#and Uea can be stuck up

[respectthepetty]

I'm going to always hype up Domundi for its displays of friendship and love in its shows like Middleman's Love.

I like that Jade knows and respects his friends.

I like that his friends know him.

There is a reason King took Jade to pick out a ring for Uea. Jade knows Uea.

And Jade knows how King is.

Cause King doesn't have that name for no reason.

And Jade keeps him humble.

Even if King hates it.

But I like that Domundi always lets us see couples in love. Not just falling in love, but we get to see Uea and King in love.

AND I LOVE THAT JADE WAS RIGHT!

(I also love this kinkster)

Jade knew that it isn't about grand gestures for Uea.

Because Uea already knows King loves him.

Which is why Uea gets King coffee. It's why he pinches and bops King. It's why he put on the cat ears and collar. He loves King and doesn't need anything else.

And Uea wants that for Jade.

Because it's not about the big moments! It's about the small ones and who is there during them. Jade has been there for Uea and King and they are going to be there for him.

Because that's what friends do.

[malepresentingleg]

Bed Friend Novel vs Series

I'm not sure if it counts as spoilers since I'm not going to address anything later than where the series is at now, only provide extra background information and point out some differences for what was already aired.

I have to say that so far I prefer the series to the novel but I still thought it could be nice to share key points that are missing.

Differences from the series will be pointed out in pink,

My own interpretation in green.

Uea's background (tw abuse)

Uea's parents fought all the time when he was a kid, and took so long to divorce because they argued over who's gonna get custody over him (both wanted the other to😶). His mom lost and was "stuck" with him ever since, with no child support from his father. She remarried and they moved to his stepdad's house, tearing him away from the extended family he loved in Lampang - the place Uea mentions by the pool in the work outing in episode 4.

His mom and stepdad had a baby, and for his mom Uea was just a sore reminder of her past life and she treated him like SHIT. His stepdad was gentle and tried to defend him against her and show Uea he's "on his side". When his mom found out about his gayness she flipped, did the locking him in a completely dark bathroom several times and was generally an abusive asshole pretty much like shown in the series. Uea kept standing up to her though, at least verbally about his sexuality.

Then at some point when he was a teenager his stepdad woke him up Like That (like in the series) and his mom didn't believe him of course. Since then his stepdad didn't hide behind subtly anymore and kept harassing him. Whenever his mom locked him, it would be even worse now because his stepdad kept trying to pick the lock to get him, which would have been even worse for Uea. Understandable why he's traumatized AF.

At the birthday the reason he left was not because of his stepdad, but because his mom only wanted him to come so she can ask for more money.

Currently he's 27, a graphic designer at that company for 3 years. People keep hitting on him because he's so pretty, but he's very annoyed by it. He hates when people hit on him through Jade (aka middleman), he hates players and flirts.

He had several boyfriends in the past and they all ended up cheating assholes basically.

The most tragic part of his life though is that he LOVES animals but is super allergic to their fur.

King and Uea

They first met 8-9 years before the series, Uea just ended a relationship and was at a bar. King hit on him a little but then Uea saw him hit on someone else and hated him for being "a player". A couple of years later he met him again when Jade introduced them. King and Jade are childhood friends from kindergarten, Jade was Uea's uni roommate so he was civil. Then he was very mad to discover when he started working that King works there too, and they had a kinda hateful relationship since, but it was very one-sided from Uea.

The first night they slept together they were both drunk, King just slightly less so, and he took Uea in a taxi to his house because he didn't know where Uea lives. He put him in bed, and Uea was too drunk to explain about the dark so he just begged King not to leave him and King "couldn't help it".

I think so far it's the only part I preferred in the book, because in the series King was driving and a lot less drunk and more aware of what was happening.

Later - King apologized for taking advantage of Uea like this (and really made a point of not doing anything with him at the work outing when Uea was drunk as we saw in episode 5).

Something I hated in the novel but loved in the series was the morning after, when King talks about how much of a gentleman he was and that he deserves a reward. In the series Uea replied wonderfully saying this should be standard, while in the novel he basically said King missed his chance when he didn't go for it the night before.

In general, King is more pushy and demanding in the novel, more playing into the trope of the big top who can't help himself.

He left a hickey on Uea which he was mad about and did a half-assed apology at first.

Unlike the series when King catches himself and remembers Uea doesn't like something, in the novel when King kisses Uea on the cheek again after Uea stopped him a while before, Uea was the one who had to say "I told you not to do this." and King was very nonchalant about forgetting about that too. Which, to be fair isn't the worst. It's not like King knows exactly what it means for Uea and that it's a big deal, but still pretty shitty.

Another thing that was much better in the series imo was the scene at the end of episode 5 when the lights went out. In the Novel they were going to go to bed and Uea tried to turn out the bedside light only to find out it's needed changing. He was going to go get a new bulb to change but King whined and stopped him from going and made him just stay and go to bed with him. Eventually Uea relaxed into his arms.

Uea keeps referring to him as a "sex addict" which I tie more with Uea's sense of shame about his sexuality.

Pretty early on in their FWB relationship Uea actually told King about his mom's abuse and the reason he's scared of the dark, but they didn't discuss it other than that.

Also at this point - they both like each other, they're both in love with each other basically, and they ARE pretty aware of each other's feelings. The issue is that Uea doesn't believe King can change and doesn't want to enter a relationship with him when King "is and always will be a player". (And he's a complete clown because they basically are in a relationship at this points sdfss).

King, too, is aware of his own feelings but is unsure if he can really commit. Verbally though he keeps trying to convince Uea he can.

Jade

I already mentioned he's King's childhood friend and Uea's uni bestie. He has a way bigger role in the book, and a whole romance of his own that by this point of the series should have concluded if it followed his character's story like the book.

He's exactly the annoying bl "helpless wife" trope and doesn't have much personality other than that. His love interest would have come and left the company by this point so I have no idea what their plan is for the Middleman Love. I know the book's events of that novel happen at the same time as the Bed Friend novel but I have not and will not read it so I don't know much more. For some reason they give some of the roles his love interest had to Gun, who doesn't have such a big role in the book.

I will say Jade is a good friend to Uea, and he really wanted him and King to get along since they're his two besties. When they started to be nicer to each other he almost cried.

Random bits

It really bothered me they went to get a blood test a week after their one-night stand when in the novel it was 3 weeks (the proper amount to wait before doing an HIV test). Also in the novel it was actually discussed it's for HIV (which... other STDs exist yknow), Uea gets tested regularly and also always uses a condom. King says he does too, but they didn't use one That Night because he was too drunk, for which he apologized.

Also, one time King talked Uea into having sex in the bathroom in the morning before work, Uea put his foot down about using a condom "No condom, no sex". They ended up late for work and Uea was pissed.

When they made plans to watch the football match they didn't do the fake phone call, the series really pulled through with that one : ')

Also, they watched the game alone at home, not in a bar with lots of other people (and it was Liverpool vs Arsenal).

-

There's probably definitely more, but this is what I remember off the top of my head, and my ask box is opened for more specific clarifications :)

[scarefox]

btw. it annoys me when people reduce Bed Friend to just showing homophobia, trauma and child abuse or NC scenes. 

When it is actually ALSO about finding / getting help, self acceptance and about healing and leaving toxic relationships behind.

And sometimes it might do that in an anti-example. Like the whole Uea and Krit situation. (confirmed by Ueas actor James) Uea KNOWS what Krits deal is, he is afraid of him, knows that he can’t do anything against him since he is his boss. He’s a bit stuck there. Because he doesn’t want to show fear, wants to stay strong on his own. Getting help is / was weakness in Ueas opinion, it would make Krit win. But in this case we all learn (he too), that this isn’t the best way, that he should have asked for help. Uea realizes that at the end. That there are indeed people who want to help him, people he can trust despite his bad experiences with other people. Therapy and talking about it helps him in the end too. And I think that is an important message. 

And yes, the NC scenes are crucial to the plot and character development for both Uea and King as well (despite the sex positivity which is a contrast to Ueas moms negativity).

It starts as a mistake with overstepping. Uea then gives into not the bets coping at the beginning at least (sex can be used for coping since it makes you feel better / high for a moment but can turn into an addiction or bad coping) and lowkey self destructive tendencies. Which gets shown or addressed in some of the NC scenes, when Uea gets overboard. Ueas mom taught him that he’s a dirty homosexual, a slut and so on. He internalized that shit to an extend that he hates King for being a player at first. But every time Uea has conflicts with his mom he goes like “well guess I behave in the worst way mom hates and I will love it”. But eventually this develops into him realizing with help of King, that it’s not bad and dirty. That people can love him not just for his body. (tbh I would have loved a little insight into Uea and his ex relationship. We only know that he was just ‘unknowingly’ his affair. So again might have been just reduced to his body again)

And did someone notice the theme of the alcohol issue? Their first hook up was a drunken one which ended in regret and the feeling of being used. The next time the same situation started, King denies any sexual activity with Uea. Cause he learned the lesson. And at the end they do have sex with alcohol involved but with both their consent to involve it when they were still sober!

[inventedfangirling]

BEST of BL's in 2023 [Thai edition]

(more accurately my favourites from 2023, so that i have something to show for the 100s of hours i spent watching them lmao)

I Feel You Linger In The Air - Head & Shoulders above (almost) every single piece of queer media i've ever watched. Khun Yai and Jom will be forever icons. That drunk poem confession will NEVER be topped. Also LESBIANS AHHHHHH also the way the show explored intimacy AHHH just end meeee

2. Moonlight Chicken - Aof strikes again. Gave me Uncle Jim, Heart, Li Ming and my baby boy Gaipa- the music, the cinematography, the writing, the found fckin family - i will recommend it to EVERY one on the planet if i could.

3. Be My Favourite- I did not expect to enjoy this show as much as i did. I loved what they were tryna say. I LOVED the queer undertones in EVERYTHING. if not for the asexual erasure and Not being an absolute asshole this would have been quite the perfect show. And man is Gawin so darn sculpted perfection, LOOK AT THAT FACE, how to not admire!? Also Pearmai my beloved. AND THAT POEM in episode 11 ARGHHH

4. Bed Friend - I know this was a polarizing series in a lot of ways and I agree to some of the complaints raised BUTTTTTT NET MY FRENZ NET! How am i supposed to not melt into a complete puddle watching King pretend to not be absolutely in love with Uea, and treating him like the babygirl he is, when he looks like THAT. I'm but a mere mortal.

5. La Pluie - I kinda liked the show and disliked it in equal amounts. Saengtai annoyed me quite a LOT towards the end BUT his brother Sangtien - Suar Kritsanaphong had me in the palm of his hand. Him and his kiss with Lomfon is etched firmly in my brain. It HAD to be on this list.

6. Only Friends - Gawd. The Promise. The Promise of it all. Thats what maddens me THE MOST. There was just SO MUCH that they could have done. Even if they stuck with a lot of their similar choices i would have still put it higher up on the list if they hadn't undone all the good work they did in the final episode. I couldnt even bring myself to rewatch anything from this one cos of how disappointingly it ended. That being said - FirstKhao KILLED it as usual, i CANNOT wait for their next one, BOSTON deserved better and my MVP- Mark Pakin AHHH i NEED him on EVERY SHOW EVER but also in ways concerning to me GAWD WHAT A TALENT AND WHAT A FACE.

7. Laws of Attraction - Charn you guys. Charn and his utterly deranged expressions and his even more deranged ex. And ofc everything else the show offered. The drama. The mystery. The family. The romance. THE LESBIANS!!!!? Few things not to love. Especially the finale with all the domestic husbanding going on. Precious af.

8. Hidden Agenda - Far too much nonsensical plotlessness going on here for this to claim this position BUT i'm just a girl watching Joong swoon over his man and losing it in the corridor and proceeding to do that myself cos man he's so damn good in these kinda scenes. I think he'd be good in more serious ones too but I would much prefer it if it was with somebody who could offer more than Dunk (no shade he very cute himself)

POTENTIAL FAVS

The following is a list of shows i loved/liked it a LOT but still watching/running so I can't fully judge

(in no particular order except the first one cos who am i to put an aof show not at the top of any list)

Last Twilight [BEST THING EVER I AM WHOLLY AND IRRETRIEVABLY IN LOVE IM GONNA REWATCH IT LIKE ITS MY JOB PLS I NEED IT TO STICK THE LANDING SO BAD]

Love in Translation - episode 4 what a beauty, one of my fav episodes of any BL in 2023 ever- just LOVED the whole fake date thing - it was EVERYTHING

Wedding Plan - Leads are cute. Lesbians are cuter. Made me laugh. Also CUTENESS hello

Night Dream - Who doesn't love a long unrequited but actually totally requited love story?

The Sign - nothing i can ever say is gonna be enough to encompass just how mind-blowing this series is from concept to execution to CGI to costumes to the gorgeous leads with fckin electric chemistry AND the PINING and the will they won't they arhhhh- TOP TIER STUFF

Cooking Crush - i went into this with minimal expectations, the trailer didnt do much for me BUT oh my gawd i had SO MUCH FUN with each episode, i laughed SO much and i am very much looking forward to the rest of it

Cherry Magic - TayNew back again together. Karan and his gorgeous existence. Loved the og. The trope where one believes they are hard to love & someone who loves them like it’s breathing- its literally made for this show and i am SUPER excited where it goes. PLS PLS PLS let them keep the aroace character aroace PLEASE!?!?!?

[gillyweedgrl]

Current Tag Game

Asking me things is dangerous, you almost always get more than you bargained for, but here goes nothing...

Tagged by @thegalwhorants, sorry this is so late, I apparently had my notifications turned off 🤦‍♀️

Current Time: 12:51am and I should definitely be in bed.

Current Activity: Watching Ossan's Love HK and procrastinating going to bed.

Currently (Avoiding) Thinking About: The final episode of Venus in the Sky that I both desperately want to watch and don't want to end and the upcoming finale of Kiseki on Tuesday that I'm also dreading. I don't like endings, okay. I also have a lot of thoughts about Only Friends but there's too much of a pissing contest going on between the lovers/haters of each character/pairing (and the show overall) right now that I'm picking my battles.

Current Favourite Song: I've had Counting Stars by Gawin Caskey stuck in my head all week, I've listened to it on repeat several times. In general my current music fixation is on foreign stuff, mostly Thai and K-Pop and I have go-to playlists for both that I listen to pretty much every day at work.

Currently Watching: Venus in the Sky - Is it fantastic? No. Do I love it anyway? You bet. Am I ready for it to end? Never, I HATE endings! My Universe - Watching this bi-weekly so that I can watch each 2-episode story arc all together. The standouts for me so far have been You Are My So(ul) Mate and Lucky Love. *I'll be watching The Camp Fire tomorrow night later tonight. IFYLITA - I have so many feelings about this masterpiece and no comments. They nailed it. Even the ending, which I mustered up the courage to watch, it was beautiful and sad and hopeful, and I want season 2 right now. I'm sure others have better articulated thoughts about some of it's best points such as Bright and Nonkul's impressive performances, the beautiful cinematography and of course, the HANDS! Kiseki: Dear to Me - I came for the mafia and stayed for the cameos, I LIVE for the cameos! Both couples are great but damn are Chen Yi and Ai Di giving me major side couple syndrome. You Are Mine - Quirky and crazy and cute, loving it. I'm also watching Ossan's Love, the Hong Kong version, and am halfway through ep 7. I can't help comparing it to the original (which I just finished last week) but I'm loving it so far and have twice as many eps to look forward to.

Current Favourite Character: Right now I'm loving Siu Muk from Ossan's Love HK, he's such a sweetheart and he's pining so hard for Tin it hurts my heart. I want him to get his happy ending. My all time fave though is King from Bed Friend, hands down. That man went through the wringer for Uea and the heart eyes he makes whenever he looks at Uea make the hopeless romantic in me weak at the knees.

Current WIP: I'm shotcutting some scenes from Cutie Pie/Naughty Babe and Kixx x Kiss x Kiss, I've got a folder full of photo edits to do from an event back in June (that no one but me needs me to edit therefore I have zero motivation to do so) and I have some 30+ drafts right here I could finish and post but my brain, and the lack of seretonin at the thought of doing that, says no.

Tagging these awesome peeps, but only if you're up for it: @taikanyohou, @forcebookish, @burnsuncomet, @lutawolf

[blneobin]

top 5 bl heartbreaking moments (yes im going thru it askfg)

MY OH MY WHERE SHOULD I BEGIN!!!

maybe I should start here

its the combination of great writing, great acting and great cinematography that made me feel shocks of electricity in my veins cause of how much I was so emotionally impacted by this moment. How Pran was so painfully in love with Pat and knowing that Pat finally feels the exact same but also.. he can’t. He can like anyone in the world. He knows his mum doesnt have a problem with him being gay.. just not Pat. It pains him so much that out of everyone he’d ever known and met, the one person he actually wants, who also wants him too, is the one person that would break his mums heart and trust. The clear need and relief in Pat’s eyes meeting Pran eyes that are filled with want and pain and hesitancy… just.. OH I was sobbing.

man… maaaaaaaaannnnnn!!!!!!!! No words were said the entire scene (at least thats how I remember it) and it was just Oh Aew in his room. Excellent acting and direction. You can feel how sad and heartbroken he was to be in his own body at that moment. it was just so SO painful and heartbreaking to see a baby gay clawing at himself and curl up and cry… like he was questioning himself, would Teh have hesitated is he was a girl instead..?

is it cheating if I added another Oh Aew moment…. NOPE. After catching Teh and whats his name kissing, he gave Teh a chance to explain himself… but he lied. HE FUCKING LIED!!!!! I wouldve said their breakup is the most heartbreaking moment (cause it was brutal) but the soul shattering moment is when Teh lied about where he was and Oh Aew just wasnt having it. PP is an amazing actor and I need him to come back to acting (which im pretty sure he will next year) cause his eyes.. you just.. UGH! I can’t.

i couldnt find the exact gif so here's Uea being heartbreakingly pretty

Uea’s memory of when his stepdad assaulted him.. when I tell you I love bed friend I mean I !! LOVE!! BED FRIEND!!! When we how his mum abused him when he was younger, I was so SO angry and upset and like I wanted to crawl into my screen so that I can give him a good hug and smack that bitch of a woman.. but I’m listing down the assault moment as my answer because it was hard to watch that happen to someone.

and the last and wort one because it was heartbreaking, upsetting and super unnecessary.. Make Our Days Count… first of all FUCK YYYOOOOUUUUUUUU what the FUCK!!! All that growth, all that pain, all the family challanges and overcoming self hate and internatilsed homophobia MEANT NOTHING!!! I don’t have to type out the exact scene but.. I remember watching it while it was ongoing so that finale was something I was looking forward to for WEEKS. I’d say the aftermath was actually more heartbreaking than the accident. Hao Ting who grew so much as a person, learned to be open about his feelings and became someone full of love and life turn into a person whos stuck grieving over the love of his life who isn’t technically dead but isn’re there anymore. What else can I say other than I was sobbing so much, its the only BL that I’ve had to actually call someone for comfort cause it hurt me so much.

HOW DARE YOU TAKE THIS SHINING ADORABLE HAO TING AND XI GU FROM ME YOU BASTARDS (writers)

ASK MY TOP 5 BL ANYTHING ✨

[nobodyzhuman]

Best Laid Plans. King/Uea

So this was meant for Kinktober but life got in the way. I figured I'd post it anyways. So here you go.

He ran his fingers over the soft silk of the choker around his neck, carefully avoiding the small half-moon charm that hung at the front along his Adam’s apple. Not because it was delicate but because every time he let his fingers slide over the cold metal all he could think about was King’s mouth, careful and gentle as the man had bit, tugged, and licked at the charm weeks ago during one of their more memorable hookups. 

Uea swallowed and forced his thoughts away from that night. True he had worn the necklace for the reminder of that night, but said reminder was meant to be aimed at King, not himself. 

So he did his best not to touch or think about the little moon. The silk band seemed safer and it had the added benefit of giving himself something to do, to try and distract himself while he waited for King to arrive. 

He knew this could backfire. This wasn’t his area, sure he could tease and be playful. Something he was learning he enjoyed more and more as he and King played around. But actively trying to rile King up, at work, surrounded by their friends was different. 

Truthfully he never imagined himself ever attempting anything like this before. He had always been too worried someone would see or notice and call him out on it but after months of suffering through King provoking him, teasing him, leaving him half hard and stuck behind his desk praying no one noticed. He needed to return the favor, he needed to see King get flustered, needed to see the man close to losing his mind and not being able to relieve himself. He needed to get revenge

He hadn’t had a clue how he was going to go about it at first. Most of the things he had thought about trying were all things King had done to him, and part of him was sure if he tried any of those King would be ecstatic. 

So he needed something different. And for two weeks he had come up blank, until a few nights ago when he was at King’s condo and spotted the necklace hanging from the corner of a picture frame on the nightstand next to King’s bed. He’d been a little jumpy when the next morning he pocketed it and snuck it home, worried King would notice and want it back. But thankfully the other man hadn’t seemed to realize it was missing, or if he had he hadn’t asked Uea about it. 

“Uea?” he jumped before looking over his computer at Jade. His best friend had his head tilted to the side giving him a look that said that hadn’t been the first time his name had been called. 

“Yeah?”

“Can you come look at something?” 

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. As he stood and walked over to stand behind Jade, King walked in. There was a moment when they both were just standing there looking at each other and Uea didn’t even have to raise his hand to draw attention to the choker because King’s eyes seemed to lock in on it almost instantly and Uea’s heart skipped when he saw the man’s eyes widen and before King pulled himself together and looked away from Uea’s neck and to his face. He was clearly surprised but after a second he smiled and raised an eyebrow clearly more intrigued than bothered by the necklace Uea had stolen and chosen to wear.

Uea gave him his best, most innocent smile before he turned away and helped Jade with his design layout, doing his best to ignore his now racing heart.

It took so much restraint and self-control not to peek over his shoulder and watch King. Even still he was aware of the man moving further into the office and sitting at his desk. He had to bite his bottom lip as almost instantly he could hear the soft tapping of fingers on a tabletop. A small nervous tick King had when he needed to move or wanted to do something with his hands but wasn’t able to. He smiled and prayed Jade didn’t ask about it. 

Later when he was back in his seat and he felt it was safe he looked across the room at King. The other man was already looking his way and Uea took the moment to reach up and run his finger between the silk band and his skin. He moved it slowly, starting at the side of his neck and moving toward the hollow of his throat, again careful not to touch the charm itself. King’s eyes tracked the movement and Uea had to bite his lip again to stop a pleased sound when King suddenly coughed and shifted in his seat. 

Twice more he got away with that small little show before King got up and left the room. Uea felt very proud of himself for that and if it wouldn’t have looked completely insane he would have laughed when King vanished from their work area. 

The other man wasn’t gone long enough to have done anything naughty but it seemed the small reprieve that helped because when he returned he gave Uea a smirk before coming towards him. Which chased away some of his giddy happiness and repleased it with an uneasy feeling, he knew King, very well,  probably better than he would like to admit and that smirk and mischievous look in his eye as he walked over told Uea that King had decided to fight back. 

He swallowed and resisted the urge to hold his breath as King’s hand landed on his shoulders and the man leaned over him. To the others it looked like King was asking about something on the computer, but they didn’t hear him whisper, “You have no idea how sexy you are.” 

Uea shivered and tried to ignore the small fire that sparked inside him at the words, “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” he whispered back. 

King snorted softly, “I haven’t gotten a single line of code done all morning. You’re too distracting.”

Fuck that should not turn him on, but it does. There was something about being able to affect King that much that just about made him dizzy. 

“Jade is looking at us,” he replied instead of voicing his real thoughts. King hummed before, squeezing his shoulders and walking away, poking Jade in the forehead as he walked past. Uea chuckled at how easily that simple gesture distracted Jade from questioning what they had been doing. It also helped him relax, it seemed maybe he’d been wrong about King’s intentions.

Uea really should have remembered how fucking sneaky King could be. 

Because not ten minutes later the man had found an excuse to move over and sit next to Uea. Some bullshit excuse about how because their project was connected he wanted to be able to ask questions as he coded. Uea tried his hardest to glare the man into retracting the statement but King ignored him, he just smiled as he sat down next to him. Looking way to pleased with himself. 

Of course King didn’t care about what the others would say if he sat way too close, so close in fact their thighs were touching, sending a spark through Uea and making him regret just about all his life choices that led him to this moment. Okay maybe not all but definitely the necklace, yeah, that was starting to look like a bad idea. 

Doing his best not to react, not to give into King’s game, and focus on work. Which went well for about 30 seconds before King leaned into him, and whispered, “You should have worn the ears, they were made for you.”

“King!” he hissed, snapping his head around to glare at the other man, trying to ignore the blush he could feel spreading across his cheeks. King, who was smiling, raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he was wrong?

“You looked so good in them,” King went on, clearly enjoying the moment “So fucking beautiful,” there was a pause like King was picturing it, and Uea’s heart started to race, “the fact that you wore them for me,” a hand landed on his thigh, and if he’d been able he might have bitten that damn thing, instead he froze and tried to remember how to breathe, “I dream about it.” the hand moved higher up on his thigh, and he knew, without a doubt if he said the word, King would remove it. Stop this before it went too far, before he became uncomfortable, it was one of the things that made him want to love the man.Something lately he did his best to pretend didn’t cross his mind. But he had started this, he knew King would most likely retaliate once he realized why Uea had worn the choker, and no way was he going to let King win. 

So instead of pulling away like he was sure King thought he would, he shifted in his seat and speared his legs just a little bit. He actually heard King’s surprised inhale. Proud of himself and wanting to push it, he placed his left elbow on his desk and rested his face against his hand giving himself just enough freedom to run his thumb over the silk choker. 

The hand on his thigh tightened. 

“Uea,” King whispered and he would have to be deaf to miss the desire in the man’s voice. He tilted his head just enough to look him in the eye, this time it was his turn to raise an eyebrow, silently asking, what next?

He watched, holding his breath as King seemed to think about it.

“Bathroom, 10 minutes,” King mumbled before pulling his hand away. He didn’t move his thigh away or return to his own workspace. This meant for the next 8 minutes or so Uea could feel every shift and move King made, and it made the tension between them almost electric. His heart hadn’t returned to a normal pace since King had brought up those damn cat ears and he was so freaking grateful that Jade was oblivious because he was warm, and he knew his face was pink and finally he felt King stand. It took every ounce of willpower to wait a couple more minutes before he followed him. 

King must have been just as keyed up as he was because the second he entered the bathroom he was pulled inside and then pressed against the now-closed bathroom door. “Fucking hell, Uea, you can’t do that at work.” King clearly didn’t care for a response because the next thing he knew Uea was being kissed like the world was ending and he responded in kind. 

If they got a little too carried away in the bathroom and only stopped when someone pounded on the door, Uea would never admit it.

[feuqueerfire]

Bed Friend Live Blogging

agh, I should've started this earlier or later, not 2 days before the end of the month because now it's gonna spill over to next month >:( but I think I'm just in the mood for it, so fine

Ep 1 (Apr 29)

chaotic beginning before the intro

chaotic beginning after the intro too we found out about the cheating + Uea's abusive mother flashback oh goodness

persistent King oof but tbh he's so attractive I can't form any objective opinions about his character

why is the kissing/pre-NC scene so funnily edited lmao

I wonder if there was discourse about this being a drunken hookup + Uea surely wouldn't have slept with King if he was sober

okay-good first ep

Ep 2 (Apr 29)

ah both of them dazed at work thinking about the other smh

this mother is so

omg if somebody paid like that for me, I'd have to immediately go to the ATM and pay them back

plsssss King yelling through his car window

STD testing oh interesting + King trying to lessen Uea's nervousness and shame about it. I didn't know you just did a blood test for those

heh Uea's smile when King isn't looking

bro i don't get why you'd say you made a mistake at work for someone else but okay

pls not the dick patting over jeans I looked away cuz I didn't wanna see it but they said something so I had to rewind to read the sub but they didn't even sub that line lmao

almost expected some shirt sniffing ngl a la Bad Buddy and The Eclipse

Ep 3 (Apr 29)

why are the breathing and kissing noises So Much I keep going ew like tone it down a bit pls

but I do love body kissing though so thanks Uea for getting King to kiss up his leg

a monogamous friends-with-benefits relationship lol

them bargaining how many times to have sex a week so funny

i hate the editing for these NC scenes ngl like the show in general has meh to bad editing but it's so :/ during these scenes

pls King always trying for touchy moments with Uea. also that moment when Kind's tryna feed chocolate via mouth and he grabs Uea's arm when he tries to push away? Yeah it's attractive

agh Uea really has so many alone moments in the bathroom that feel uncomfortable

Uea secretly staring at King smoking on the balcony ah

agh why do I love King wrapping his legs around Uea to get to dry Uea's hair and Uea kinda resisting only for 1 second before going still

oh no D: poor Uea

I'm gonna throw up why are they showing this scene with the uncle with the kid and everything I hate it so bad I don't wanna see a child be sexually harassed

dumbass King why would you not only get jealous over Uea helping some kid get dust out of his eye cuz the kid thinks P'Uea's cute but also actually drag Uea away because of it?

oh yeah the gifs of King laying over Uea's body is brain melting and the breathing? I'll actually let it pass this time. This scene is so much esp with King being like "Can I be a good thing in your life?"

pls horror music when King pins Uea's hand down T.T

wtf is this is ex-bf agh I knew this happened from spoilers but agh

at least Jade brought security, good job

why did they make these random female coworkers sooooo cringy and supposed to be funny but not

wtf man ex-bf Pock come back again and this time with thoughts of sexual assault agh

I'm actually still stuck on the stepfather being a creep weirdo freak and I hate that they showed it, I hate that a child had to film it (even if it's not as intense or involved as what adult Uea is going through with Pock)

Ep 4 (Apr 29)

Had a confusing and stressful day, so here's a fun episode time

ah fuck, not very fun, we're starting with attempted sexual assault

why would you ask for sex with somebody who you just had to help stop being attacked like be serious. I think I have a hard time going from The Horrors and trauma and Uea being attacked and attempted sexual assault to like yay fun sexy times

I'm a sucker for King bruising Uea and applying whatever medicine on it because Uea said he doesn't want marks though, that's good brain melty

does Uea live with King or no? since Jade came for his birthday

(Linguistics) Uea using kha with his nong sao

this fucking stepfather dieeeeee

ew ew ew ew ew not this flashback I'm gonna kill this man ew ew ew fast forwarding i can't

oh Uea has a knife good good I wish he'd kill him

this mother kill her too I'm gonna die die die

agh agh agh agh I can't fucking do this

I wish Uea would just take his sister out to lunch or something :< away from this house because I can't imagine she's living a good life here either and he can spend time with her

this sad ass "happy birthday to you" montage

I love peck kisses T.T Uea being hard on King but doesn't move away when King moves his hand up his thigh and even pursues his lips during the little peck the first time so cute

how do I feel about King dragging Uea away from a guy

lol ofc they'll fall on each other

but it's beautiful silhouettes, reminds me of Blueming ah I miss that show

Ep 5 (Apr 29)

"I was a good boy last night. can i get a reward?" "it's supposed to be like that; not taking advantage of me" so true Uea. bare minimum not committing sexual assault isn't something to be praised, it's an expectation

lmfao overreactions during very minor finger injury gets me every time like whyyy are you acting like it's the end of the world lol parents don't even act like this toward toddlers who hurt themselves more

agh "I have too much money. I wanna spend" I need someone like this when I go out to eat

ahhhh Uea's voice turning slightly watery when King said his mother arranged a match for him and trying to change the subject

damn not them slightly touching on whether Uea likes rough sex? or what was that convo?

nepotism and this time the hire isn't just a useless nepo man but rather a creepy nepo man? bc what is this type of interaction he's having with Uea

King too jealous my guy agh don't be mean to Uea >:(

okay that turned into a more lighthearted smiley discussion ig

liar liar pants on fire Uea saying he doesn't have a crush

this King and Krit dick-measuring contest and fighting over Uea, leave the guy alone c'mon

so true Uea just shut down King's questioning about liking Krit

King so annoying why does he wanna show off at the office so much T.T and this stupid pretend phone convo at the office

lol barking in front of the office is in Jade's fate I suppose

sometimes I can't tell how conversations or scenes are flowing, I won't lie. Is that the fault of editing or scriptwriting or both? oh well

Ep 6 (May 1)

this is the cat episode? anyway i'm watching this from my home but during worktime...

Did one of them say "mai" and one say "shai" about whether King and Uea are dating in secret?

lol the way Uea's sucking at King's hand?

ahhhhh cat Uea hi~~~~~ pretty~~~~

Uea giving King a forehead kiss

lakjdsflk;ajdfs Uea asking King if he wants to his slave okayyy dom kitty

(Linguistics) okayyy King leveraging his few extra months of age to be like can you call yourself Uea and me P'King I'm dead

omg Uea sideways stepping on King's chest okay fun

too much licking going on though, I'm not really into that but I'll forgive since I'm getting so much other fun stuff

oh Uea really is with the foot along King's body

so true I literally would not know how to act the next day but they're so cute and smiley

noooooooooo Uea smiling and excited about this vacation but King has to go on an arranged match agh

also usually Uea's straight-faced with King but goes :] when walking away but this time he had to be :) while speaking with King and then :( when walking away

I'm soooo tired of Krit agh

:< Uea pushing King away

Uea resignation letter?

aghh saw one second of preview and already have the creeps

Ep 7 (May 1)

I'm so tired even though technically I did nothing hard at work

aw Uea regrets being harsh toward King but doesn't know how to proceed

also am I in the wrong episode? Where's the resignation stuff?

naurrr King and Uea making eye contact but King walking away first and Uea's little :< face as he stands there

ahhh King napping beside Uea as he works overtime T.T but Krit saw the evil fucker

King going to arranged date with same person again

Krit locking the door for what reason I'm gonna kill him fr fr fr fr fr

I hate this so much I'm skipping through fuck this

I knew there was apparently some part where King makes really accusatory comments toward Uea and I was really hoping it wouldn't be about Uea being assaulted but alas... I have to fucking watch this. Uea gets fucking assaulted by his boss and narrowly escapes and gets these words from King? kill them all fr

I hope Uea does resign

what the fuckkkkkkkk Krit came to Uea's mom's place???? wtf fr fr

I wonder how the nong feels about this? like is her dad weird to her too? does she believe Uea was molested by him?

who are those people outside the gates

fuck every single person fr

except Jade

Uea apologized first? agh kick King

Some comments on the reddit on-air thread helped with understanding King's actions more. that "he feels like he was a moron for sitting next to Uea all night during all the days he worked OT, when maybe Uea was actually over King and wanted him out of the way." and "King is the son of a rich family and is used to speaking up (because as a second-gen rich kid he can speak his mind freely most of the time)." and "I think there’s an income/wealth gap between him and Uea even if they work at the same place. He doesn’t understand why Uea is compelled to somehow be neutral/nice to Krit as an employee. Or what the consequences/what’s on the line for Uea if he becomes aggressive/forceful w rejection as King wants." doesn't mean I don't wanna strangle him a bit but yknow

Ep 8 (May 1)

Probably should do some chores (ah preparing for going to work tomorrow is so agh) but I'm going straight into this next episode instead rip

aww Uea came to his auntie T.T okay at least she loves him T.T I wish I knew whether she was his maternal or paternal aunt I think ป้า (bpâa) is for both side's older sister

oh i see the maternal side

cute. they're "seeing each other"

I feel like they should've gotten Uea's permission to share that clip with everyone

but at least they got Krit outta the company. wish he was brutally murdered though tbh

I like Uea being like "I'm sitting here because I'm beautiful" and then giving his hand to King like ah cute

this much tension and denial, they're gonna straight up ascend to another dimension the next time they have sex

oh kill the stepdad kill him kill him agh he's a serial sexual assaulter

Ep 9 (May 1)

Did my chores for tomorrow morning, so time to reward myself with another episode I suppose

so we don't know who called the cops on Uea's stepdad?

ah this bathroom stall scene I love whining the way King is + I love pecks

mm I love siblings :>

Tonkao looks a bit like Blackpink Lisa

It's cute so far with Uea turning down Boom by saying he has a faen and King overhearing but from the ep 8 on-air, the preview for this ep was probably much more dramatic? so i wonder if we'll get more drama rip

ah Uea saying twisty words to say they're boyfriends

how the heck did we go from becoming boyfriends to introductions with King's parents wtf

damn, Uea thinking a bit much about the mother saying what if it goes bad

okay Uea with the umbrella

ah fuck Uea's gonna pick up King's phone agh

oh that wasn't bad. she panicked but told Uea to take care of King, so is Uea gonna be the one who overthinks instead of being threatened by Kin's mother or smth

oh nvm she shoos away Uea to say she'll take care of King

spoiled whiny King with his mother lol

agh mother supporting King okay

bro I can never tell if the mother's supposed to come in and threaten Uea or not like why did they have such ominous music and her squaring her shoulders just to go be nice to Uea lol

Ep 10 (May 2)

Had my first day at work and I feel so squished and tired, time to watch this

King feeding Uea from his glass yeah

I forgot to watch the hottub scene kinda because I was just playing Solitaire and realized later that I didn't watch it

aksldfj King dying and squeezing things and curling up into a ball at getting a sniff cheek kss from Uea so cute

Jade's like written to appear endearing and sometimes he is (like when he was cute in the blanket and supporting Uea) but often he's just annoying?

lol who buys an engagement ring just like that

dumb proposal like did they even talk about getting married first before a proposal after 1 year of dating? and to do it at workplace... be serious

bruhhh everyone's here what if Uea said no lmfao

not like they got actually married, it's a proposal what's happening

oh yeah here comes Tutor's character. people were annoyed that he wasn't here for the whole show the way he was supposed to be in the novel

I waana know the song that's appeared in a few eps but in this ep at 17:40

Overall:

It was good and cute but still somewhat nonsensical and I don't know how to feel about the mountains of trauma. Beautiful Net and James, the acting's not bad, the editing is bad though. They were cute, which is the most important thing I guess.

I was tired when watching eps 6-10 so like I don't have too many thoughts honestly. Just focused on watching and having fun.

Rating: 6.5/10

Tiktok

[Ep 9] King briefly acts like a cat

[bellabooks]

“The Bold Type” is boldly refreshing

‘I appreciate you,’ budding journalist Jane Sloan (played by delightfully doe-eyed Katie Stevens) tells her best friend as she drops her underwear, preparing to have said friend retrieve a stuck yoni egg from her vagina after a failed attempt to achieve her first ever orgasm. I knew that Freeform was becoming more daring with its programming, and needed something big to replace the seven year hype of Pretty Little Liars, but I definitely didn’t expect to see this on their new summer show The Bold Type. The show, based on the life of Joanna Coles, the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Magazine, follows the lives of three charming twenty-somethings as they try and make it at Scarlet Magazine, where they all started out together as assistants four years previously. The show originally caught my attention when the casting announcement included Katie Stevens and Aisha Dee of Faking It (RIP, so much wasted potential) and Chasing Life respectively. I figured it could be fun and the dropping of everyone’s favourite f-bomb in the trailer when Dee’s character explicitly refers to Scarlet as a feminist magazine left me feeling hopeful. And oh boy, did the two hour premiere exceed my expectations. The chemistry between Jane, Kat (Dee) and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) is delightful to watch, and they all play off of one another wonderfully when delivering the surprisingly smart comedy weaved into the show’s writing. I had feared that ‘feminist’ would be used as a buzzword and then promptly forgotten about, but much of the premiere’s first hour is devoted to emphasising Scarlet’s position as a feminist beauty publication, and how those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Their sex pieces focus on women’s relationship with porn or, as seen in the second hour, women’s reluctance to express dissatisfaction with their partners. This element of journalistic integrity is reminiscent of recent goings-on with the likes of Teen Vogue, a publication that has recently put more work into championing minority voices and discussing the previously undiscussed. In the opening hour, we see Kat, the magazine’s social media director, try and convince Muslim photographer and activist Adena (Nikohl Boosheri) to reconsider letting Scarlet cover her upcoming series after having pulled out over feeling that the magazine wasn’t the right publication for her work. Kat opens Adena’s eyes up to the feminist nature of Scarlet, and Adena, in turn, opens Kat up to feelings that are a little new to her. You know, gay type feelings. The main conflicts of the premiere’s second hour emerge in a scene with the three girls chatting in a closet in a way that suggests they’ve done this a thousand times before. Sutton is going to be interviewed by the man she’s been sleeping with for a job she’s not sure she wants, (I care about this plot just as much as I care about every other show where one of the leads is sleeping with an older, uncharismatic white guy – which is to say, not at all) and Kat had a sex dream about Adena. Sutton says, ‘wow, we’re gonna have to unpack this,’ in the same excited way we’ve seen the girls talk about countless other issues in their lives in the fifty minutes or so we have known them, before being interrupted by Jane confessing she’s never had an orgasm. The lack of climaxing in Jane’s life is seen by the trio as a bigger shock than Kat’s feelings towards Adena, which is really great in a lot of ways, and the show commits to exploring different aspects of female sexuality within the lives of their three leads. Kat spends the rest of the episode trying to figure out if she likes Adena or if she likes Adena. She totally gets the ‘girl thing,’ she says, but could never get passed the whole being up close and personal with another person’s vagina, so surely she’s straight: ‘I’m hetero. Totally hetero. I’m hetero, right?’ She basically sent her a nude with a heart emoji covering her boobs, but she’s straight, right? She’s not particularly convincing however, as the second she spots Adena at her exhibition, her eyes turn into giant hearts and you can all but hear the string quartet playing in her head. ‘Gay. Straight. I don’t know. I don’t think it matters,’ she tells Jane when she asks why she’s spent the night avoiding Adena. What would be wonderful would be if Kat comes to a point in her story in which the writers start using the word ‘bisexual.’ Dee’s previous show Chasing Life (also of Freeform) was one of the few shows that had their queer lead character, Brenna, repeatedly label herself as bisexual, particularly when others tried to slap ‘straight’ or ‘gay’ on her instead. At this point in the show, however, this lack of labelling reflects Kat having no idea what’s going on other than some very obvious feelings for Adena. When Kat decides to put all feelings of nervousness aside and just go for it, only to see Adena receiving a well-timed kiss from her supposed girlfriend, Jane and Sutton’s previous refreshing nonchalance turns to comfort and concern. ‘You’re not an idiot,’ Sutton assures her. ‘You’re the bravest person I know.’ And there’s something so lovely about this whole mini-journey Kat’s been through in this episode. The idea of being attracted to someone of the same-sex isn’t a big deal to any of the girls. Coming to terms with maybe, actually, being queer, seems a little heavier for Kat, but even then she seems to have few reservations when it comes to determining what this really means. But when she ends the episode a bit heartbroken, her friends acknowledge that her decision to put herself out there – to act, rather than repress – was really brave. The Bold Type seems to be getting the balance between millennial acceptance of, and engagement with, queerness, and the realities of each queer individual’s journey of self-discovery just right. The secrecy and shame that tends to shroud coming-out journeys on television is completely absent here. The process is still significant, but it is something that Kat is curious about, rather than fearful. There’s something a little Broad City to it at times. A little bit Ugly Betty. A bit Sex and the City. It has me laughing out loud in way that is usually only achieved by sitcoms. It is dripping with female friendships, feminism, sex-positivity and a unique depiction of queerness that is truly refreshing to watch unfold. All this being said, it’s still a Freeform show. The characters still walk down hallways in slow motion while ‘inspirational’ pop music plays overhead, and any scene of them waking up in the morning looking flawless makes you want to punch yourself in the face just a little bit. Whilst a nice change from women being pitted against one another, Scarlet’s editor-in-chief, Jacqueline (Melora Hardin) is, at times, just a little too nice and attentive for someone who has an entire magazine to run, and the mentor-student relationship between herself and Jane seems slightly unearned to a viewer who is just coming into this world. But it’s a level of cheesiness and cliché that is absolutely worth embracing, because when it comes down to it, it’s just so damn nice to watch women succeed. There’s a lot of dark TV airing at the moment, and The Bold Type is a fun, genuine show that cuts right through that. This show is doing so many great things in its first two episodes alone, but Kat and Adena’s connection is by far one of the most engaging. They push one another and support one another. They’re both teasing and political and they both care. There’s a standout scene where Kat asks Adena why she chooses to wear her hijab, and it hits you just how incredible it is that this show is pushing an interracial relationship between two women of colour as its current main romantic relationship. I’m tentatively invested, as we’ve all been burned by shows’ queer potentials too many times before, but there’s something about The Bold Type that has me willing to trust it. Plus, I’m way too charmed by Aisha Dee and her beyond excellent comedic timing to stop anytime soon. So I’m just going to hope for the best, and enjoy this little slice of joyful television once a week. Feel free to join me. Rachel Innes is a recent UEA literature graduate and aspiring writer. On a mission to ‘queer up’ the media, she is also devoted to hunting down the world’s very best espresso martini and she won’t rest until she finds it. http://dlvr.it/PVL4bm

[mighty-meerkat]

Adventures at Uni: A Brief Recap

So, I’ve pretty much come to the end of my first year at UEA, and I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit. It’s definitely true that weird shit tends to happen at university/college, though. Here are some of my personal highlights:

Slight backstory to UEA - it is a very popular dog-walking site, and students will take any chance they can get to pet a friendly doggo. One particularly beloved woofer was a delightful Samoyed called Boudicca, or as she was more commonly known, Cloud Dog. 

Whenever Cloud Dog was walked along campus, ecstatic crowds would form, eager to take a picture.

Sadly, Cloud Dog passed away at the start of the year, and students were so distraught, there was talk of a candlelit vigil in the Square. 

Towards the end of the second semester, to encourage voter turnout in Student Union elections, the Union promised to erect a 10-foot statue of Cloud Dog in Union House if enough people voted.

Enough people voted.

The Student Union’s Equality and Diversity Officer was kicked out of a club night at the Union for stealing crisps from behind the bar and biting a security guard on the ear, in an event now known as Bitegate.

The guy who was voted the UK’s Maddest Fresher climbed to the top of our Christmas tree and stuck a picture of Bernie Sanders at the top.

As part of that same man’s campaign for Student Union Officer, he drew a giant chalk T-rex on the main square on campus.

I spotted someone cosplaying Kylo Ren on campus in broad daylight. He stared at me. I stared back.

Every year, a rumour is started that if you can catch one of the many rabbits that run around campus and bring it into the SU Pub, you will receive a free drink. 

This rumour is untrue, and solely designed to watch naive freshers drunkenly chase rabbits on a Saturday night.

The mild logistical mixup which led a cast member of the Comedy Society spring showcase to dash around Norwich trying to find a life-size blow-up doll for his sketch, set to be performed an hour later.

I arrived at Union House at 8am to set up for Literature Society’s Book Fair, to find only one (very tired, very hungover) committee member.

He sighed, loudly, and offered me his hip-flask of rum, saying, and I quote, ‘It’s too early to be sober...’.

I had rum and hot chocolate at 8 in the morning at Union House.

The student canteen briefly had a stall offering free burgers to anyone who would complete a feedback form on them...because they were made of crickets.

Cricket burgers taste very nice, and are surprisingly moist.

I was woken up at 2 in the morning by someone loudly buzzing on our flat doorbell. Thankfully, the door was answered by the flatmate I will henceforth refer to as Loud James, who yelled ‘FUCK OFF! WHO THE FUCK IS VIOLA! WE DON’T HAVE A FUCKING VIOLA IN THIS FLAT! SHE’S PROBABLY FUCKING HER BOYFRIEND!’

To this day, I do not know who Viola is, or why she gave her friend this flat number.

On another occasion, I heard, from the pre-drinks going on downstairs, a guy loudly shouting ‘I AM A KNIGHT OF CHIVALRY! FIGHT ME, YOU PUSSY!’

I never found out who the knight of chivalry was, either.

[jakehglover]

Time in Nature Provides a Host of Health Benefits

By Dr. Mercola

There’s a reason why being outdoors in nature feels so good — it’s great for your health on multiple levels. A massive study involving data from more than 140 studies and 290 million people revealed that exposure to greenspace, defined as open, undeveloped land with natural vegetation, led to significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), salivary cortisol (a physiological marker of stress) and heart rate, along with significant decreases in Type 2 diabetes and mortality from all causes and those specifically related to the heart.1

The risk of premature birth also declined in pregnant women, as did the risk of having a baby small in size for their gestational age. Incidences of good self-reported health, meanwhile, rose among those lucky enough to have greenspace exposure. When other health outcomes were factored in, between 66 percent and 100 percent of the studies showed that increased greenspace exposure was associated with better health, including improved outcomes for neurological disorders, cancer and respiratory mortality.

‘Green Prescriptions’ Could Improve Your Health

Wouldn’t it be a breath of fresh air (literally!) if your doctor prescribed you a “green prescription” instead of a prescription drug? According to the featured study, “Green prescriptions involving greenspace use may have substantial benefits.” It’s not a new idea; quite to the contrary, the benefits of spending time in nature have been recognized since the early 1800s, when open spaces and parks started to be created in growing cities like London.2

Modern cities, too, are increasingly seeking to incorporate green space into their planning. As the World Health Organization (WHO) notes, parks, woods, wetlands, meadows and other green spaces contribute oxygen to the air while filtering out air pollution. They also help to moderate temperatures and cool cities, while providing areas where people can safely exercise and interact socially.

“Green spaces also are important to mental health,” WHO states. “Having access to green spaces can reduce health inequalities, improve well-being, and aid in treatment of mental illness. Some analysis suggests that physical activity in a natural environment can help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators.”3

You may also have heard of the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” movement put out by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), which encourages people to spend time in parks and public lands to create healthy societies. The benefits of park time shared by NPS include:4

Improved your mood

Improved physical, mental and spiritual health

Increased social connections, which add to community cohesion

Encouraging active play in children, which is linked to physical, cognitive and social benefits

Improved social well-being

There’s even a ParkRx, or Park Prescriptions, movement, created via a collaboration between the Institute at the Golden Gate, the National Recreation and Park Association and NPS, which involves just what its name suggests: a health or social services provider giving a patient or client a “prescription” to spend more time in nature in order to improve their physical health and well-being. Professor Andy Jones of the University of East Anglia (UAE) in England, who co-wrote the featured study, stated:5

"We often reach for medication when we're unwell but exposure to health-promoting environments is increasingly recognized as both preventing and helping treat disease. Our study shows that the size of these benefits can be enough to have a meaningful clinical impact."

Why ‘Forest Bathing’ Is so Good for You

In Japan, a practice known as Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which is another term for spending time in nature, is incredibly popular. In a study that compared the health effects of spending time in a forest versus spending time in a city, the forest environment was found to promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity and lower sympathetic nerve activity.6

Forest bathing has also been shown to offer relaxation effects while decreasing symptoms of depression, fatigue, anxiety and confusion in middle-aged men.7

It’s even been found that visiting a forest increases the activity of natural killer cells, a part of the immune system, as well as the expression of anticancer proteins — beneficial effects that persisted for at least seven days after the visit to the forest.8 Volatile compounds called phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, are released from trees and found in forest air.9

They’ve been shown to reduce stress hormones and anxiety while improving blood pressure and immunity, according to Dr. Eva Selhub, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a clinical associate of Massachusetts General Hospital.10

It’s thought that phytoncides released from trees, as well as reductions in stress hormone, may be partly responsible for the increased activity of killer cells.11 When nearly 500 volunteers spent time in a forest, they experienced significant reductions in stress levels, including lower scores in feelings of hostility and depression.

The researchers described forests as “therapeutic landscapes” and said they could be extremely advantageous for dealing with acute emotions, especially for people with chronic stress.12 It could be that this reconnection to nature is helping to solve the disconnect many people feel when they’re removed from nature. According to researchers in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health:13

“Humans have evolved into what they are today after the passage of 6 to 7 million years. If we define the beginning of urbanization as the rise of the industrial revolution, less than 0.01 percent of our species’ history has been spent in modern surroundings. Humans have spent over 99.99 percent of their time living in the natural environment.

The gap between the natural setting, for which our physiological functions are adapted, and the highly urbanized and artificial setting that we inhabit is a contributing cause of the ‘stress state’ in modern people … We believe that nature therapy will play an increasingly important role in preventive medicine in the future.”

It’s also possible that exposure to microbes in the natural environment are providing some of the protective effects. Ambient bacteria, such as Mycobacterium vaccae, for instance, has been shown to reduce anxiety-related behavior and improve learning in mice,14 and it’s possible people inhale such mood-boosting hormones when they’re outside playing or working in the dirt.

“[E]xposure to a diverse variety of bacteria present in natural areas may also have benefits for the immune system and reduce inflammation,” said featured study author Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett, from UEA's Norwich Medical School.15

Will Nature Therapy Take Off?

Increasingly, researchers are leaning toward nature-based therapies as a way to improve public health, with impressive results In one systematic review of both controlled and observational studies, nature-assisted therapy led to significant improvements in a variety of health conditions ranging from obesity to schizophrenia.16 Benefits have also been documented for cancer survivors, including:17

Dragon boat racing, conducted on natural bodies of water, may enhance quality of life in breast cancer survivors

Natural environment may counteract attentional fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors

Outdoor adventure programs foster a sense of belonging and self-esteem for children and adolescent cancer survivors

Therapeutic landscapes may decrease anxiety, improving health

Even exposure to a virtual reality forest, which included the sounds of nature, was beneficial for people recovering from physiological stress,18 while exposure to indoor nature environments in a work environment (such as plants and fountains) was also linked to less job stress and less absence due to sickness.19 While exposure to the real outdoors is best, this suggests that even bringing nature indoors may offer noticeable benefits for office-strapped workers (or those otherwise stuck in indoor environments, such as hospital).

Grounding: Another Reason to Get Outdoors

The concept of grounding was initially developed by Clint Ober, who began studying it in an effort to heal himself. As a retired cable television executive, Ober noticed that when cables are “grounded” to the Earth, it eliminates interference from the signal. All electrical systems are stabilized in this way, which led Ober to wonder whether the human body, also a bioelectrical, signal-transmitting organism, should also be grounded.20

He describes the invention of synthetic materials, which in turn allowed synthetic soles to be put onto our shoes, as a key part of the problem, as it effectively insulates us from the Earth. It’s not unusual for Americans to spend their entire days, from sun up to sun down, indoors, without being grounded. But though it has become the norm, it’s also completely unnatural. We depend on the Earth to survive, but we’ve become entirely disconnected from it, such that we’re completely separate.

When you put your bare feet on the ground, however, you absorb large amounts of negative electrons through the soles of your feet. In today's world, this is more important than ever, yet fewer people than ever connect with the Earth in this way anymore. Free radical stress from exposure to pollution, cigarettes, pesticides, processed foods and radiation, just to name a few, continually deplete your body of electrons.

But the Earth is always electron-rich and can serve as a powerful and abundant supply of antioxidant free radical-busting electrons. One study found that grounding produces measurable differences in the concentrations of molecules, including white blood cells and cytokines, involved in the inflammatory response.

The report also found that grounding “reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation.”21 To reap the rewards, all you need to do is walk barefoot in the grass, a sandy beach or a forest floor — even hugging a tree can be an excellent form of grounding, even helping to filter out dirty electricity.

Tips for Spending More Time in Nature

You needn’t wait for a “park prescription” to make spending time in nature a priority. Try getting up 30 minutes earlier and going for a walk in a park or forest preserve, or use your lunch break to meditate under a tree or listen to the sounds of nature or flowing water. When you have more time, take a hike in the woods or escape to the mountains or a beach. You can also combine your exercise time with nature by doing your workouts outdoors.

Also, remember the importance of grounding, and seek to stay grounded to the Earth as much as possible. All you need to do is place your bare feet on the ground, whether it be dirt, grass, sand or unsealed, unpainted concrete (especially when humid or wet). When you’re indoors, a grounding pad can be used while working or sleeping.

Finally, don’t underestimate the significance of adding natural features to your indoor environment, especially plants, and choose a room with a natural view whenever possible (when it’s not, add photos of nature to your indoor space). Another way to enjoy nature is by planting your own flowerbeds and vegetable garden, which allows you to spend time cultivating the soil and also enjoying the harvest — eating natural homegrown foods is another way you can connect with and benefit from nature.

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/07/26/benefits-of-time-in-nature.aspx

[sherristockman]

Time in Nature Provides a Host of Health Benefits Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola There’s a reason why being outdoors in nature feels so good — it’s great for your health on multiple levels. A massive study involving data from more than 140 studies and 290 million people revealed that exposure to greenspace, defined as open, undeveloped land with natural vegetation, led to significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), salivary cortisol (a physiological marker of stress) and heart rate, along with significant decreases in Type 2 diabetes and mortality from all causes and those specifically related to the heart.1 The risk of premature birth also declined in pregnant women, as did the risk of having a baby small in size for their gestational age. Incidences of good self-reported health, meanwhile, rose among those lucky enough to have greenspace exposure. When other health outcomes were factored in, between 66 percent and 100 percent of the studies showed that increased greenspace exposure was associated with better health, including improved outcomes for neurological disorders, cancer and respiratory mortality. ‘Green Prescriptions’ Could Improve Your Health Wouldn’t it be a breath of fresh air (literally!) if your doctor prescribed you a “green prescription” instead of a prescription drug? According to the featured study, “Green prescriptions involving greenspace use may have substantial benefits.” It’s not a new idea; quite to the contrary, the benefits of spending time in nature have been recognized since the early 1800s, when open spaces and parks started to be created in growing cities like London.2 Modern cities, too, are increasingly seeking to incorporate green space into their planning. As the World Health Organization (WHO) notes, parks, woods, wetlands, meadows and other green spaces contribute oxygen to the air while filtering out air pollution. They also help to moderate temperatures and cool cities, while providing areas where people can safely exercise and interact socially. “Green spaces also are important to mental health,” WHO states. “Having access to green spaces can reduce health inequalities, improve well-being, and aid in treatment of mental illness. Some analysis suggests that physical activity in a natural environment can help remedy mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators.”3 You may also have heard of the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” movement put out by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), which encourages people to spend time in parks and public lands to create healthy societies. The benefits of park time shared by NPS include:4 Improved your mood Improved physical, mental and spiritual health Increased social connections, which add to community cohesion Encouraging active play in children, which is linked to physical, cognitive and social benefits Improved social well-being There’s even a ParkRx, or Park Prescriptions, movement, created via a collaboration between the Institute at the Golden Gate, the National Recreation and Park Association and NPS, which involves just what its name suggests: a health or social services provider giving a patient or client a “prescription” to spend more time in nature in order to improve their physical health and well-being. Professor Andy Jones of the University of East Anglia (UAE) in England, who co-wrote the featured study, stated:5 "We often reach for medication when we're unwell but exposure to health-promoting environments is increasingly recognized as both preventing and helping treat disease. Our study shows that the size of these benefits can be enough to have a meaningful clinical impact." Why ‘Forest Bathing’ Is so Good for You In Japan, a practice known as Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, which is another term for spending time in nature, is incredibly popular. In a study that compared the health effects of spending time in a forest versus spending time in a city, the forest environment was found to promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity and lower sympathetic nerve activity.6 Forest bathing has also been shown to offer relaxation effects while decreasing symptoms of depression, fatigue, anxiety and confusion in middle-aged men.7 It’s even been found that visiting a forest increases the activity of natural killer cells, a part of the immune system, as well as the expression of anticancer proteins — beneficial effects that persisted for at least seven days after the visit to the forest.8 Volatile compounds called phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, are released from trees and found in forest air.9 They’ve been shown to reduce stress hormones and anxiety while improving blood pressure and immunity, according to Dr. Eva Selhub, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School and a clinical associate of Massachusetts General Hospital.10 It’s thought that phytoncides released from trees, as well as reductions in stress hormone, may be partly responsible for the increased activity of killer cells.11 When nearly 500 volunteers spent time in a forest, they experienced significant reductions in stress levels, including lower scores in feelings of hostility and depression. The researchers described forests as “therapeutic landscapes” and said they could be extremely advantageous for dealing with acute emotions, especially for people with chronic stress.12 It could be that this reconnection to nature is helping to solve the disconnect many people feel when they’re removed from nature. According to researchers in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health:13 “Humans have evolved into what they are today after the passage of 6 to 7 million years. If we define the beginning of urbanization as the rise of the industrial revolution, less than 0.01 percent of our species’ history has been spent in modern surroundings. Humans have spent over 99.99 percent of their time living in the natural environment. The gap between the natural setting, for which our physiological functions are adapted, and the highly urbanized and artificial setting that we inhabit is a contributing cause of the ‘stress state’ in modern people … We believe that nature therapy will play an increasingly important role in preventive medicine in the future.” It’s also possible that exposure to microbes in the natural environment are providing some of the protective effects. Ambient bacteria, such as Mycobacterium vaccae, for instance, has been shown to reduce anxiety-related behavior and improve learning in mice,14 and it’s possible people inhale such mood-boosting hormones when they’re outside playing or working in the dirt. “[E]xposure to a diverse variety of bacteria present in natural areas may also have benefits for the immune system and reduce inflammation,” said featured study author Caoimhe Twohig-Bennett, from UEA's Norwich Medical School.15 Will Nature Therapy Take Off? Increasingly, researchers are leaning toward nature-based therapies as a way to improve public health, with impressive results In one systematic review of both controlled and observational studies, nature-assisted therapy led to significant improvements in a variety of health conditions ranging from obesity to schizophrenia.16 Benefits have also been documented for cancer survivors, including:17 Dragon boat racing, conducted on natural bodies of water, may enhance quality of life in breast cancer survivors Natural environment may counteract attentional fatigue in newly diagnosed breast cancer survivors Outdoor adventure programs foster a sense of belonging and self-esteem for children and adolescent cancer survivors Therapeutic landscapes may decrease anxiety, improving health Even exposure to a virtual reality forest, which included the sounds of nature, was beneficial for people recovering from physiological stress,18 while exposure to indoor nature environments in a work environment (such as plants and fountains) was also linked to less job stress and less absence due to sickness.19 While exposure to the real outdoors is best, this suggests that even bringing nature indoors may offer noticeable benefits for office-strapped workers (or those otherwise stuck in indoor environments, such as hospital). Grounding: Another Reason to Get Outdoors The concept of grounding was initially developed by Clint Ober, who began studying it in an effort to heal himself. As a retired cable television executive, Ober noticed that when cables are “grounded” to the Earth, it eliminates interference from the signal. All electrical systems are stabilized in this way, which led Ober to wonder whether the human body, also a bioelectrical, signal-transmitting organism, should also be grounded.20 He describes the invention of synthetic materials, which in turn allowed synthetic soles to be put onto our shoes, as a key part of the problem, as it effectively insulates us from the Earth. It’s not unusual for Americans to spend their entire days, from sun up to sun down, indoors, without being grounded. But though it has become the norm, it’s also completely unnatural. We depend on the Earth to survive, but we’ve become entirely disconnected from it, such that we’re completely separate. When you put your bare feet on the ground, however, you absorb large amounts of negative electrons through the soles of your feet. In today's world, this is more important than ever, yet fewer people than ever connect with the Earth in this way anymore. Free radical stress from exposure to pollution, cigarettes, pesticides, processed foods and radiation, just to name a few, continually deplete your body of electrons. But the Earth is always electron-rich and can serve as a powerful and abundant supply of antioxidant free radical-busting electrons. One study found that grounding produces measurable differences in the concentrations of molecules, including white blood cells and cytokines, involved in the inflammatory response. The report also found that grounding “reduces pain and alters the numbers of circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes, and also affects various circulating chemical factors related to inflammation.”21 To reap the rewards, all you need to do is walk barefoot in the grass, a sandy beach or a forest floor — even hugging a tree can be an excellent form of grounding, even helping to filter out dirty electricity. Tips for Spending More Time in Nature You needn’t wait for a “park prescription” to make spending time in nature a priority. Try getting up 30 minutes earlier and going for a walk in a park or forest preserve, or use your lunch break to meditate under a tree or listen to the sounds of nature or flowing water. When you have more time, take a hike in the woods or escape to the mountains or a beach. You can also combine your exercise time with nature by doing your workouts outdoors. Also, remember the importance of grounding, and seek to stay grounded to the Earth as much as possible. All you need to do is place your bare feet on the ground, whether it be dirt, grass, sand or unsealed, unpainted concrete (especially when humid or wet). When you’re indoors, a grounding pad can be used while working or sleeping. Finally, don’t underestimate the significance of adding natural features to your indoor environment, especially plants, and choose a room with a natural view whenever possible (when it’s not, add photos of nature to your indoor space). Another way to enjoy nature is by planting your own flowerbeds and vegetable garden, which allows you to spend time cultivating the soil and also enjoying the harvest — eating natural homegrown foods is another way you can connect with and benefit from nature.