Here you'll find a variety of puzzle themed items and pieces of information to hold your interest. Learn about some of the wonderful words and phrases in our everyday language, find out about the health benefits of crosswords and puzzles, be entertained by Christine's Hello column… and there's much more on offer. The latest submissions appear below. Thanks for dropping by and we hope you enjoy your visit.
Luck is a popular theme for proverbs – that is, a short, memorable statement that contains advice, predictions, or a warning. According to one Italian proverb, ‘Fortune comes to him who strives for it’. Another says ‘if you’re lucky enough to be Irish, then you’re lucky enough’. This comes from the fact that Irish [more…]
Basic scanning
Look at the grid, bearing in mind the fundamental rule that each row, column and 3×3 box must contain one instance only of each of the digits from 1 – 9. The other side of this is that if a digit is already in a row, column, or 3×3 box, it can’t appear [more…]
Crosswords, logic puzzles, and sudoku have long been cherished pastimes, captivating minds and challenging even the sharpest intellects. For Annette T, from New South Wales, these puzzles became more than just a hobby; they became the gateway to an unexpected and thrilling victory. In a delightful surprise, Annette has emerged as the winner of the [more…]
Since the ancient times of the Greeks, owls have been perceived as being wise. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, is often depicted with an owl perched on her head or on one of her shoulders, symbolising knowledge and scholarship. Athena and her ‘Little Owl’ appear on opposite sides of ancient Athenian coinage. The [more…]
It’s not clear whether the game started in Scotland or was adapted from the Dutch who frequently traded on the east coast of Scotland. The evidence for this is the word golf, which came from the medieval Dutch term kolf, meaning club or stick. However, most other golfing terms are Scottish, and it was [more…]
A recent study to find out the effect on the brain of surfing the web discovered that it improves brain function in middle-aged and older adults. The test was carried out by Dr Gary Small, professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behaviour at UCLA, and his research team. They used a [more…]
Long before we understood the science behind it, the sun featured in the myths and legends of cultures across the globe. In ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra was believed to ride across the sky in a golden chariot, bringing light and warmth to the land. The Aztecs worshipped the sun as a god [more…]
Alpha, being the first letter, implies ‘first’ or ‘leadership’, as in a first-class mark in a college exam or ‘alpha male’, the dominant man. Beta means second-best, as in a second-class exam mark. It was also a videotape format in those far off days before CDs and DVDs. Beta waves are generated when the [more…]
Mother’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, although on different dates. The modern form we recognise now originated in the United States, observed on the second Sunday in May. In the UK, Mother’s Day is also known as Mothering Sunday and is held in March, usually the fourth Sunday of [more…]
