Flag Day

In general generalisations don't tend to work, if that's not too oxymoronic an opening line.
Today I was politely holding a bucket on behalf of our Community First Responder Team. Shaking is apparently both effective and frowned upon. Stood outside the best service station in the UK is however a fantastically productive collection point, as a team we raise most of our funds* for the year over one weekend, my lunchtime shift today raising over £300.
It's surprisingly good fun, and whilst I'd guesstimate that I averaged more than a donation a minute for three hours there is also an equally surprising amount of time to lose oneself in reverie, to people watch, to mentally write a day's blip. 

So some observations, but please, before anyone's hackles are hoist, they're made mostly in jest; if your trousers wander into the arena of maroon, if your car really does whizz or you know a tightfisted toddler then I'm more than happy to say you prove me wrong.

We get more generous as we get older. With some noted exceptions I'd guess 90% of people under 30 just walked by, most of the elderly reached for a purse. 
Men of a certain age with burgundy trousers seem quite pleased to make a show of ignoring you. 
A scouse accent indicates a good heart. 
Bolton Rugby Club are fantastically generous, everyone who got off the team coach made a donation. 
Range Rover drivers can empty the deli counter but not notice a fluorescent jacketed charity collector. 
Toddlers are extraordinarily generous (this may be in direct correlation to the proximity of grandparents). 
Toddlers also go inexplicably nuts for stickers. Any stickers. 
Middle-aged sports-car drivers are a more than a little unique. The sportiness of the car seeming to be in direct correlation to the unsportiness of the driver. 
Owners of nice dogs are always nice people. 
Holding the door open for people doubles donations. 

*That we need to collect donations to be able to buy equipment used by volunteers to support the Ambulance Service, to quite literally save lives....its an indication of the moral state our country is in.