Category Archives: memes

amusements, memes

Ten Things: September

This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with September …

Ten Relatively Unknown Scientists

  1. Robert Hooke (1653-1703)
  2. John Flamstead (1646-1719)
  3. Paul Dirac (1902-84)
  4. Mary Anning (1799-1847)
  5. Eric Laithwaite (1921-97)
  6. Alice Hamilton (1869-1970) (right)
  7. Paul Flory (1910-85)
  8. Paracelcus (1493-1541)
  9. Emmy Noether (1882-1935)
  10. Grace Hopper (1906-92)

If you’re interested to know more, all have Wikipedia entries.

amusements, memes

Ten Things: August

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This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with August amusement …

Ten Amusing (but Real) UK Placenames

  1. Brass Knocker Hill, Claverton, Bath
  2. Dead Woman’s Bottom, Somerset
  3. Fanny’s Cross, Devon
  4. Fishpond Bottom, Dorset (right)
  5. Fryup, Yorkshire
  6. Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire
  7. Berrick Salome, Oxford
  8. Twatt, Orkney
  9. Ugley, Essex
  10. Bell End, Worcester
amusements, memes

Ten Things: July

This year our Ten Things series, on the tenth of each month, is concentrating on things which are wackier than usual, if not by much. From odd road names to Christmas carols by way of saints and scientists. So here goes with July …

Ten Pieces of Weather Lore

  1. Red sky at night, shepherds’ delight,
    red sky in a morning, shepherds’ warning.
  2. Onion skins very thin,
    mild winter coming in.
    Onion skins thick and tough,
    coming winter cold and rough.
  3. Oak before ash, we’re in for a splash;
    Ash before oak, we’re in for a soak.
  4. If there’s ice in November that will bear a duck,
    There’ll be nothing after but sludge and muck. (right)
  5. If there is a halo round the sun or moon,
    then we can all expect rain quite soon.
  6. A piece of seaweed hung up will become damp before it rains.
  7. When the dew is on the grass,
    Rain will never come to pass.
    When grass is dry at morning light,
    Look for rain before the night.
  8. Spiders leave their webs when it is going to rain.
  9. St Swithun’s day [15/07], if thou dost rain,
    For forty days it will remain;
    St Swithun’s day, if thou be fair,
    For forty days ’twill rain no more.
  10. If in October leaves still hold,
    The coming winter will be cold.
amusements, memes, words

30 Day Word Challenge: Final Summary

I promised a summary every five days of the words I’ve chosen for my 30 Day Word Challenge. Here’s the final summary.

Day 26. A word that you’d name your memoir: bumf
Day 27. A word from an inside joke: batteries
Day 28. A word that is a palindrome: rotavator
Day 29. A word with several meanings: maroon
Day 30. A word you have always liked: crenelate

So just to recapitulate, here’s my whole list.

As always, click the image for a larger view

Day 1. A word that makes you happy: picatrix
Day 2. A word that describes your best friend: callipygian
Day 3. A word you always spell wrong on the first try: occasionally
Day 4. A word that reminds you of family: dysfunctional
Day 5. A word for your favourite colour: variable
Day 6. A word you learned from a song: abaft
Day 7. A word that makes you laugh: merkin
Day 8. A word that rhymes with your name: teeth
Day 9. A word that makes you feel smart when you use it: flocculate
Day 10. A word from your favourite sport: wicket
Day 11. A word that annoys you: decimate
Day 12. A word you associate with your birth month: winter
Day 13. A word you learned recently: yellowplush
Day 14. A word with lots of syllables:
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Day 15. A word found in your favourite book: rookery
Day 16. A word that describes your pet: varmint
Day 17. A word you have to look up constantly: mondegreen
Day 18. A word you love to say: cunt
Day 19. A word with four vowels in it: constabulary
Day 20. A word you wish more people used: boscage
Day 21. A word you just made up: jamwot
Day 22. A word that is an oxymoron: childproof
Day 23. A word that would be a funny dog name: puss
Day 24. A word from a movie quote: restaurant
Day 25. A word that describes you: fat
Day 26. A word that you’d name your memoir: bumf
Day 27. A word from an inside joke: batteries
Day 28. A word that is a palindrome: rotavator
Day 29. A word with several meanings: maroon
Day 30. A word you have always liked: crenelate

I hope you enjoyed this; I certainly did!

amusements, memes, words

30 Day Word Challenge: Days 21 to 25

I promised a summary every five days of the words I’ve chosen for my 30 Day Word Challenge. Here’s summary #5.

Day 21. A word you just made up: jamwot**
Day 22. A word that is an oxymoron: childproof
Day 23. A word that would be a funny dog name: puss
Day 24. A word from a movie quote: restaurant
Day 25. A word that describes you: fat

As always, click the image for a larger view

** Actually I cheat slightly: I made up this word some while back. In case you’re wondering a jamwot is an endangered South American arboreal capybara.

Remember, daily posts on Facebook and another summary in five days time.

amusements, memes, words

30 Day Word Challenge: Days 16 to 20

I promised a summary every five days of the words I’ve chosen for my 30 Day Word Challenge. Here’s summary .

Day 16. A word that describes your pet: varmint
Day 17. A word you have to look up constantly: mondegreen
Day 18. A word you love to say: cunt
Day 19. A word with four vowels in it: constabulary
Day 20. A word you wish more people used: boscage

As always, click the image for a larger view

Remember, daily posts on Facebook and another summary in five days time.