If you were in the UK in the 1970s and spent any time watching TV on a Saturday night you will have seen a musical act containing the word “Swingle”, “The Swingle Singers” perhaps, or “Swingle II”. They would appear on shows like “The Two Ronnies”, performing a cappella versions of, well, I can’t remember… Continue reading Word of the week: Swingle
WARNING: There are three photos at the end of this piece that show the effects of insect bites on my skin this summer, and an infection that affected my palms some years ago. You might find them rather unpleasant but they illustrate what this piece is about. If you are squeamish about such things, be… Continue reading Holiday notes: sun, sea, sand, and insect bites
The historian Norman Stone died recently, aged 78. If you met him, or knew of him, or know his work, you will probably have an opinion, or multiple opinions, about him, and/or his work. If not, you could read this obituary from the Guardian and be left with an entirely unflattering impression. I learnt of… Continue reading Norman Stone RIP, and the two things I learnt at college
The new football season is upon us. The first round of games in the Championship, the second tier in English football, played out last weekend, beginning on Friday night and ending on Monday night. Tonight, also a Friday, sees the opening fixture in the Premier League, England’s top tier. Liverpool host newly-promoted Norwich City. Last… Continue reading The new football season: one down, 45 to go
The EHIC, or “European Health Insurance Card”, entitles those of us who live in the UK to “reduced cost (or sometimes free) state-provided healthcare where treatment becomes medically necessary during a temporary visit to other countries of the European Economic Area or Switzerland”. I quote directly from the letter that accompanied our new cards when… Continue reading Word of the week: EHIC
A lazy Saturday afternoon. “Pick of the Pops” on BBC Radio 2 in the background, playing the charts from this date in 1967 and 1978. The #1s are “All you need is love” and “You’re the one that I want”. I am keeping an eye on the cricket, Day 3 of the First Ashes Test… Continue reading Ashes cricketers with surnames allowable in Scrabble
At the end of this piece is a list of songs that were “Stuck at 2” in the UK for one act but made it to #1 for at least one different act. First, a few notes. In many cases, the original version only got as far as #2 but a later (and, you might… Continue reading Stuck at 2: Songs that peaked at #2 for one act and reached #1 for a different act
I have been meaning to dig out my old autograph book for a while. It came to mind at a family funeral I attended back in January, and at another one earlier this month. Two weeks ago today I was travelling to Ireland by train and boat for the second of these funerals, as recorded… Continue reading Word of the week: autograph
A work in progress, begun 24 July 2019 If you are a keen Scrabble player, you may already know that the 7 letters that produce most anagrams in English are AEINRST. They form the word “Retains”, and all of the following words, which are acceptable in the game of Scrabble here in the UK: Anestri,… Continue reading 9-letter anagrams: Retains + 2 letters
Last month I wrote about how many World Cups there are these days. On each of the last three Sundays we have been able to see different World Cup Finals broadcast on regular (non-subscription) TV here in the UK. Yesterday it was the Netball World Cup, New Zealand’s women beating the holders Australia. Two weeks… Continue reading Word of the week: Super-Over
The Compartments 