Christine Lovatt’s Hello Column
Christine’s Hello column appears monthly in Lovatts BIG Crossword magazine
Father’s Day & Founding Fathers
The most famous fathers throughout history were not always fathers in the literal sense. Biologist Gregor Mendel may have had no heirs, but he is often regarded as the father of genetics. Similarly, the first president of the United States, George Washington, rose to prominence as the father of his country despite having no [more…]
Twice As Nice: Exploring Echo Words
One of the clues you might find in our crossword puzzles is ‘Aimlessly (5-5)’ – answer WILLY-NILLY. It comes from will I, nill I – ‘I am willing, I am unwilling’. It is an example of a rhyming jingle.
Rhyming jingles are fun to use, even though they have the rather serious name of reduplicatives. [more…]
Brain Training
Why are cryptic crosswords singled out as the most popular brain-sharpening tool? It seems that the task of solving cryptics really works in improving the way the pathways in the brain connect with each other.
As we age, it seems easier to remember events of our childhood than what happened yesterday. This has been attributed [more…]
Across Time: The History of Crosswords
Did you know that it’s been over one hundred years since the first crossword was created? Arthur Wynne, a Liverpudlian working in New York, was playing around with a puzzle for the Sunday edition of the New York World. He came up with a diamond-shaped puzzle with clues and squares in which to fill [more…]
Beyond Measure: Yoga & You
Hello!
In all traditional measuring systems, humans used their bodies as measuring standards, which is why some units are still based on the dimensions of the human body.
The inch represents the width of a thumb, which is why, in many languages, the same word is used for both ‘inch’ and ‘thumb’. In Dutch, duim means [more…]
Get To Know Greek Letters
Hello!
The Greek alphabet was first used in the 8th century BC and is still used today. It has a set of 24 letters which you might see as mathematical symbols or the names of stars.
Our own alphabet is named after the first two Greek letters, Alpha and Beta, and you may have noticed that [more…]
Learn about the phrase ‘How’s your father?’
The history of some of our colloquial or idiomatic phrases is often the subject of debate, as is the case with the expression ‘How’s your father?’ To a non-British person, it might sound like an innocent enquiry after the health of a parent, but there’s much more to it.
Music hall comedian Harry Tate used [more…]
Solve Cryptic Clues Like a Sleuth
Hello!
What is it about cryptic clues that makes them so addictive? We humans are programmed to relish a challenge, whether physical or mental, stretching our muscles or our thinking powers.
And what better mind challenge than solving a cryptic crossword? Like a whodunnit detective novel, the details are there but they need to be unravelled. [more…]
Mother’s Day in Australia
Hello!
In Australia, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May. Families often come together for special meals, whether it’s a hearty brunch, a picnic in the park, or a relaxed barbecue in the backyard. Many Australians also take the opportunity to pamper their mothers with thoughtful gifts, such as flowers, chocolates, or handmade [more…]