Welcome to my Desk, where you’ll find all sorts of items to hold your interest. Unlike my real office desk, which is cluttered with books, files, news cuttings and the remnants of my lunch, this Online Desk will be efficient and easy to navigate.
Learn some of the tricks of solving those weird cryptic crosswords on my tutorials page.
If you wonder about the origins of some of our wonderful English expressions, Words & Phrases is the place to find out more.
Read about the puzzling but positive effect Lovatts has on your health in Puzzles & your Health. We’d love to hear from you, so write a letter to Christine’s Mailbag. You might want to comment on my regular column @ Christine’s Hello.
There’s something for everyone here, so come on in!
Latest Posts
Why laughing matters
Have you ever wondered why some people get over an argument quickly while others remain in a bad mood for days? According to a report in the journal Biological Psychiatry, scientists at Harvard University have discovered that the qualities required to bounce back after a disagreement are controlled in the very front of the brain (known as the prefrontal cortex) right [more…]
Tea or Coffee
As you sit doing your crosswords and reach for your mug, can you imagine a world without tea or coffee? There was a time when neither drink was available.
There’s a legend that coffee was first discovered around the 6th century AD in the Kaffa region of Ethiopia (Kaffa gave rise to the word caffeine and coffee) when a goat herder noticed [more…]
Sensing A Pattern
Have you ever wondered why some people get over an argument quickly while others remain in a bad mood for days? According to a report in the journal Biological Psychiatry, scientists at Harvard University have discovered that the qualities required to bounce back after a disagreement are controlled in the very front of the brain (known as the prefrontal cortex) right [more…]
Christine’s Typewriter
On a trip a few years ago through the Scottish Highlands, I came across a little village with a sign in a shop window that said, ‘Typewriter Repair Shop’. That was a nostalgic moment, taking me back to my teens, when one of my weekend jobs was typing out documents.
Some of you of a certain age may recall the clack of [more…]
Try Crosswords, Not Cross Words
Have you ever wondered why some people get over an argument quickly while others remain in a bad mood for days? According to a report in the journal Biological Psychiatry, scientists at Harvard University have discovered that the qualities required to bounce back after a disagreement are controlled in the very front of the brain (known as the prefrontal cortex) right [more…]
Trailblazing Women
It’s a sad truth that women inventors are less likely than men to be credited for their work. In the past they were not encouraged to apply for patents, which were often put in the names of their husbands. Despite attempts to suppress their work, today we can piece together the truth and give these women the respect they rightfully deserve.
Myra [more…]