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
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. Lateral thinking must be employed, the evidence [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 crafts. Additionally, it’s common for families to [more…]
Explore the World of Roses
To put the roses in somebody’s cheeks is to make a person look healthy. To wear rose-coloured glasses is to think something is more pleasant than it really is, while to gather life’s roses is to savour the pleasures in life. If something is not a bed of roses there are struggles to withstand, but if everything is coming up roses, [more…]
Discover the Dynamic Trio: Guinevere, Arthur, & Lancelot
There are many differing versions of the legend of Guinevere, but most agree that she was the wife of the Celtic King Arthur, who fought against the Saxon invaders of Britain in the 6th century. However, Guinevere fell in love with King Arthur’s chief knight Sir Lancelot, and they had a passionate affair that lasted for years and ended in tragedy. [more…]
World poetry day
Poetry is often described as the universal language for the way it transcends social, cultural, and linguistic barriers. Whether it’s a formal form like a sonnet, or haiku, or more fluid like free verse or spoken word, poetry captures the essence of human existence and connects people from diverse backgrounds, fostering empathy and understanding. Throughout history, poetry has also served as [more…]
Discover the forbidden dance
In the 18th century, dancing was very much a communal activity. Dancers didn’t just dance with a partner, but in two lines, so that partners faced each other and moved back and forth, and never touched apart from holding hands. They danced with each of the opposite line in a stately, rigid manner.
Then the unthinkable happened.
People in Vienna started to dance [more…]