It’s often said that smell is the most evocative of senses. Just a whiff of some particular smells can transport you back in time, triggering memories from your childhood. The smell of lavender always reminds me of my grandmother. The scent of my newborn grandchildren takes me back to the days when my children [more…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
