recent convert to veganism and I was thinking of trying to find some vegan cake or even baking one. Dunno if this is a good idea or whether she'll feel obliged to eat cake when she doesn't want it.

Coffee and a chat often works as someone else suggested. May be looking here for more ideas though!

I would take her to see a stand up comedian, perhaps. Alternatively, how about going to see a play?

I know that the three S's that make a man feel like a man again - a shit, a shave and a shower (in that order.) So maybe cheering someone up is like that. I know! The three P's - a pint, a pie and......a prostitute?

It could work. Maybe a pint, a pie and another pint.

Our boys Dan & Slizor proved reasonable Comedians at times ;-)

A pint, a pie and a pee (maybe -to continue in the alliterative theme).

I would have to agree with Walminski- comedy is the best-whether real, live stuff or the canned version on DVD's. Dylan Moran on the differences between women and men (if it is a relationship issue perhaps) or-if she rolls this way- some really good chick-flick stuff. The intelligent type not the really awful stuff. The type that doesn't have a new relationship being the only way out of a crap situation if you know what I mean. In other words, if there is a solution via new relationship in film, then other solutions or themes are presented as well.

I actually like serious literature sometimes when really down and when I am unable to read them as texts (due to racing mind and lack of concentration and brain overload) can watch boxed sets of things like MiddleMarch, P & P or others. They sort of remind one that other people go through hard times and survive them as well...

An hour at a day spa perhaps-new hair colour and style-or luxurious spa served with champers and strawberries. This all sounds expensive but actually you can often shop around and get some really good one off deals. Nice to be able to do it with a friend. Finally, a long drive into the country with afternoon tea in some lovely spot that includes scenery and animals...or horseriding (hired for an hour for beginners-you know the thing)

hope your friend feels better soon

mmm...well if im on my own, then some of my favourite music does the trick, rather a random selection though :$
with friends, well, i'd say take a trip to the best comedy club you can get to, spend a day at the spa with friends if she's like it, I love massages etc but the hanging around bit inbetween sometimes just give me too much time to think about whatever issues I have.  Sport is really a good thing, but not proper competitive sport, just grab a group of friends if possible and play football or rounders or something, you don't need rules, just have a bit of craic. I went through quite a bad phase last year and keeping busy and hanging round with friends was just what I needed.  A night on the tiles perhaps? I have a friend in my office who does Shit Shirt theme night with his mates, in that they all have to go out wearing the most ridiculous shirt they can find, you could try something  like that?! Go somewhere where you don't need to look cool though!  :-)

flight of the chonchords. (up)

Chocolate, a really rubbish film, something funny ideally, and a good goss tend to cheer me up. You can't change the situation but you can make a few hours something fun, throw in a glass of wine and you're well away (unless you've tried all that). Not sure wally's idea of a prostitute would do it, or even a pie lol but maybe a fun girl's night out with the chippendales or similar if they are doing the rounds? Something else that my friend does (and I've not tried it myself but would so love to) is pole dancing! Not the sleazy gstring variety (unless you are uber confident lol) but pole dancing for fitness classes are apparently great fun, really hard work, and you have to concentrate so hard on not landing on your head in an ungainly heap that it puts everything else out of your mind, and swinging around the pole (shouting wheeeeeee is strictly compulsorary - see note on g-string - don't combine the two) is exhilarating :-D Plus, if you manage to not fall off it leaves you feeling sexy, feminine and fitter, albeit a bit bruised :-)

Depends on budget but if money is tight then some of the suggestiosn aren't realistic - what about giveing her a manicure or a facial.

I echo the chocolate and wine idea (but I'd go for a nice romcom)

omg, my friend does pole dancing and obviously thinks shes very good at it. She puts up photos on facebook ALL the time. She's not the most elegent of people and although she must be quite fit, to me looks short and fat with a piggy face (sorry but she really does). I really want to shout "put it away" but I guess that's rude. She obviously feels the need to show people, maybe its a self-esteem thing?

watching you tube vids of dramatic animals cheer me up - like Wal's post in the sticky thread on the office pet.

lol Wally, don't worry it was Slizor!! :D