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In search of balance

Sometimes the day’s chores can seem overwhelming, but there are ways to create a fresh rhythm to life that has room for work, play and downtime…

Here we share ideas that can help to achieve a rewarding lifestyle balance as well as some valuable tools to help you stay centred.

1 Get up earlier

In his book The [more…]

A fiesta of Spanish words in the English language

Or should I say Hola?  Because this column is about the Spanish language. There are approximately 405 million people in the world speaking Spanish as a native language, making it the second-most-spoken language by a number of native speakers, after Mandarin Chinese.  Spanish is also one of the six official languages of the United [more…]

Crossword & Puzzle Collection 126 – Gremlin – Pop Words

Pop Words, page 83

The word break-up for 11ac should be (3’1,5).

Thank you to R Bullen for alerting us to this gremlin.

Discover fascinating words that have changed their meaning

With spring marking the changing weather, when the cold winter winds are swapped for floral-filled days, it got me thinking about how the meaning of words also changes. One of the continuing controversies of my job is dealing with that fickle aspect of the English language, words that change their meaning – known as [more…]

Phrases we use from the silver screen ?

While many of us crave the sunshine and heat of summer, one of the silver linings of the chilly winter months is that they offer the perfect excuse to cosy up at home and get lost in our silver screen favourites. As well as an almost endless source of entertainment, I’ve found films and [more…]

Subscriber Sweepstake UK May/June

CONGRATULATIONS to the latest winners in our Lovatts Subscriber Sweepstake!

These lucky subscribers have shared in £250 worth of prizes!

Fitbit Inspire HR – P Chilvers, Crawley

Twinings Tea Chest – H Trethewey, Ashford

Breville Strata Electric Kettle – R Eves, Colchester

Cole and Mason Spice and Herb Rack – S Morris, Saltburn By The Sea

The Sweepstake is our [more…]

The Cat’s Pyjamas

Hello!

Did you know that Ancient Egyptians held cats in the highest esteem, and praised the creatures for tasks such as killing venomous snakes and protecting the Pharaoh? It seems that cats have never forgotten this high regard, given the stereotype of cats being haughty and contrary with their affection. I’ve never found this with [more…]

Australia’s First Languages

Hello!

There is a common myth about how the kangaroo got its name. When European explorers first saw a kangaroo they asked a native Australian what it was called. The local didn’t understand the question and replied ‘kangaroo’ meaning “I don’t know” in his own language. The explorers took this to be the animal’s name. [more…]

Pass me the Termagant!

Hello!

I’ve often marvelled at the journey a word takes from its birth to its present usage, and one fine example is termagant, an answer I’ve clued before in a recent MegaMix crossword.

The word termagant means a violent, overbearing person, usually a woman. Synonyms we might use as clues are shrew, virago, harridan, formidable [more…]