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    Favourite foreign phrases

    You might think our English language has some crazy sayings, but we’re not alone. Here are some of my favourite sayings from other languages:

    We might say ‘when pigs fly’ – meaning we don’t believe something will ever happen. Germans have a saying ‘I think my pig whistles’ meaning I can’t believe it. In [more…]

      Good things come in small packages

      They say that good things come in small packages or that it’s the little things in life that mean the most, and it’s interesting to note how many words there are to describe a tiny amount, such as a whit, a scrap, a trace or a spark. A smidgen is a Scottish word for [more…]

        Pull up a chair

        We spend a great deal of our lives sitting down, whether driving, eating or reading because it’s very hard to do these things standing up.

        Fortunately, there are many different types of seats to sit on. In the kitchen, there’s a kitchen chair or backless stool. In the dining room, there’s the dining chair, or [more…]

          What’s in a middle name?

          Hello!

          We sometimes ask for a person’s middle name in a crossword clue, although we usually choose a well-known one, unless we’re feeling very cruel.

          We have middle names for various reasons. A person may be given a middle name to distinguish them from other people with the same first name and surname, especially a father [more…]

            12 Fun Facts this Christmas

            Brace your elves, as we’ve compiled 12 of the most fun facts about Christmas.

            So put on your favourite Christmas tunes, grab a cuppa and discover something new about the festive season!

            1. Xmas Xplanation
            There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas [more…]

            Subscriber Sweepstake UK September/October 2019

            CONGRATULATIONS to the latest winners in our
            Lovatts Subscriber Sweepstake!

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

            Kindle e-Reader – Mrs J Lonsdale, Barnsley.
            Olympus 8 x 40 DPSI Binocular – Mr D Robinson, Cleveland.
            Breville Sandwich & Panini Press – J Ward, Coventry.
            NUTRIBULLET Magic Bullet Blender – Mrs M Block, London.

            The Sweepstake is our way [more…]

              Selling Sea Shells by the Seashore

              Hello!

              Tongue twisters have been around for years, challenging us to contort our lips and tongues by trying to pronounce the almost impossible.

              To make a good tongue twister, you must string together words that are similar but not quite the same, and then make sure they make sense. Such as Sharing crazy crossword clues should [more…]

                Why do we give nicknames?

                Hello!

                There are various reasons why forenames are shortened.

                Sometimes a five-syllable name such as Alexandria or Maximilian is considered too long.
                You might not like your given name but prefer the shorter version.
                There might be two or more people in your class or workplace with the same name, or
                You may just want [more…]

                Subscriber Sweepstake 23

                Congratulations to the latest winners in our Lovatts Subscriber Sweepstake!

                These lucky subscribers have shared in over $1000 worth of prizes!
                KitchenAid Artisan KSM150 Stand Mixer – Ms Marion Ingram, Bacchus Marsh VIC.
                Breville Toast & Melt 4 Slice Sandwich Press – Margaret Sheridan, Ferntree Gully VIC.
                Fitbit Inspire – Mrs Mary Carlton, Gordonvale QLD.
                Base Collective Magnesium Wellness [more…]