Category: odds and ends
Did you know these things had names?
Aglet The plastic or metal tip on shoelaces is called an aglet. Agraffe The wired cage that holds the cork in a bottle of champagne is called an agraffe/agrafe in wine terminology. Armscye The opening in a garment for the arm (armhole seam) is called an armscye in sewing jargon. Box Tent The tiny plastic…
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The Abacus: Why This Ancient Tool Deserves a Comeback
I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of history and learning, and I’ve recently found myself captivated by an unlikely subject: the abacus. You might be wondering, “Kevin, why on earth are you interested in that old counting frame?” Well, let me tell you why I think this ancient device deserves a place in our…
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The Joys of Sharing Your Woes (Not)
We’ve all been there – you’re having a rough day, week, month, or let’s be honest, probably a year. Your boss is a nightmare, your kids won’t stop screaming, and your better half seems to have misplaced the “better” part. In these trying times, we’re often told to “open up” and “share our problems” with…
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The Top 40 Time Wasters and Thoughts on How to Deal With Them
Time is our most precious and finite resource – once it’s gone, there’s no getting it back. Yet we often squander this invaluable commodity on trivial distractions and unproductive habits that sap our focus and drain our days. From mindless social media scrolling to unnecessary meetings, procrastination to disorganisation, these insidious time-wasters lurk around every…
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Voting With Your Feet
Voting with one’s feet can refer to the act of walking away or removing oneself from roles, jobs, organisations, or relationships that no longer serve one’s interests or align with one’s values. It represents using the powerful choice of exit as a form of voting against unsatisfactory circumstances. There are compelling reasons why people should…
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The Evolution of Names and Signs of the Times
They were once called Dustcarts, then Bin Lorries and now I note, from a Reading Council newsletter, Electric Refuse Collection Vehicles (eRCVs). This got me intrigued and I bought a secondhand copy of An Illustrated History of Dustcarts by Hinton J Sheryn for the princely sum of £2.58. It’s actually a very interesting read…really. From…
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